Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-11-20
Speech Of 'ErS. II. w. Davis :ls the
Worcester Convention.

an act of Injustice 10 Mrs. Davis. We
make the following extract from the
speech. that our readers NAV learn the
spirit and tone in which the rights Of
women are presented by Mrs. Davis
They have but few more eloquent and
! sensible advocates:
] Mrs pAULpNA W Davis. on taking
the chair. delivered an address 10 the
Convention, on the relations OF " oman.
/ sIrs. I'anlina wright Dasis'
ADDRESS.
Usage assigns to the chair of such
Conventions as this the duty Of stating
the objects Of the meeting. But the pub
lshed call under which we are convened
presents such summary OF those OBJ
jects may suffice for mere statements;
and The subject matters be submitted
the discussion OF them. and the action
contemplated by this Convention, are
equally familiar to Us all.
This leaves me at liberty TO occrpv YOU
for few moments with some general re-
Hec,;o1s upon the attitude and relations f
our movement 10 the times anI ,rcum-
stances. and upon the proper spirit and
melhod Of promoting it.
10 not even intend 10 treat these top
les formally anl do not hope 10 d. il sue
cesstullv. for nothing less than a complete
philosophy of reform could answer such
inquiries. and that philosophy. il is very
certain. the world has not vet discovered
Human rights and their reasons are
neither mysterious nor difficult The
world has never been ignorant of them.
~ 10 10 t},o,,.
and human wrongs and their evils are
just as familiar to experience. and a. we'll
UNDERSTOOD But all tins is not enough to
secure to mankind the possession of the
one. or to relieve them from the felt bur
den and suffering of the other \ creed
OF abstract truths. or a catcchism of gen
eral principles. and a completely di@ost-
ed list of grievances. although altogether
are not enough to adus. a practical re-
form of lis proper work. else Prophets
and APOSTLES and earnest worII-menders
in general would have been more success
ful and left US less 10 wish and to do
1t is one thing to issue a declaration Of
rights ITS. or declaration Of wrongs to the
happily to commend the subject 10 the
worlds acceptance. ami 50 to secure the
desired reformation. Every element Of
success IS in its own place and degree,
equally important. but the very starting
point is the adjustment of the reformer 10
his work, and next after that is the al-
justment Of his work to those conditions
OF the times which he seeks to influence.
Those who pretc: the end in view to all
other things. are not contcnted with their
own zeal and the DISCHARGE of their duty
to their conscience. They desire the
h h good for their fellow beings and
are not satisfied with merely clearing their
own skirts, and they esteem martyrdom a
failure at least il not a fault in the meth
od of their action. 1t is not the salvation
OF their own souls they are thinking Of.
but the salvation of the world: and they
VIII not willingly accept Discharge or a
rejection in is stead 1t is their business
70 preach righteousness and rebuke sin.
but they have no quarrel with 1.-THE world
that lletn in wickedness.' and their mis-
sion is not merely TO Judge and condemn.
but to save alike the oppressor and the
oppressed. Right principles and con-
formable means are the first necessities of
a great enterprise. but without right ap-
PrehenSionS and tempers and expedient
methods. the most beniicent purposes
must utterly fail. Who is sufficient for
these thinrs1
Divine Providence has been baff1ed
through all the ages of disorder and suf
terlng tor want of fitting agents and
adopted means. Reformations of reli-
glon have proved but little better than the
substitution Of a new error for an old one
and civil revolutions have re-robed them
selves into mere civil instructions. until
history has become but a monument Of
buried hopes.
The European movement of 1843 was
wanting neither in theory nor example
Tor us safe direction. but it has. never
theless almost fallen into contempt.
We may not. therefore. rely upon q
good cause and good intentions alone.
without danger Of deplorabe disappoin.-
nent
The reform alton which we suppose. in
is utmost scope. is radical and universal
Il IS not the mere perfecting of progress
already in motion. detail Of some estab-
lshed plan. but it is an epochral move
ment The emancipation Of a class. the
redemption Of half the wo7ld. and a con-
forming reorganization of all social. no.
litical and industrial interests and inst;tu-
tons. Moreover. it is a movement with
out example among the enterprises of as
sociated reform atoms. for il has no pur-
pose OF arm;ng the oppressed against the
oppreSsor. or Of separating the parties. OF
setting up independence. or OF severing
the relations of either
It's intended changes are 10 be wrouch,
in the Intimate texture OF all socieiary or
ganizations. without violence. or any
form of antagonism. II seeks 10 replace
no !, l,-.,, ! -
iliui. so as 10 reconstruct without over
and 10 regenerate without de-
siroying: and nothing Of the spirit. tone.
temper or method Of instruction. is prop
Fr or allowable to Us and our work
Human Societies have been long work
ing and fighting their way up from what