Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-04-27
MEMORIAL.

AtNNf
We believe tho whole theory of the Common
Law in relation to Woman is unjust and dcgra.
ding, tending to reduce her to level with tho
slave, dcpriving her of political existence, and
forming positive exception to tho great doc
trinc Of Equality as set forth in the Declaration
Of Independence.
Ii the language of Walker, in his introduce
ton to American Law "Womon have no part
or lot in the formation or administration of the
government They cannot vote or hold Office.
They arc required to contribute their share, by
way of taxes, to the support Of the government,
but are allowed no voice in its direction. They
arc amcnablc to the laws when made, but arc
allowed no share in making them. This Ian
guagc, when applied to males, would be the OK
act definition of political slavery" Is It just or
wisc that Woman, in the largest and profcsscd-
ly the iiecst and most enlightened Republic on
the globe, in tho middle of the nineteenth cen
tury, should be thus dcgradedi
We would especially direct tho attention of
the Convention to the legal condition of married
women. Not being represented in those bodies
from which cmanatc the laws to which they arc
obliged to submit they are protected neither in
person nor property. "The merging Of Wo-
mans nGmc in that of her husband is cmblcmat-
ical Of tho fate of all her legal rights" AT the
marriage altar the law divests her of all distinct
individuality. Blackstone says, "Ihc very be-
ing or legal existence of the woman is suspend
cd during marriage, or at least is incorporated
or consolidated into that of the husband" Le-
gally she ceases to exist, and becomes cmphat-
cally new creature, and is ever after denied
the dignity of rational and accountable being.
The husband is allowed to take possession Of her
estates, as the law has proclaimed her legally
dead. All that She has becomes legally his, and
he can collect and dispose of the profits Of her
labor without her consent as he thinks ct, and
she can own nothing, and have nothing, which
is not regarded by the law as belonging to her
husband Over her person he has moro lin
tied power. Still, if he render life intolcrablc,
so that she is forced to leave him, he has tho
power to retain her children. and "scizc hor
and bring her back, for he has right to her So
cicty, which he may enforce either against her
self, or any other person who dctains her.
(Waiker, p. 226.) .t.
Woman. by being thus subject to tho control
60 'rtjs''siE 6sr man loses her
self-dcpcndcnce, and no human being can be de-
priyod of this without sense of dcgradation.--
The law should sustain and protect all who come
under its sway, and not create state of depend
ence and depression in any human being. The
laws should not make Woman q mere pension
or on the bounty of her husband, thus cnslaving
her win, and degrading her to a acondition of alb
solute dependence. io1
Believing that Woman does not suffer alone
when subject to oppressive and unequal laws,
but that whatcvor affects injuriously her inter-
osts is subversive of the highest good Of the
race, we earnestly request that in the Now Con-
stitution you are about to form for the State of
Ohio, Women shall be secured not only the
Right of Suffrage but all the political and legal
rights that are guaranteed to mon.
Signed on behalf and by direction of the Con-
vention.
ADDRESS TO THE WOMEN OF OHIO.
adopted Iy The Won,cn's Convention, al Salem,
.4pri 20, 1850.
How shall the people be made wiser, bet
ter and happier is one of the grand inquiries
of the present age. The various benevolent
associations hold up to our Wow special forms
of evil, and appeal to all the better feelings of
our nature for sympathy, and claim our active
efforts and cooperation to eradicate thcm.-
Governments at times manifest an interest in
human suffering, but their cold sympathy and
tardy efforts seldom avail the sufferer until it is
too late. Philanthropists, Philosophers and
Statesmen study and devise ways and means
to amcliorate tho condition of the people, Why
have they so little practical ciIecti 1t is be-
cause tho means employed are not adequate to
the end sought for To amclioratc the effects
OF evil seems TO have been the climax ofphilan-
thropic effort We respectfully suggest that
looping tho branches of tho tree but causes tho
roots to strike deeper and and cling moro close
ly to the soil that sustains it. Let tho amelio-
rating process go on, until evil is exterminated
root and branch; and for this end the peoplc
must bo instructed in tho Rights of Humanity /;
not in the rights of mcr and tho rights women,
tho rights OF the master and those of tho slave,
but in the perfect equality of the Rights of
han.
The Rights of man whence came they what
are they ! what is their design How do VIC
know thcmi They are Of God. Those that
most intimately affect us as human beings are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Their
design is happiness. Tho human organization
is the chartcr-decd by which wo hold them.-
Hence VIC learn that rights arc coeval with the
human race, of universal heritage, and inalie-
nable, that every human being, no matter of
what color, sex, condition or cline. possesses
those rights upon aperfcct equality with all
others. The monarch on the throne, and the
bcgger at his feet, have the same man has no