The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-21
PRESS.
coRTL.ANII ID
Saturday Morning, November 81. 1853.
TIE Woman Suffrage Con-..,.ou

Saturday Morning, November 2l. 1889
TIE Woman Suffrage Convention.
Boston, Nov 10, 1868,
To the Editor Of the Press:
There is, remarks a recent able writer, no
feature of our modern social development
more deserving of attention and reflection
than the profound aud growing discomfort of
thoughtful women with the position in which
their sex is placed, The manifestations of
this discomfort are widely various; often.
from the fear OF misconception and ridicule.
they are so veiled under different DISCUSSES
that their real significance is not at first SIGHT
apparent. There are still extant not a few
specimens OF that thickheaded and seli-com-
placent class of men who cannot understand
why women should weary of the limitations
Win which they have he6ged her round, and
who greet every effort OF hers toward larger
ana ireer lie with the old sneer about de-
sire to don the breeches." The stunid
coarseness OF the gibe does not deprive il cf
lts power to sting; and SO many sensitive
Womans protest against the inequalities that
oppress her is sileneed. But the dissatisfac-
ton Is only @ienced-It is there; and it is IN
truth so wide spread among intelligent wo-
men as 10 be almost universal That is the
momentous fact, the bare statement of which
ought to be sufficient to secure for it the most
earnest attention from all lovers of our race
since 1t is one which if blindly ignored and
neglected, threatens the subyersion OF all So
cial order.
II any proof We're wanting OF the deep in
terest which the "Woman question" in its
various phases excites, it was afforded by the
appearance and composition of the conven-
ton which assembled in this city yesterday
in pursuance of call "to organize perIna-
nent association for the wise, systematic and
efhcient advocacy of woman suffrage and its
kindred civil and political rights" The
weather was as unfavorable as a pouring,
driving rain could make it, yet the hall was
well filled at the opening session, and in the
afternoon was so crowded that many persons
were unable to find seats. At least three
fourths of the assembly were men. Among
the persons present were Rev. James Free
man Clarke, Frederick Douglass, S. E. SewalI.
Brownson Alcott, Col. Higginson, s. S. Fos-
ter, Mrs. Abby Kelley Foster, Miss Olympia
Brown, DR.. Harriott K. Hunt, and others
known for their connection with the move
ment.
Mrs. Caroline Severance of Newton, called
the meeting to order, and introduced Rev.
Samuel May, Jr., who stated the basis of the
convention, and, in behalf of the Committee
of Arrangements, presented the following
list of officers, which was unanimously ac-
cepted:
President. James Freeman Clarke, Bostoa
Htce Presidents. I. w. Higginson, Newport, r.
l.; Samuel E. Sewa Boston; Paulina w. Davis
Proydence, r: 1; John R. Bartlett, do; Francis j.
Newton John Boyden, Woonsocket. r. 4: Thomas
4. Stone, BROOKLYN Ct; Nathaniel White Concord, |
n. H.; r. B: Stratton, Worcester; Abby Kelley |
tlallowell, Medord; Ella Wright Garrison Boston;
James Hutchinson, Jr West Randolph, Vt; n. A.
Foster, Portland.
Secretaries, Charles X. whipple, Kate Hart
George H. Vibbert.
:, Business Committee. Samuel May, Jr., Samuel
Chase. Paulina W. Davis, Olympia Brown, Sarah
H. Southwck.
Finance Committee. e. d. Draper, Richard p
HallOwell, Nathaniel B. Spooner EibTidee Spra eue.
Lille B. Chase, Sallie Holley.
The proceedings were opened with prayer
by the Rev. Olympia Brown, after which Dr.
Clarke made an address of some length. He
thought the question was not why should
the suffrage be extended to woman, but why
should it not? 1t was mistake to suppose
that women did not want to vote. There |
were many questions of public interest in
which they do earnestly desire 10 have a
voice. He thought the influence of the femi-
nine mind and heart was needed in politics;
and as for the idea that woman would be sub |
Jected to insult in voting, he thought it was
not very ingenious Yankee who could not |
devise way to guard them from that danger.
The speaker also referred to the charge that
voting would render women unfeminine, and |
cited some shining instances to show that a |
public career did not necessarily DESTROY
sweetness of spirit and other feminine
charms.
lady, from various persons, including John
Neal, Governor Bullock, and the Rev. DR.. |
Todd of Pittsfeld The latter had been
specially invited to attend and present op-
posing views, if he so desired, but pleaded
engagements.
The Bon. Samuel Sewan made a general
statement of the legal status of women. The
denial to them of suffrage was wrong not
to them alone, but to the whole community
Taxation without representation is tyranny,
according to our Revolutionary theory, yet
women are taxed with no voice in the man.
ner the funds thus raised are used. In Bos-
ton alone women are now assessed on S27,-
77s,OO0real, and on S13, ,-21 900 personal es-
tato. regret that / cannot give in full the
remarks of Mr.. Sewall, which were a very
strong statement of the legal aspect of the
question.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe and Miss Lucy
Stone spoke briefly, and petition, signed by
one hundred lady teachers OF Boston, in ia
vor of woman suffrage, was read by the Pres
ident.
Col. I. W. Higginson was the first speaker
in the afternoon session. He addressed him
self to answering the position sometimes
taken that woman should not vote because
she could not serve in war. The history of
the last eight years had blown that objection
to the winds. The women did serve. They
enlisted for the war and fought it through, IN
camps, in hospitals, and at home in quiet vii
lagos, where they worked increasingly, dying,
many of them, as truly for their country as
il they had fallen by rebel bullets The
speaker had heard it said of the Southern
negro that the hand which had grasped the
musket should never be denied the ballot He
thought it shame that the gentle hand
which had worn itself thin with rolling
bandages, should not be deemed worthy to
roll ballots, while the privilege was not de-
MED to the rebel who had fought against the
government.
Col. Higginsons address elected frequent
and warm applause. Indeed, it was evident
that all the speakers had the sympathy of the
audience, and the prompt expressions of ap-
probation which broke out at every reference
to the principle of equal rights, showed the
set of the popular current. l was surprised
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