Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-03-02
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Have Women any SOuls!---TennesSee Leg
iSlature..sCnr Debate,


We happened accidentally to cast an eye
on the proceedings of the Tennessee Leg
islature, when we were Mt once urrestcd by
u discussion on the condition of Women,
which was rather the funniest thing In a
Legislature we have como across. a bill
was before the House which, in substance,
proposed TO give women the right 10 their
own properly. En t
MIR. Cooper addressed the House at some
length Ia favor Of the bill, arguing to show
that naturally woman is the equal OF inau.
and ought to ho permitted to enjoy equal
rights. The speech Of the gentleman was
one of great beauty--an earnest, fcryid,
md eloquent appeal in behalf OF tho softer
sex,
hiter this, several motions were made to
amend, aud finally to indefinitely postpone
the bill. 'alI
Mr.. Moody said hc desired the defeat Of
the bill IL commenced WRONG, it ended
wrong, every sentence in it was wrong
The caption ought 10 rcad, "A hill to pro-
dnce litigation aud grass widows in Ten
nessee" His opposition, he sail, sprung
from his love OF wonIan--it was kinduesss
10 them To oppose the bill. He alluded to
ihe reference of Mr.. Cooper, TO the belief of
the MussulBen, that women have no souls,
nnd said he would like to see itproyed from
the Bible that they had souls. lie then
went on, and, among other things, noticed
The present of pctiicoat which le had re-
ceived, and said that would not deter him
from uoing lis duty. lie concluded with
como very discourfeous remarks in nspcrsiun
ond ridieule Of the ladies OF Nashville
Now, It Is very Obvious that the ladies'
made mistake Ia sending a peificoaL to Mr.
Moody, for that implied that he was equal to
woman, which is plainly net The cuse.
Mr. Cooper, however, again appeared, as
ilic Knight OF the Tournament. He said
the man who could make such speech did
not have soul as large as his little finger
Tic uitcrnnce of such remarks, disgraceinl
10 the gentleman ind his constituents, made
his nerves tinglc.
Mr.. Allen opposed the bill. Ho thought
II would have tendency TO bring women
In contact with the Ioughest scenes OF life,
and destroy those refined and delicate SEN
kiilitics which formed one of the loyeliest
ieutures OF thrir character.
TlIis sort of argument is the most COM
mon one used to keep woman in state OF
dependence. III substance, il amounts TO
this-ihht IL you make women independent,
they will no longer be fools enough TO mis-
tako "deicato scnsibilites for real re-
Gaumcnt, nor continue the TOYS and play
things Of men, who value ihem in proper
lion TO their weakness!
1t is n poor rule which wont work both
ways. Reversing tie shove reasoning we
fnd ihut sLOss must be the most delicate
and refined people in the world, because
they have no property, But what was the
rcsilte Here ii is: Mr.. Adcock demand
cd the previous question, and majority Of
of tie House sustaining the demand, the
question was pun, and the bill killed out
tight-ycus IL, nays 81.
THUS we suppose Mr.. Moody's doctrine,
that women lave iio souls, and Mr.. Aliens,
that they are too delicate aud refined TO hold
property, Is Affirmed by the Tennessee Log
islature! We trust that no woman, WHO
these gentlemen will present Of petit
coat = Cincinnati .atiGs.