New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-18
THE NEW COSTUME.
Highly Important
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. lux 1. 1851
" hon LII tho cnnrsa &C m ss,,rr nrnn.- "

DECLARATION or INDEFESDEScE, lux I. 1851
When, III the course of passing events, It
! becomes necessary for the women OF one nation 20
! break on the bonds which Fashion has thrown
around them and 70 assume among the females Of
Otler LalolS separate and distinct dress. 10 which
he Laws o! Nature ard regard for their health 50
fully ehilile them. decent respect for the ooln-
ions OF mankind requires that they should declare the
4 causes which lInpel them to tins assumption
! We hod these truths 10 be SefeFlteut, that al
| women are created ecual-thai they are endowed By
/ their creator with certain llalelaSlc rights, aui
among these are lie liberty and the pursuit OF health
that 10 secure these rights dresses are nsu,Itct.
deriving ther fashion from the consent OF those who
1 ADOPT then-thai whenever any form OF dress be-
comes destructive OF health or comfort It : The rght
| OF woman 10 alter or abolish T. and 20 institute
/ new dress formed and shaped on such principles.
and arranging It's contour after such a mode - 70
| them shall seem most likely 70 promote theS health
and insure their happiness. Prudence. indeed, VIII
dictate tina, costumes long established should not be
| charged iCT light and tnang caUseS-lnd accord
! iIgly "ou experience hath shown that womanhlnd
are more disposed 10 suffer while the evils arising
! from their costume suferate. than u night them
selves Dy doohShIug the long and yery nrOnvenlent
/ shiTS 10 which they have been accustomed. But
when the long trans of their dresses. invariably
sweeping tAe payemeniS as they move along, cylncc
design on the part of the Tvranness Fashion TO re-
! duce our women under It's absolute de>posm, Il i
their rlsht-t Is their duty 10 throw of the long ami
cumbersome skirts and 10 provide shorter ones for
| their future wear
Such have been the patient suferings OF our Amerl
can women. and such Is now the necessity which
constants them 10 alter their former system Of dress,
and 10 adopt other modes for their future comfort
The history of the presen; TYRANSEss FASHION i
history OF repeated injuries both to the comfort OF the
women and to their pockets having IN direct OBJECT
the constant sOinG OF their garments and the runa
ton OF their health To prove this let facts be sub
mItted 10 al candid women, and 10 the rest OF the
world.
SHT has refused her assent TO those modes Of dress.
most wholesome and necessary for the preservation
OF female health.
sHE has forbidden her mantua-makers to introduce
any new costumes. however handsome ant Goa
venenf. until her consent has been obtained.
SHE has refused for the accommodation Of large
districts OF women. the privilege to dress IN irockS
and tTONSCrs-a right most lneSilmdbe 10 them and
formidable to their lyrants only.
SHE has aimed 10 prevent the women from aSSemb-
ling together to deliberate on the advantages
which would result from throwing of the yoAe OF the
TYRANNESs, for the sole purpose OF forcing them TO
constant compliance with her own measures.
sHE has invariably assaied with ridiculc all those
Of the sex who. with womanly frmneSS, have en-
deavored to assert their rights and regain their nde-
pendence.
SHE has eudeavorcd to prevent the adoption of the
costume III all the States for the purpose OF en-
aiding foreigners to maintain that influence IN regard
TO The modes of dress which they have always exert
ed over the women OF the country.
SHE has affected to render the mantau-maker> IN
dependent of, and superior to, those who ought IN
fact 70 hold them under their power.
SHE has combined with dresSmakers abroad 70 sub.
eci our women 10 modes OF costume foreign 10, ami
injurious to- their American consttullonS-prohIb
ing Them, by acts OF pretended jurisdiction
From ventuung 10 promenade our streets III The
proposed new and every way becoming female ap-
parel
From consulting their own comfort and conyen-
fence IN regard 10 ocomotion and the free Use OF
their limbs
From abandoning the long skirts 30 yolumlnous IN
their folds. and so preJudiclal 10 health
From cutting of their long trains IN all parts OF
the United states
From introducing any new costume disapproyed
OF 10y Paris mantaumakcr.
SHE has by forcing upon us her eStra' agda, MODES
of dress. pundered our pockets, committed ravages
on our health. and destroyed the lives o. many OF
ourpeople
A TYRANNEss who thus subjects H. to the ncon-
venIencoS and injuries arising from the introduction
and maintenance OF her foreign fashions, l. unht 10
DE the ruler Of free women.
We must therefore acqueSce Ia the necessity
which requires our immediate separation from tor
makers and hold them r 1854 Z t4s
opposition, cnemcs-In support, friends.
We, Tire reiore, the free women of the United states
of America, IN our various meetings throughout tle
Union sscmbled, appealing to the civilized world
and all the rest OF mankind for the rectitude Of
our intentions, and with fixed deterlnlnaonloc con
suit comfort, our convenience ana our health DO
solemnly publish and declare, that IN regard TO our
dress We of right ought 10 be free and independents
and that henccforward and forever we are absoived
rom all allegiance TO the rYRANNEss FASHION that
all connection between Us and the Paris lnantua-
makers ought 10 be totally dissolved and that, as
nee and INDEPENDENT women. We have full power 10
aiOp, and wear the new costume OF such mode ana
share - best becomes Us, walking forth redeemed
and di,cnhraed from the long trains m which We
have hitherto been enslaved, and ENJOYING that ease
and comfort IN the new dress 10 which We are 20
Justly cHtited.
And for the support OF this declaration: with nrm
reliance on the protection of enlightened ana liberal
men, We mutually pledge to each other our counte-
nance our influence, and our sacred honor
lNumerously ssnedl