The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-08
D!seell llapecps.
Woman's Legal Disabilities.

Last week we published an address
from Mr.. CURTIS, before the "Seam-
stresses Union," in favor of the legal rights
of woman. In continuation of the sub
ject we take pleasure in copying the report
of remarks by JAMES I. BRADY, Esq,
before large concourse of ladies On the
same subject, copied also from the N. Y.
Nibune:-
Mr.. BRADY, on ascending the platform,
and frequently during the delivery of his
address, was warmly applauded.
He considered it a privilege, he said, to
be here on this occasion to speak of sub
ject which necessarily gave dignity to the
orator.
The immediate occasion of these lee
lures, he said, was the privations of the
sewing women in this city, but three
thousand of their number, (Which is esti-
mated at forty thousand,) having been
employed during the past Winter. He
alluded to the extensive use of sewing
machines, by which this branch of indus
try was likely to be extinguished. The
lectures were for the benefit OF "The Shirt
Sewers and Seamstresses' Union" He
felt that he encountered some prejudices
in his present position, but wished to feel.
though he might not dare, like lvanhoe,
when he entered the preceptory of Tenn
plestowe, to be the champion of Rebecca.
Time could not silence, cowardice escape,
nor injustice stifle the great question
whether woman must always retain her
present position or be provided with new
means for her support, happiness and
honor. He objected to the ridicule cast
upon all women who advocated the rights
of their sex, alluded to the conservatism
of lawyers, and tho fact that reforms
were always sneered at. He discussed
the condition of women in Athens and
among the Mohammedans as contrasted
with her improved state in Rome and
Sparta, and under the influence of chiv-
airy. This produced a corresponding ele-
walton of female sex. He would consider
the subject in its legal aspects. Had
woman grievances, and could they be
.redressed ? The laws and practices of
modern society regarded woman as infe-
flor, and so treated them, beyond the
requirements of any reasonable policy
Gibbon said, that savageS were tyrants of
the female sex, and the condition of wo-
man was usually softened by the refine
ments of social life. He (Mr. Brady con-
sidered at large how far such refinements
had, in modern times, improved woman's
condition, and adverted to the unjust
boasts of the Anglo-Saxo law in reference
to woman, which recognized the husbands
right to chastise his wife, like the Roman
law, which permitted him authority, for
certain misdemeanors, 'fagellis ct fusttbns
acriter Uer5erGre ttIOr0nl."
Mr.. Brady vindicated himself from the
charge of recommending restraint upon
women, but cited the remark of Black
stone, that the lower ranks of people, who
are always fond of the old common law,
still retain their ancient privilege of pun
ishiDg their wives, and the courts of law
would still permit husband to restrain
wife of her liberty, in case of any gross
misbehavior He also cites an English
annotator of Blackstone, and discussed the
efforts in England of the Law Amend
ment Society, Lord Brougham, and Others,
to improve the laws relating to married
women, especially, and gave the follow
ing extract from the protest sent from the
Lords to the Commons, as to recent
divorce bill:
1.-THE whole tendency and support of
the Christian Religion is manifestly calcu-
lated to raise woman to equal rights and
responsibilities with men. It has, in the
words of Judge Story, an eminent AmeFi-
can writer on general law, elevated woman
to the rank and dignity of an equal,
instead of being an humble companion,
or devoted slave of her husband"
He stated that under our system woman
has no political power, is governed by an
authority to which she never consents, is
limited to few inferior occupations, ex-
| cluded almost entirely from such as are
intellectual, kept in state of isolation,
and made to depend almost exclusively
on man for the protection of her person,
property. and honor. This, he contended,
was not Just. As to her social position,
he left that to future speakers IN the
course. Her industrial position should be
improved by enlarging her sphere of en-
ployment. He quoted Ms. Norton to
show the superiority of man; and male
author, somewhat to the contrary. He
cited as instances of brilliant women,
Elizabeth and Isabella. Prescott had said
that amongst the Spanish Arabs, mot
only men, but even women of the highest
rank devoted themselves to letters, the
| latter eontcnding publicly for the pf1ze
not merely in eloqueDee and poetry, but
in those reeondite studies which have
been usually reserved for the other SEX
The educated women of the United States
claimed that their sex might, with propri-
ETY., be admitted to the educational. cler-
ical and medical professions. As proof
that the latter was not one beyond theii
capacity, he stated that two female physi-
clans had rendered valuable service a