here are fifty, thirty, ten, or even one
woman who is capable of exercising this trust or holding this
responsibility it demonstrates that sex, as a sex, does not
disfranchise, and the whole question is granted. (Applause.) Here
our laws are made by irresponsible people--people who demoralize
and debauch society; people who make their living in a large
measure by upholding the institutions that are inherently,
forever, and always corrupt. (Applause.) Laws that are made by
the people who own dramshops, who keep gambling-saloons, who
minister to the depraved passions and vices of either sex, laws
made by the idler, the dissipated, by the demoralized--are they
laws? It is true that this government is founded upon caste.
Slavery is abolished, but the aristocracy of sex is not. One
reason that the suffrage is not conceded to woman is that those
who refuse to do so, do not appreciate it themselves. (Applause.)
As long as the power of suffrage means the power to steal, to
tread down the weak, and get the rich offices into their own
hands, those who have the key of the coffers will wish to keep it
in their own pockets. (Applause.)

The Committee on Organization reported the officers of the
society for the ensuing year.[119]

STEPHEN FOSTER laid down the principle that when any persons on
account of strong objections against them in the minds of some,
prevented harmony in a society and efficiency in its operations,
those persons should retire from prominent positions in that
society. He said he had taken that course when, as agent of the
Anti-Slavery Society, he became obnoxious on account of his
position on some questions. He objected, to certain nominations
made by the committee for various reasons. The first was that the
persons nominated had publicly repudiated the principles of the
society. One of these was the presiding officer.

Mrs. STANTON:--I would like you to say in what respect.

Mr. FOSTER:--I will with pleasure; for, ladies and gentlemen, I
admire our talented President with all my heart, and love the
woman. (Great laughter.) But I believe she has publicly
repudiated the principles of the society.

Mrs. STANTON:--I would like Mr. Foster to state in what way.

Mr. FOSTER:--What are these principles? The equality of
men--un