Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-05-04

lpd most eihclent workers, especially in canvass
ing for signatures. We arc indebted to Mrs. Anne
Ryder, Of Cincinnati, for much labor in this
direction; and also to Mrs. Howard of Columbus
for similar service. Mise Olympic Brown, a gradu-
ate Of Antioch College, canvassed several towns
most uccessfully-addipg thousands of names to
the lists heretofore obtained. Equally Jealous
we're women, and men also, 10 various sections OF
ihe State. BY means OF this hearty corporation,
both branches Of the Legislature were flooded with
Woman's Rights petitions during the forepart Of
the session-a thousand and even two thousand
names were presented at a time.
Our main object this year, as heretofore, has
been to secure personal, property, and parental
rights, mover iguoring, however, the right to legis-
late for ourselves. We we're fortunate in the COM
mencement, in enlisting some Of the leading inau-
ences Of the State in favor Of the movement. Per-
sons occupying the highest social, aud political po-
si,ion, very fully endorsed our claims to legal
equality, and rendered valuable aid by public APP
prevail of the same. We took measures at an ear
ly period TO obtain the assistance Of the Press; and
by means of this auxiliary our work has been
more fully recognized, and more generally appre-
ciated than it could otherwise have been. With.
out exception the leading Journals of the State
have treated our Cause with consideration, and
generously commended The efforts Of its agents.
So numerous were the petitions, and so largely did
they represent the best constituency Of the State,
that the Committees in whose hands they were
placed. felt that by all just Parliamentary usage,
they were entitled to q candid consideration. Ac-
cordiDgly they invited several of us who had been
prominent, to defend our own Cause in she SEN
ate Chamber, before their joint COMMITTEES and
such of the General Assembly and Of the public,
as might choose to come and listen. From the re-
ports of the numerous I~etter-writers that were
present, will place one extract only upon record,
"The Senate Chamber was filled to overhowing
to ear Mrs. Jones, Cutler and Gage, and hun
'eds went away for want Of a place to stand.
Columbus has seldom seen so refined and intelli-
gent an audience, as that which gathered round
those earnest women, who had none of the charm
of youth or beauty to challenge admiration, blu,
whose heads were already s~prinkIed with the frosts
of life's winter. Earnest, truthful, womanly,
richly cultivated, by the experiences of practical
lie, those women, mothers, and two Of them
gr%andmOthers, pleaded for the right Of woman to
the frui. Of her own genius, labor or skill, and for
the married mother her right to be toe joint guar
dian Of her own offspring.
II wish could give you even the ~fuintest idea
Of the brilliancy of the scene, or the splendor OF
the triumph achieved over tie legions Of prejudice,
the cohorts Of injustice, and the old national
guard of hOaTy conservatism. If the triumph Of
a Prima Donna is something to boast, what was the
triumph Of these tOil-w0rn women, when not only
the members of the committee, but Senators and
| Al ~ ba.. of tba I,,,so o,ou1od o,,ooJ ,ko,o .;,L
congratulations and assurances that their able and
earnest arguments had fully prevailed, and the
prayers of their petitioners must be granted" "
The address of the fret speaker was a written
Argument ON legal rights. 1t wa, solicited BY
members of the General Assembly for publication
and distributed over the State at their expense.
d 1t will be seen therefore, that in somo respect,
: the seed time was propitious-we were able tC
|, turn to our account many agencies that had here
d %tofore been arrayed against US. The harvest con
scquendy was full of promise. The change in
d public sentiment, the marked favor with which
e our Cause began to be regarded III the Judicial
and Legislative departments, encouraged US &c
hope that if equal and exact justice we're not es
tablished, which We could hardly expect, ";
s should, at least, obtain legal equality in many
particulars. The Senate Committee soon reported
Y a Bill, drafted by one Of their number -Judg
e Key-and fully endorsed by all the Judges of tn
d Supreme Court. securing to the married woman
the use of her real estate, and the avails Of he
own separate labor, together with such power I
protect her property, and do business in her ow
name as men possess. The last provision wa
,e tricken out, and the Bill thus amended passe
ID both Houses. the Senate by q very large majorit,
T. Although this secures to US property rights in
measure only, yet ii is a great gain. lie, who,
s. AFFECT bondage, has striven with bis letters, r.
e. joice5 to have the smallest amount of their weigI
'e- removed. We have therefore, reason TO be graf
ne full not only for the benefits We shall derive fro
N, this Act, but for the evidence of a growing sem
Ii. Of justice on the part Of those who claim f
zee themselves the exclusive right to legislate. Sen
he tor Parish bad already prepared a Bill for Gaa
u dianship, and to change the Laws of Descen
that something more than a paltry dover shou
~ be secured to the widow in the common estate; b
IN, The press of business, and the sudden commenc
ment Of open hosliliiies between the North aI
the S,uth, p~reciuded all possibility of further lie
ats islation 10 our behalf. While Judge Key has O
fiji serVedly received universal thanks from the W
- men Of Ohio for proposing and carrying threui
~ the Legislature the Property Bill they are no lie
on indebted to the Hon. Mr.. Parish for. his faithf
ie. defence of their Cause, not only during the pre-
in ent session, but in years past. If all the Honor
ng ole Senators and Representatives, who have Civ,
ed their influence in favor of it, were to be mentio
he ed, and all the faithful men and earnest WON
Ter who have labored to promote II, the list would
an long aud distinguished. 3 ,
Ire In view then of the past, and the glorious PR
pect for woman in the future, let us renew o
HI zeal, aud pledge to each other untiring fidelity
III the great principles Of human freedom aud equt
Try ity. While the civil war, now inaueurated, sb,
ces continue. other ipterests must NECESSARILY be f.
~, gotten; but should this strife at length result in
on. reconstr uction Of the government, lie, us not f
as get, in that day, what is due to woman.