New-York tribune., 1870-02-02
A MfIDEJ FOR IEGTSLd Tors

The Convention lately held in Washington
was one of the most important yet held by
women in this country. They had at last
brought their batteries to bear upon the citadel
itself. They had fair feld and plenty of favor
Half dozen congressman were usually present,
and these members of the despised sex seemed,
curlousy enough to exercise both quietng
and elevating influence upon them. There was
none of the virulence, confusion, or PERSONAL
ties of the New York Conventions. The ladies
aimed, indeed, to deport themselves With all
the dignity and grace of which they were ca
pable, and which the Importance of this final
presentation of their rights demanded.
The Convention. therefore, apart from its
object is, we think, worthy of grave and dis
passionate consideration. One of the strongest
claims made by its leaders has always been
that our legislative bodies needed the presence
of woman to purify, and infuse into them that
decorum, gravity, and sense of the dignity of
their work which is now so sadly lacking.
This very Convention has been pointed to as
model in manner and matter for some leading
men. 1t certainly did adequately represent
women of the suffrage movement. They had
| IL III JllelT own WSic cotaiiJ uhiHi-
peded; the meetings were presided over, ad
dressed, even reported, by women. Was it
then, when compared with similar assemblages
of men, that new development of force and
sound sense in argument, Of noble bearing in
manner, which we are in future to initiate
Or was it, in spite of the undoubted earnest
ness of its members. incOnsequent and woman
ish, marked in every point by the features
and foibles that weak minded men say separate
the sex from oursi To decide this, imagine
for q moment the Convention to have been
one of representative men, political, scientific,
and literary:
Mr.. Longfellows benign face formed dark back
ground for the picture bily set3f by brown eheyiot
latest style lie introduced the subject as the most i'm
ss @ He Sl ' an
exquisite walkingsuit, with diamond studs and the
proving sagerness of the laborng classes Virginia
TO return to the Union, the whole population of
10 % had no doubt the vSsi%;an, vo%d vote the
car fare of dozen Radical Senators coming up to the
Gen Butler dn full evening dress and lilac kd-soves)
next arose After few remarks, in his liquid and mu
ss yOSe ne smRaa,ss Ss S the Rebellion
stamped my foot" he said, and sa. down amid great
Cen Grant finding the proceedings had stopped called
upon different persons in the audience in his usual win
ming manner To come up and speak " they knew any
thing say about Virginia; but they begged TO be
cpsed, aud the General excused them. An unknown
gentleman then introduced having written q
pamphlet proving that yrginian invented threshlng
machine, and WAS warmly welcomed. lie made few
remarks about threshing.
Gen Grant then rose again, and told story Of how he
had been appointed to speak conjunction with
Mr. Beecher and while puttng his Winter clothes,
the day being chilly he received telegram that the
nckle Beeoher had failed him. lie then put his hat
and won't TO the meeting. He chagrned that it
buckets Of co-water had been poured directly
his spine. " Let tee" continued the President,
what did tell tins story fori Oh. yesl II was to
that ought 10 help each other and be brothers.
30 We must let Virginia In. think III sit down"
We subject this abstract. which certainly is
fair, being copied almost verbatim from the
ladies' remarks, to the consideration of the Con-
gross now in session. They can assuredly learn
something from IL of mildness in speech.
Whether the ladies when admitted to full
political rights have anything to learn, we dare
pfe I..ibn