Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-03
rho woman Suffrage convention.
SECOND DAY-AFTERNooN.

AT the conclusion of the address by
Henry Clark, Esq, an abstract OF which
we gave yesterday Mrs. Lucy Stone de-
livered an able and elaborate discourse.
She said In coming TO Vermont to help
IN spreading the cause of Woman Suffrage,
we came with the thought that we were
hslping the cause of human freedom.
Herself aud associates had come not to
disturb or subvert anything which in the
natural state of things ought to exist. The
Declaration of Independence is now ap-
piled in it's fullest sense to all classes of
men but women, one-hnlf of the popula-
,tion. were lrf, out. We are believers in
THE golden rule: Whatsoever ye would
chat others should do unto you do ye even
50 unto them" The application of this
would give AL rnen and women rights
alike. 1t WAS admitted that governments
derived Their power from the consent of
the governed, yet one-half of our pepula-
tion who were governed, had no voice i'll
Framing law. to govern them. Coming
10 Vermont believing this we rejoice to
End our-lves mot by men and women
,cho ARE endeavoring to help Us in the
"A aause, and we shall never forget the action
Of your Council of Ceusors in admitting
IN amendment to the constitution, the
adoption Of which will give US this right,
-nS the kindness of the noble men and
.gOmSe from among yon who are assisting
u.s. Every ghere the eycs of earnest men
aud woman g.a upon you. She had re-
aeatly come tgoin Ohio and other West
ern States, aud thess tho people read with
avi,lity the contents OF Vermont journals,
"a sas what course VermonteTs ara parsu-
,ug in this matter, they looking eagerly
to SEQ it gou here in Vermont will not
adopt a course which will give t" your
State the government which Abraham
II Lincoln desired OF the peoplss by the
geoplo aud for the people A few days
v,uor. as she stood by the tomb of Lincoln,
81 Springfield, III and saw the prepara-
tons ~ .king for the ERECTION of "a mouu-
meut to the memory of that martyr of
liberty. her thoughts travelled back to
Vermont, and sha Thought of . another
tsller monument, TO be erected here, With
4 brolGsf base aud deeper cap, to o3mmemo-
rate the 6eeda of the men who have said
To- their mGtlass and sisters "Come and
help us make good lawg for government
il unjust without the consent of the
governed" You know how gratefully
the people commemorate the landing of
II a 90 nd
deeds of the patriots of Bunker Hill, and
they will one day turn to this spot with
~ much greater reverence than to those
lnonua1ents as tho adoption of the measure
which You have submitted to you must
be broader in its effects than were the
deeds of the Pilgrims and Revolutionary
psuiots.
Mrs. Stone alluded to an article in the
Burlington Free Press by Vermont
woman, which she characterized as the
most able vindication of the wrong it had
been her good or i'll fortune to have en-
oouutered, and asked were they not en-
titled to vote who could write such
articles Drunkards could vote; she could
not. While j rejoice in her ability it is
sad to see such woman ignore the right
TO the ballot. Able judges had said if the
people knew the wrong inflicted on
women through masculine legislation,
suffrage would no longer be withheld
from them. She cited a case in st. Adams
where nine women paid more taxes than
any nine men on the street, yet they
could not vote, while the men could |
IL was fitting that protest come from |
rhe lips of woman against such proceed
ings and she demanded right to assist
in making laws which shall give mothers
control of children equal with their father.
Sha dwelt upon the inequality of the law
as to property between husband and wife.
Now, though the wife work equally we'll
gith the husband and contribute as much
TO accommodating property, and bore chill
dren and endured untold sIlEerings, at
bis death, for her years Of trouble, labor
aud pain, the law gave her one-third only
Of the accumulated gains She thought
that women should vote. that they may
help make the laws and check a9ch unfair
ness.
The chairman next introduced Goi AL
bert Clarke of st. Adams, editor of the
Messenger, whom he characterized as one
who, with his pen, had done much to for
ward the cause in the State.
Ar. Clarke commenced by thanking the
presiding officer for the compliment paid
him, and thought he should be content to
con6ne himself to that sphere without
seeking to make himself prominent on
another. But he had few words to
offer, as the question of Woman
Suffrage was not fully understood
in Vermont. He proceeded to il
illustrate fully the workings of the Coun-
Gil of Censors, and the way the PROPOSE
tion to amend the constitution was SUBJ
mitted to the people, showing that if it |
was not now acted upon it would be
seven years before it could again be sub
mitted. Therefore. it seemed that now
was the acceptable, and they had conolud-
ed to make it the accepted time, and put
the question before ths people on its mer-
its. We have met with opposition and
been denounced, and the good women
who have come here been DETAINED and
called hsrpies, and in company with that
eminent champion of freedom, Mr.. Car
xa@stil&e 10