Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-06-05
The owen Testimonial.
ADDRESS OF HON. THOMAS L. SMITH, PRESf.

L.
Fellow CITIzENs:-The ladies', under whose direc-
ton this assemblage has been convened have done me
the honor request take the chair for the
sion. As you are, doubtless, well aware the meeting
has been called for the purpose Of making presena-
ton TO Mr.. Robert Dale Owen of a testimonial of Tie
gratitude of the of Indiana for his efforts
to them certain legal rights in relation property
will take this occasion to say that the rights desired by
our country women, and for his advocacy of which Mr.
Owen is about to receive this hatering mark Of their
esteem, are not such would be calculated 10 place
them without their proper sphere to enable them, in
any manner degree, to usurp the places minge in
the business, pursuits avOcatOns, which more appro
priately belong the other The ladies who have
taken part In this movement have am well assured
such wish All they desire is such alteration OF
the laws OF property, would be calculated to
them from those dire caamues to which they
times exposed by the misortunes the faults of Others
and which, under present sws, they entirely
able TO avert.
The fears which seem to have been entertained in
quarters that such rights cannot be given them
without impairing the bonds which unite the
in their social relations it appears me- groundess
IL might well be said that domestic harmony would
be endangered by allowing the privilege OF indie
pendent locomoton of speech by giving them the
control of property The idea that to the neces
sary unity the married state, all the rights OF the
wife should be merged thnse of the husband is,
deed, fully carried out in the Eastern harems, and in
those countries which still remain in state Of barbarism.
II it should be proposed Constantiuope Cairo,
to confer upon married the privilege of appear
inc in the streets without being closely veiled Of
ningng in the society OF men, other than their hus-
bands suppose there many grave Mussemen who
would lift up their hands in horror and declare, that
such unheard of privileges would be subyersive OF all
domestic happiness. and that they would he utterly
pugnant the preceps and principles of the Korsn But
under the genial and en9htening influence Of chrsanl-
" have been taught believe that the domestic re-
atOns securely the voluntary and recipro-
cal affections of minds equally constituted for freedom
here and Immortality hereafter, than the bonds and
penalties othe law. In proportion as have invested
with those rights necessary for her personal lib
ery security and happiness, we have found her
stany putting forth flowers of increased loneliness and
we have learned should have learned from happy
perience that it is advantageous ourselves
well them, the genter equals and
panOns rather han slaves.
The progress have made in civilization, ought in
fact, to be attributed in great degree 10 the influence
women have eXerted upon society, by means Of the
privileges there conceded them, in sharpening the
masculine intellect by the keenness Of their perceptions,
and IN polishing rough natures by their more refined
senshIteS and their delicate appreciation Of the good
and beautiful The increase Of those privileges in the
manner desired, will tend to elevate them still high
the scale of social existence and have the strong
est confidence they will them, as increase the
blessings which flow from the endearng relations they
bear to the other sex, without at all compromising the
decacy, and modesfy, which charningy charac-
teristic of their own
feel highly honored by the position they have assign
ed this evening and trust the day is far distant
when, from just and unpreudiced view Of their capa-
btes and necessities, they will obtain from
willing acquiescense in their reasonable demands
Professor LsRRABEE presenting the Silver Pitcher
said:
Happy am /. honorcd SIR. to meet You in the Capitol
and before this brilliant assembly of the talent and
the beauty Of he great, the 9lorious the agslen.
imous State of Indiana; Indiana, the State, which
of all the States of this Union--aye s10Te OF. al
the States this Gobe-you and Iwoil chose for our
home, and tue home of chdte1; hdiana, the neat
aad richest gem in the coroal Of States that decks
the brow of America Indiana the fairest flower in the
whole parrerre from the Atlantic the Pacific.
Not only the physical but the moral phases Of ouI
adopted home promise TO assume the form Of mosi
cherished ideals. Here poverty with her Siamese at
tendant, dependence, Is unknown. Here bgotry finds
no fire to light her torch Here Intolerance finds no
iron bedstead which to stretch mutilate heI
hapless victim. Here, if any where earth, may
we hope human rights enjoyed without measure
and exercised without restraint.
1t coud not be expected that the Constitution which
adopted by the early pioneers of State however
admirably it might be adapted to the circumstances o.
their times should continue TO meet Tor several genera
lions, the demands of people, progressive,
ia numbers, education. wealth, and all the improve
rDenis Of rapidly advancing age Like the she'll o
the Crustace old Constitution incapable of ex
panson. The living spirit within struggling t.
throw of its nfexihe and inelastic form, and TO prepare
by its inherent and leke energies another more free
more graceful, more ETHEREAL more adapted to the pro
gress OF humanity. Convention called, and the
friends Of progress, of reform, Of philanthropy, bopeC
70 out from the cruchle, the refined pore.
tetberal elements Of human rights. They hoprd there
ito sehose elements combined in their Just and natura
proportions forming beautiful embodiment of-order
u Ian, and Justice.
Among the essential provisions which the liberal anC
enlightened votaries of human progress much desired L
see embodied IN the organic law OF Indiana,
curing to woman, against the weakness the wicked
ness of man. the property which her father may have
given her. which she herself 10y the labor of her
hands, may have acquired The women Of Indiana have
asked nothing but protection in the enjoyment OF ina
which is their own and which the law Of nature does
not make the law Of God does make, and law Q
man can rightfully make another's.
The women OF Indiana have not asked to be recognz
ed eligible to command armies naves though they
have heard Of the fair Tadmorean Of the desert who
the head of her citizen soldiers in her city Of pan
trees wiihsOod the whole force of the Roman Empire
marshaled under the ereat Aurelian And Of late the,
have heard how the magnanimouS af America hav
We'd with each other in doing honor the fair Hungai
exile, who, in the hottest of the baite stood by th
side Of the gallant Kossuth.
The women of Indiana have not asked eligibility tC
places of power and Offices of government, thong
they remember there once was woman, the fair lisa
bella of blessed memory the lustrious Queen of Cas-
tile who alone of the soveregns of the world had th
mind To appreciate, and the heart to the
terprize OF Columbus which resulted in redeemng th
very soil which dwell from la barism. AMI the
are informed that woman, woman proba
hy less intelligent than most of them, rules IN th
land Of fathers people the proudest the rich
est. and the renowned on the globe, and a
empire on which, il is said, the sets.
The Of Indiana have not asked the recognitio
Of their right Of suffrage, though if they had it, az
inclined to think should have wise Legislators,
as good laws now have.
The women Of Indiana have not asked the State {
recognize their right to make laws TO become Judge
Of the law, execute law TO compound medicine:
nor to administer them; to- manufacture goods, nor
sell them; become preachers, teachers;
speak or TO write. In all these matters they win
their rights should he settled by the rules Of expedency
in accordance with the good taste OF lighteneC
LIBERAL and generous society