The New York herald., 1870-05-01
WASHINGTON, April 20, 1870.

He was great scholar Of the Catholic Church. what
ever may be thought OF him In 0lner RESPECTS. he
wrote some very ever things on inc Ioi'ies OF ms
day, not sparing even religion; ana among other
subjects which occupied his mind and pen ind
was that of woman's rights, which, IL wou'd
appear. was agitated by the Growing hens
OF that early period, perhaps not quite 80 openly
but, at all events, much In the same style as curing
the present times. female parliament met aooot
the year 15oo, and Erasmus gives us lively record
OF the speeches. and procee lings. The pr.ncpal
oratoresses were CorDelia, Margaretta. Perotla,
Julia and Catharna, all very pretty names and pretty
women belonging to the married station.
The Female Parliament or Convention having been
called to order, Cornelia acted as Presidcntress or
Speakeress, and delivered the following address. l
give the speech as reported by the lively Erasmus, as
follows:--
CORNELIA-I esteem this DAY as most happy and
propl to our cause and 70 the entire republic Or
women. ana considering your numbers ana tne
aaerify Of your coming together ldeduce the gh ST
hopes for our future success and heeve tnat undsr
Gods favor there will he suggested to the minds OF
each Of you what besl pertains to tile common weat,
disnlty AMI usefulness Of all. All of YOU, think,
must o. aware how many of our privileges
have fallen into dislse, and how that the men
daily In public assemblies transact their business,
while demurely sitting at home spinning we
abandon cur interess 10 chance. Hence does it
come to pass tnat there Is no common cause nor
o. ganization among US, and that men mold US 10 no
higher esteem than a. ministers OF their pleasures
AMI searcey deem us worthy 10 be iaukei with ihe
human species. But now, wnat we have b gun, let
tule how tuings viii finally turn Out; but refian
from utterllg words of evil prophecy. since we
have 81 me- lecte to assert our dgn y let IL be cur
irst care restore 1t TO its proper place. The
sest Of kings mas let 1t Of record that IN muci
clqase there Is wsdom'-proyef6s XII. Bishops
hold their synods the monastic orders their con-
clayes soldiers their counc OF wa, thieves tneir
gatherings anu e,en the tribes OF ants hold their
consultat Ons. Or all living beings women alone
have meeting Of memDel
MARGARErTA mi err apis-Otener than is becoming.
CORNELIA proc eeds-Th.s IS no time ior interrupt
ing me; allow me to in sn my pc ation; time
wll be allowed to each Tor making remarks. Wnat
we here propose Is not q novelty, snce an ancient
example may be qlvel in po.nr. It Is about 1900
years nee il stake not, that Heliog gabalus, that
most praiseworthy CAESAR ..su
when he WAS dragged through the streets ol Rome
by a hook ami then dung into a sewer.
CoRNELIA-Aga am interrupted. III LOT Sucn
reasons we acqnt or condemn Christ himself
may be called evil, since he Was transhxed
upon the cross; or ',o Dom,ilan a. bn@a poas
AID, besiies. nothing more arocious Is attributed
to Ogabalus han hat ne cast on the ground ine
sacred fre whicn was in charge o the vestal ylr-
gins and that he mad images OF Moses ana Ch Is IN
his prisale oratory or chapel, Cal ing the Ia Yer
Christian out Oh coems ct,c rne I EmperSr peIS nrvy
G unci for coAsu alton upon The ara rs OF Rome.
So, also, his mo II r Augusta institute council,
In which were discusse ali ma re- rea Ing 10 hec
SIX. This assemble @ the men, whether ny way OF
dlstincnsn or for !oks caea anse cue scna ', u
rles, the times admOnsh US 10 reilaugurate
this uactl or cDngre s. Nor Is It In opposition TO
to speik in ass ssmoles, since he reenei TO what Is
now called the Csluhh. He spoke OF me assemblies
OF IN n; this Is Of women only II we are to forever
hoi our tongue, To what en- has nature ID StOwe1
upon US the power, OF speech, surely as yyacOus as
those OF men aud voices not less sonorous-tneirs
however. being more Iancorous and having close
resemblance to that OF the donkey II behooves us,
however, to transact our buslless with serious
ness, lest men SHOULD gain car us tle
rss some more ssaaHs 'nss sS
speaking of US they are always npertinent. But II
IL be allowed to estimate the character OF their
councils according to the truth they will be found
| to be much more w0manish tlan ours. Year after
year we see monarchs at war with each other, and
for theoogians. bishops, priests and people they
wrangle forever and agree upon NOTHING: AS many
men, 80 many opinions. Truly among them there
Is more INCONSISTENCY than VITA women. Nor IL there
| any harmony one state with another or .neighDor
mitted to our hands, II mistake not human affairs
would be more pruden!ly managed. It may NOT be-
| many great men but iG is pop r for me 60 eolte
mere what Solomon has written in MS Proverbs,
chapter xii.:"Qu rrels are engendered by pride;
be ruled by wisdom" But wili no longer detain
| you from The programme Every hing must be
done in good order, becomlngy and whou. tu-
mu e. and first shall be cons de- ed he quest ons:-
Who shall be admitted to In s convention and VINO
| lefr our An unassoried crowd VIII begel cOnfu-
sion rather tnin Judgment; but an assembly Of an
/ exclusive few would look like tyranny.
CoRNEL1A-Tho.e who have been thrice married
] should not be admi ted.
JULIA-Where oref
| tanned an emeritus rank l would apply tie sine
rule also 10 such reached their Sc eltietl year.
shorq h asS & ne ecea hS n .na' 40 one spea
proper enough In general Way-but that aiS), in
moderation As Terence says, do nothing IN exces.
| CATHERINA--Why should we be allowed to speak
less reey OF our husbands than they do everywhere
Of US.
] CORNELIA procae ls:-If the whole truth must he
told, our dignity de- ends upon the mcn II we ira
duce them what can we expe Dnt III they may dis
honor us. But though we have not few JUS ctuscs
Of com aint, STILL taking broad view OF the gr ar
labor and business or life, our condition is more
living they travel by sea and ianJ mol without endan-
gering their lises; Il war should break out the
rumpets sounded, and IN iron arnl0r they stan
in order OF battle while we securely sit at home. II
Ofe ces are commited agaius the law! 1t goes nari
with them while cur sex ls spared. Finally, II Con-
| Germs u In an esJecla manner that we CT
suitable men for husbands Il now remains for US 10
determine the orier OF rank to he obsers ed in this
| consenaon but It happens to u.s. as tt frequently
docs TO ths orators OF kings, princes and pom
tlfs, squabb!e ABOUT this matter IN their councils
for three entire weeks before they proceed to
business. The first place OF rank should be awarded
those Of noble birth and among these should iake
PRECEDENCE such as have iour quart rings o. noblty;
| one, and finally those OF only one-half In every
case the most ancient family is to take precedence.
Tner shall be another convention of peDeln women,
in VIII ch the rsr place shall b. assigned TO tho most
prolific mothers. Among equals, age shall obvlae
6ny a eStdte sffdi DC C0u-
| sis ing Vt such as never had any offspring.
CATHERINA-Where will you place the widowss
CORNELIA-Timey admonished. place shall be
awarded them amO " the natrOns, II they nave or
| have had any children. Barren women are to oc.
cupy the lowest seat.
| CORNELIA-Next In order to be decided Is the
manner in wh1 n the Votes here shall lie counted
whether by bal OF, by balls, by UtUu COCe by raising
! the hands or by teers
| CATHERINA-In voting by balls there is cheating,
likewt,e by ballot II we rise to our teet to vote
| we wear long dresses, we should raise too much
dust. The best plan Will be for each one to announce
the vote by the voice.
| CORNELIA-But 1t Is not easy to count voices and
| turning the convention into o tumult must be
avoided.
| CATHERINA--Nothing can be done without secre-
tarles, that nothing may escape the memory and be
| los. Their number must be setlled but how snail
we AVOID row?
CATHERINA-Let no one address the Convention
unless reques ed 10 do SO by their own rank or
order; any one breaking this rule to be moved out
OF the Senate, and any who tatrieS about what
| transplres here shall be compelled TO silence for
three days.
90 for for a IF trov ooctr