Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-08

THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN.

We subion the manifesto of the recent great Con-
vention of Women at Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio,
to which reference made few days ago. The
proceedings appeared to have been conducted after
culne fashion, Letters were read from Lucreha Mott,
whose reply to Mr.. Danas Lecture the sphere Of
Women also presented--from Mrs. Lydia Person
OF Lancaster Pa, Mrs, E. c. Stanton of Little Falls
n Y, Miss Sarah Pugh of Philadelphia, Miss Lucy
Stone Of Mass, and Others Addresses were made by
or 10 OF the ladies present The end and aim OF the
Co invention are here revealed:
The MEMORIAL of the Ohio W0men's Convention,
held in Salem, Columbiana Co.. april 10 aad20, 1850,
respectfully represents:
We believe the whole theory of the Common Law
in relation to women is unjust and degrading tending
to reduce hero level with the slave, deprvng her Of
political existence and forming positive except ion to
the great doctrine of equality set forth in the Decla-
alton OF Independence.
In the language of Walker, in his introduction to
American Law, Women have part nor lot in the
formation or administration of the Government. They
cannot vote nor hold office. They required to con-
tribute their share, by way OF taxes to the support of
the Government but are allowed no voice in its direc-
ton. They are amenable to the laws when made, but
are allowed share in making them. This language,
when applied to males would be the exact definition OF
political slavery" Is it just or wise that woman, in the
largest and proiessedly the frees and enlightened
Republic on the globe, in the middle of the nineteenth
century, should be thus degraded!
We would especially direct the attention of the Con-
vention to the legal condition OF married women. Not
being represented those bodies from which emanate
the laws to which they are obliged to submit, they
protected neither in person nor property. The merg
ing of wonan's name in that of her husband is embe-
matica of the fate OF all her legal rights. AT the mar
rage altar the law dvests her of all distinct ndviduali
ty Blackstone says, the very being or legal existence
Of the suspended during marriage, at least
is incorporated orconsodated into that OF her husband
Legally she ceases to exist, and becomes emphatcay
new creation, and is after denied the dignity of
rational and accountable beng. The husband is al
lowed to take possession OF her Estates the law has
proclaimed her legally dead All that she has becomes
legally his, and he collect and dispose of the profits
OF her labor, without her CONSENT he thinks fit 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 more limited power. Still, if he
render her life ntoerabe that she is forced to leave
him. he has the power to retain her children, and TO
seize and bring her back Tor he has right to her soeie
ty which he may enforce either against herself any
other person who detans her Walkers Introduction,
p. 1921
Woman, being thus subject to the control and depen
dent on the will ofm an loses her selt-dependence and
no human being can be deprived of this without
of degradation. The law should sustain and pros