The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-24
enrrDET lrD rHE sUrrn1enTs
MS. Ei'saSeth Csdy stsntou Tells sfa Lively
AVID Isteresting Engagement N ths New

| snd Interssting Eneaeement n ths New
| YORK Constitutionsi Cosventisw OF 1eeH
In q recent number Of TIE sUE some CORE
spondent asks the question; why did Horaes
Greeley oppose a woman Suffrage amendmsn,
in the Constitutional Convention when he had
always before been IN favor Of that reform7"
Besauss he feared IL might smbarrsss his
party in their efforts to carry negro suf-
fraee." the Republican measure Of that time.
As soon as the Convention was called the
| Woman Suffrage Association decided to make
. thorough canvass Of the State. 10 hold meet
ings, scatter tracts, and circulate petitions TO
get the world male" from Article IL. section
| 1 OF the Constitution. Mrs. Stanton and Mis-.
Anthony called on Mr. Greeley and asked him
to give them space to advocate the measure In
the Tribune He said no. emphaticslly. You
must not get M any agitation now for that
measure. You are good Republicans; help rs
to get the word white out Of the Constitution ,
this Is the negro's turn your turn will come
next" NO no." We replied, we shall not have
another chance In twenty years We have
stood with the negro In the Constitution for .
century. the only decent compeer we have had !
and now when the constitutional door II open
We should 20 into the kingdom together How
would you look. Mr.. Greeley. holding meetings
to advocate negro suffrage II you were dis
franchIsed yourselfr' "Oh, that 10 differsnt
two souls that have en- equal love for llberty.-
well. ladies'" he said, Il give you fair
warning, that II you persist IN agitatinR
your demands, 1 shall oppose ron. both In the
Convention and in the Tribune" Mira Gree
ley, however, was equally determined to dc
what she could. and saw that petitions were
diligently circulated In westchester county.
On June 4, 1887. the Constitutional Oonven-
tion assembled In Albany. and on the 10th Mr.
Graves Of Herkimer moved that . commit
tee Of I've be appointed By the CHAIR. TO report
at an early day whether the Convention should
provide that when a majority Of women voted
that they wanted the right Of suffrage. they
should have IL" and on the 10th the President,
William A. Wheeler, appointed the following
committee on the right OF suffrage and the
qualifications for holding of1cs"t Horace
Greeley. Westchester county: Leslie W. Rus
sell. st. Lawrence county; William Cassidy.LAlA
bany county; William II. Merrill Wyoming
county George Williams, Oneida county, Joha
G. Schumacher. Kings countyi Isaac l. En-
dress. Livingston county.
The nrst petition brought before the COM
mittee in favor OF suffrage for women was pre-
sented By George William Curtis Of Richmond
county. sent by the friends Of human progress
from their annual meeting at Waterloo
On June 81 Mra Stanton and Miss Anthony
were granted hearing before the Convention,
and at the close OF their addresses were asked
by different members to reply to various OBJ
iections that readily suggested themselves
Among others. Mr.. Greeley said, Ladies'. you
will please remember that the bullet and ballot
nSht Wss the p ron pe1 Sepl 10
We are ready to fight. sir. just as you fought
The colIoauy between the members and the
ladies'. prolonged until q late hour. wac both
ws. 20 Lucy
called out deep interest and consideration from
III n spaee allowed. ' might give . few Of tn.
petitions to show that many leading mon and
wT%sn twenty years ago did tes eve n woman
followed with his report Nearly every mem
Ssr ladies' Gseees nee W.ef
to week at Miss Alice Cary's receptions had
great editor was somewhat embarrassed. The
TOP OF his head was as red as beet as the Pc
Of the State, and when Mrs Greeie y's was read.
signed by 3QO women from Westehester he
to snnihilste us. one and all =
The petitions for woman suffrage were pre-
sented in the Conys 6 until they reached IN
Greeley gave his report the galleries were
about that Mr.. Greeiey's report would Be-
9sss into the sne
George William Curtis. at the special request
he arose snd sSd sh
bold IN my bend petition from Mira Horace
chester. asking that the word male" Be
stricken from the Constitution" the sensation
Mr. ehSGo wa. :. onS
ssGualied by the amusement OF the other mem.
In order. he was evidently embarrassed By
seeming to nntagonize the measure in view Of
ladies in his imm sdiate social circle. y. '"'
h 81 ahs
u manhood suffrage" said:
Having thus briefly set forth the consider.
The few. and moderate changes proposed, We
proceed to indicate our controlling reasons
respects more important Innovations. Your
,om lnittee does not recommend an extension
tns ssstys Franchise to wSmsI
public sentiment does not demand and would
aSt snstsin an nnEys,ion so Leyou.ionsEy and
II duties and functions between the sexes as
'ensraole and peryading as government II;
n social and domestic life. Should we prove
o be in error on this head. the Convention
he aTst section Of our Proposed astiols. u' IN
Nor have We seen TIT to propose the snfran-
ears. The current ideas and usage. IL ous
lay; but especially in this country. seem al
lon. II not total overthrow OF parental sSthor-
y. especially over half-grown boyA With the
incerest good will for the class In question,
Ve submit that they may spend the hours
'hich they can spare from their lAbors and
heir lessons more usefuly and profitably In
Mastering the wisdom OF the saRes and philos-
pliers who have calculated the science OF
than In attendance on midnight
aueuses. or In Mrangling around the polls.
HORACE GREELEY, Chairman
WIN III. MERRILL.
LESLIE w. RUSSELL.
GEO. WILLIAMR
-ALBANT. June 20. 1857"
After Mr.. Greeleys report, Mr.. Graves msds
sVeral efforts 70 get his resolution adopted u
me for the women to vote upon IL In the
pring OF 1868. Mr.. Weed of Clinton also de-
red that the vote for the measure should
tate. The great event e the Convention was
le speech OF George William Curtis on the
sport OF the COMMITTEES on the right of sut-
age and the qualifications 10 hold ONCE"
Alter the Convention adjourned that day
ome OF the ladies fingered In the vest buls 70
Mr.. Greeley on his conservative
port but he had disappeared through some
de door. ana could not be found. A few