New-York tribune., 1868-05-15
AMERICAN EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION


yesterday morning the Cooper Institute. There
moderate attendance, the majority being ladies' Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was called upon 10 preside On
the platform many distinguished friends OF equal
rights for women among whom we're Lucy Stone, Susan
b. Anthony Ernesne H. Rose Frederick Douglass, e. o.
BurleIgh, and Col HgglnsOn.
Mrs. stanton IN calling the Association TO order said
that 1t years since the first convention was held In
this country behalf Of the rights Of women Then the
press throughout the land denounced the movement in
found crtcise it. In country Henry Ward Beecher
and IN England John Stuart Mill and other leading men
in their favor, ana they pointed to woman as TO
element TO help govern the world Last year th0us
ands of petitoned the Constitutional Convention
for the right OF Suffrage but Horace Greeey opposed
their request and succeeded in defeating it by his ina-
report American women were as competent as the
women of England 20 enjoy the right OF suffrage.
The Hutchinson Family then sang, "We come to greet
Mrs Lucy Stone read letter from John Stuart Mill,
which we PRINT as follows: ..,..o
DEAR MADAM have the pleasure RECEIVING yodr letter Of the
23lu beg to express not only nay earnest Sss o my eGanaSnt en-
Equal Rights carrying obtain the full rights Of citizenship for
every subject Of United States and especially for th moey Of the
aud blood cannot alleged their dee voice in those pgb
Interests which concern them the and the same de-
e as The other or In this country the political acknowledgements Of
women gaining ground rp Pahlc opulon ana th e19e y ns
prospeng the old country which has never t poesss 20 gosnu
rs political Institutions principles OF equal Justice but chiefly on ms
states The very foundation Of The equality Of all
human beings the eye Of the lay and Of the Constitution ana EuS
proclaimed great devotion 10 the memorable document W "meh
hey irst aee their existence nation There no true dewocra
where Of the community denied equality OF pouea
rights EVER which permanently divides It's people
with governing part and governed Part Is Is a. az
convinced that the people Of e United states Of both political parties
r5 Of Democrc Government only need peeyerng appeal to
their aud good feelings to induce them to free their Constitution @
qua6catons dear Madame sincerely aHd respectfully yoSn
Letters we're also read from the Rev Robert Coyer of
Chicago, and the daughter OF Joshua X Giddlbgs mss
Anthony invited delegates from Equal Rights Asseca-
tOns 10 seats upon the platform and appointed Mrs
Stanton Mr.. Burlcgh Mr. Foster, and Mrs Rose Com
The next spcascr was Mr Henry Blackwell OF the Tx
ecntiye Committee He referred TO the campaign which
i'm Kansas where Mrs s anton the Rev. olympia Brown.
ana susan B Anthony had carried the standard OF fe
male enfranchiscment. Their eloquence ana ther
determination gave great promise OF success, put
nc that mOppOrtune moment Horace UIeelSy,
ana others In this state had fit in the
Constitutional Convention TO report unfavOraby on
the proposition to extend the suffrage TO tue women OF
the Empire state and thar had influenced the sentiment
of tho vounger western states and their enterprise was
crushed the Republicans Of Kansas after witness
ing TINS example set their faces against the extension OF
the suffrage 10 women and the negroes got about as
many votes did the women But as soon as the SMOKE
and turmoil OF the Presidential election was over Iheu
goOd friends IN Kansas, he was assured, would
again help them, and then ne believed @ thelI
efforts would be crowned with success. NrOunu
had olsn bcen gained iu Ncw-Jersey, In Con-
nccticGt and in othcr Eastern states, aud certain
lecturers had recently taken occasion 10 SPEAK in
terms OF ridcue OF their efforts bad also benefited their
Ma Iucv Stone blackwell followed with a resume OF
the progress that had been made m the question OF woman
suffrage. SAo alluded 10 the state Association IN new
Jersey, wh ch was now IN hOuIshpg cOnGlton, WIN
membership OF more than 1900, comprising 4W iegal
voters Aud she thought that was one OF the
best things there was IN the little state OF New
presented to the LEGISLATURE of the State
prayn for the ballot and for property rights Tor women,
and although il had been returned from the committee
with an adverse report which had been made the vehicle
Of cheap wit and indecent alulons had feGelEeu IS
votes in its favor against it, That might show the
status OF tho NowJcrsey Legislature on the question,
and II indicated material advance. Slat aa9oSidVnS
were also in progress in Wisconsin and MASSACHUSETTS,
and the Legislature OF the latter state ha9 gwen mem "a
hearing and 20 votes last winter Ana Lloul Do1 Ses
ofThe Atlantic. continued the speaker como assurances
that the social and political reconstruction now taxing
Col r Hggtnson was neXt introduced He alluded
20 the deeply rooted interest alrtuy ei. w ~
before them IN ths country ~ COnI' Is w W. 49,, - ,ia5r
In England There, John Stuart MIL was almost thelr
only advocate he were 70 Iie' lhey %0ut.. IN o
champion to declare their ughs Dut ID thc Snlte
the feeling favor Of this extension OF suffrage nad 80
perm, ated the people OF ai classes anu & t
It's present leaders were an 10 De Ieu gHay ~ Mou ~
prove deathblOw % the cause " would ouy pea 5pple
the surface and tomorrow new WO! ri'c G
in is behalf The benefits OF repuDncah e
continued, have been inestmablc TO the women OF our
country. but their own lndlneIence mas uoe nSn s & -
retard the attainment OF their ends me ilgnt vi
frage should he given 20 the women because II Is
women are 20 1--we side by side, and whatever ele-
Yates the will also raise the CONDITION OF the men
The speaker referred 10 the frivolous and brnleSs young
men OF the present day whO9e ambition was 70 learn the
figures Of the latest dance They could not talk because
mutual refining influence Of both sexes was necessary
and essential 70 elevate both The early education OF
both should be carefully attended to- that young
girls should be- taught useful ana practical enpoyments
The difference bet the paid TO women and TO
men owing Ia great part 10 tho Tact that the employ
mcnt ~ In industrial pursuits was FOR lie while
only remained IN them until they could get mar
red
reason why had not been so thoroughly educated
10 any professions trades was because the law dd not
give them the right 10 enjoy their labor equally with
men Once give them the balOt, and II would prove
thorough sChOOlmater educating and hitting them Tor
anv station OF usefulness Referring 20 the Bloomer
reform attempted years ago. she said Il had been
denounced by the press ana pnPAc, ana hoS1e9 a az
we're to be adopted by the members Of the d monde Of
Paris the pattern would be eagerly copied by the children
OF IN on mere The caprices OF fashion and the rvOl-
OF dress she id, occupied too much OF the time OF
the young women OF tine present day From the nursery
10 womanhoOd they we're taught 10 dess uos, ana aIte
Themselves as dolls she demanded the extension OF the
suffrage Ia the women rs "A simple. natural right, and
concluded NV saving thar sho would have TO say in
the evening about the fmsY young women aud young
men. a. well rs the fmsy old men, who were IukeWarm
Musicby the Hutchinson Family followed, an original
aria, OF which The refrain was Keep the bail a-roln
nnon5ccd Ns Iucy stone Blackwell as the next speak
cious after listening to such delightful music TO demand
but the Society had hard do and must be Wig
Orously commenced She held IN her hand hand drafts
Tdod Si TWO Re'Sn Srsys the Senate and 'H House
OF Representatives in Congress assembled 70 extend the
right OF fem ale suffrage the OF the District Of
Columbia and the Territories OF the United States Mem
lated her that they we're ready to vote arma-
tivey upon this question Of female suffrage when il
should be brought properly before them and inasmuch
as the Congress had Jurisdiction over the regulation OF
the suffrage in the District OF Columbia and the
Territories this petition was calculated TO
bring the matter before them IN the
proper form She reminded the Convention that there
was an Equal Rights Society in Washington Zealousy
working for the advancement Of their in the DIS
trct OF Columbia and 10 their duty TO assist them,
and that would bo done by the presentment of that pe
ton. The second petition prayer to the
two Houses OF Congress 10 pass resolution
submitting to tho people OF the various States
constitutional amendment forever prohibiting
political distinctions account OF That petition
also calculated TO bring the question in its proper
form before Congress She spoke at length OF the I'm
portance Of having these petitions numerousy signed
and speedily presented The condition of the women or
the District OF Columbia similar 20 that OF the
slave OF hyegone yearsthey had no legal right