Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-06-11
Speech Of Joseph Barker.

MRs. President: | am not certain that
shall have the privilege of being present ai.
ter to-day; aud it is on that account TINT
take the liberty of rising so early TO express
my thoughts. My own impression is, that If
all men aud women would speak freely their
own thoughts and feelings, with respec; to
all matters of Importance, the errors of the
world would soon he corrected, the vices of
society would soon he removed, and instead
of singing of the "good time coming" men
would hegin To sing of the good time come |.
The fear of man seems TO me to be the
CHAIN TINT holds the world in perpetual bon
dnge. Men and women fear to speak the
words that arc in their minds. The man
that discovers truth discovers also that this
ruth is unpopular; he fears so at least, and
does not utter it lest its unpopuoriiy should
come upon himself He sees that error is
in high esteem. lie thinks he sees through
the error but fears to sny so, lest lie should
hiring down upon himself persecution. Il is
thus conceaiing the light of truth that keeps
the world whrre it is. Hence ! arise OH the
present occasion to speak my thoughts on the
Wnman's Rights movement.
The first thing that strikes. my mind in
connection with this subject is, thu; some of
the purest, some of the best, some of the
most intelligent md lovely characters of the
age are interested in it, fad persons advo-
eating the cause of woman, who have dis
tinguished themselves by their intellects and
the excellcncy of their literary laborS and by
their sympathies in the cause of humanity.
The cause that has enlisted in its favor
some of the best and most intelligent per-
sons, male and female-some of the most
devoted philosophers, cannot be worthy of
amy ones sneers or contempt. There must
he something in it 10 engage the attention of
such minds as those to which have referred
Another thought has struck me. As far ms
have conversed, II appears To me that those
who understand tie subject best, speak of
woman's claims with the most respect, while
those who ridIcule her claims TO equality, are
not the best informed on this subject or on
subjects generally. 1t sometimes comes in
Ouy way To ask those who laugh at the move
Inent in regard to womnns rights, on what
ground they laugh,-whnt reason have they
II those who take part in this movement are
wrong If the stand we have taken is in.
correct? How blank they look They can
not answer. They show that they have not
thought upon the subject. They have their
reasons to seek; and instead of assuring
themselves that they are right in their posi-
iuly NN1 hNbl'i ~ iiN'f Ntlh w uIlV Itu-
SONS afterwards; and when they cannot find
them, they try sometimes to make IA few for
themselves
declare that have heard no arguments
put forh against lhe claims of womun that
appear To have any strength in them. II
there arc any would like TO hear them.
will do my best TO weigh them candidly. If
my person thinks he has some arguments
against the cnuse, LEI him bring these argn-
inents before this Convention aud il he does
not find man, he will find more Than one
woman TO answer him.
cannot persuade myself that there is
man or woman present who doubts hut that
woman has just cause to complain against
many of the existing laws. The lady who
spoke last referred to tile injustice of the laws
toward woman in regard to property. We
feel tina, woman is wronged; that tho men