Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-08
atnion aud Smerifan.
IMPORTANT POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
-" EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL 1.-THE
WOMEN IN THE FIELD,
From the New York Herald.

From the New FORK Hcrald.l
The eleventh National Woman's Rights
Convention will be held in the city of New
York, at the Church Of the Puritans, Union
square, on Thursday, May 10th, at ten
o'clock.
Addresses will be delivered by persons to
be hereafter announced.
Those who tell us the republican idea is
failure do not see the deep gulf between our
broad theory and partial legislation; do not
see that our Government for the last centu-
~ has been but the repetition of the old C
periments Of class and caste. Hence the
failure is not in the principle, but in the
lack Of virtue on our part to apply it.
The question now is, have we the wisdom
and conscience, from the present upheaviags
of Cur political system, to reconstruct a gov
eminent on the one enduring basis that has
never yet been tried-equal rights to all.
From the proposed class of legislation in
Congess it is evident we have not yet learned
wisdom from the experience Of the past for
while our representatives at Washington are
discussing the right Of suffrage for the black
man, as the only protection of life, liberty
and happiness, they deny that necessity Of
citizenship" to woman by proposing to in
troduce the word "male into the Federal
Constitution. In securing suffrage but TO
another shade Of manhood, while we dis
franchise fifteen million taxpayers, we
come not one line nearer the republican
idea. Can a ballot in the hand Of a woman
and dignity on her brow, more unsex her
than do sceptre and a crown? Shall an
American Congress pay less honor to the
daughter Of a President than British Par
Lament TO the daughter Of a king? Should
not our petitions command as respectful a
hearing in a republican Senate as a speech
of Victoria in the House Of Lords? DO we
not claim that here all women and men are
nobles-all heirs apparent TO the throne?
The fact that this backward legislation has
reused so little thought or protest from
the women Of the country, but proves what
some of our ablest thinkers have already
declared: That the greatest barrier to
a government Of equality is found in
the aristocracy Of its women. For while
woman holds an ideal position above man
and the work Of life, poorly initiating
the pomp, heraldry and distinctions of an
efete European civilization, we as nation
can never realize the divine idea Of equal
ity that man in his highest moments has
enunciated TO the world. To build a tire
republic, the church and the home must
NhANNi ~ w oetiAAN AO" oNN Al
the State-for while our egotism, selfshness,
luxury and ease are baptized in the name Of
him whose life was sacrifce-while at the |
family altar we are taught TO worship wealth,
power and position, rather than humanity, |
it is vain TO talk of a republican govern
ment. The fair fruits Of liberty, equality
and fraternity must be blighted in the bud
till cherished in the heart of woman.
At this hour the nation needs the highest
thought and inspiration Of true woman
hood infused into every vein and artery Of
its life; and woman needs broader deeper
education, such as a pure religion and lofty
patriotism alone can give. From the bap-
tism Of this second revolution should not
woman come forth with new strength and
dignity, clothed in all those "rights, privil- |
eyes and immunities" that shall best enable |
her TO fulfill her highest duties to humanity, |
her country, her family and herself?
In bebalfofthe National Woman's Rights |
Central Committee
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, Pres.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY, Secretary.
New York, March 81, 1866.