Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-23
POLITICAL.
A Convention of Fast womsn and
Free Negroes. IS
They Deny the Ability of Men to
Make Equitable Laws.

ALBANY, November Plat the Equal
Rights Convention yesterday, after con-
siderable debate from various speakers,
Mrs. Emily Elizabeth Jones, from the
business committee, presented the follow
ing resolutions:
Resolced, That if liberty and the pur-
suit ofhappiness are natural and inalien-
able rights, so also is the right Of suffrage
as their only possible security. And we
hold also, that the distinction OF rights
into civil and political is without war
rant and without recognition only as a
consequence of slavery and caste engen-
dered by it.
Resolred, That we hold, with Lamar
tine, that universal suffrage is the first
truth and only basis of every pational
republic, and with the Hon. Chas. Sum-
ner that the ballot is the only sufficient
guarantee of rights to the citizens to
which we are bound by every necessity
and every reason, the one thing needful
to which all other things shall be given
protection, opportunity, homestead, and
right of every kind.
Nor do we inquire whether the decla-
rations apply to men only; since women
are compelled to bear the burdens, as in
the language of Hon. w. b. Lawrence
in his letter to Senator Sumner, the State
constitution must originate with and be
assented to by majority OF the people,
including as well those whom it disfran-
chises as those whon it invests with the
suffrage, therefore,
Resolred, That we recommend the
election of women as delegates to the
approaching Constitutional Convention,
there being nothing in the present Con-
stitution or laws of the State to prevent
their being recognized or treated in all
respects as equal members.
Resolred, That the present limitations
ofthe franchise in the United States to
the class known as white, male citizens,
vests the Government in minority,
because it excludes in women one-half
the American people, and in persons of
color, one eighth, thus reducing five out
of every eight adult American citizens
to permanent political subsection, and
our present State and National Govern
ments are thus limited to three eighths Of
the adult citizens, and are not, in fact,
even in form, but constitute
oligarchies OF race and sex.
Resolred, That no ruling class ever
did, ever will, or ever can lcgislate wisely
for disfranchised class, and that the
best and only humane government is
suffrage the only road to a
safeguard of universal justice.
Resolred, That we respectfully ask the
legislature in arranging the conditions
for the constitutional convention, to pass
an enactment that there may be at least
women included as candidates at large,
to sit as members of the convention on
the same conditions and with the same
rights and powers of others, and that
copy of this and also resolution No. 3, be
furnished to each member Of the conven-
ton at the opening of its session.
During the reading of the resolution,
Fred. Douglass mounted the platform,
and was received with applause.
Mrs. Stanton said that she protested
against the name copperhead, and she
also claimed that when the consumma-
ton which they had wished for was
gained, it should be arrogated TO the ben
eft Of one party or the other. Each had
equally favored their views, and each
equally dissented from them.
Mr. Douglass protested against the
views of Mrs. Stanton. In Rhode Island
the Democrats had opposed them, and
be had no doubt that it would be done
again when party exigencies required it.
At the afternoon session speeches
were made by Mrs Stanton, Parker
and Miss Bessie Bisbe.
At the evening session the convention
was addressed by Rev. o. Brown, after
which Mrs. II. b. Blackwell offered
resolution that Mrs. Z. c. Stanton, Mrs
Fred. Douglass and Mrs Susan B. An
thony be committee to present to the
Legislature our protestations against the
of the proposed Constitutional
and our declaration of the
right to be represented by women on
pqual terms with men as members Of the
to revise the constitution of
The State.
The resolution was adopted.
The convention was then addressed by
Susan d. Anthony, G. i. Remond, Mrs
L. C. Stanton, Mrs Z. Jones, Parker
and Lucy Stone, after which it