oted and were citizens in
Vermont, and, under the XIV. Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, we claim the right to vote here."

Mrs. C. G. Ames, of California, alluded to a case which occurred
in San Francisco. A woman was informed that she might be
protected through the courtesy of the consul, but that she had no
claim to protection as a citizen of the Government.

The Committee on Credentials presented the names of
delegates[182] who were already present as entitled to seats in
the Convention. Other names were added as they were reported to
the Convention during the session.

There were also in attendance persons from Virginia, Mississippi,
and Nebraska, who conferred with the Chairman of the Committee on
credentials with reference to their admission to the body of
delegates. They were all _bona fide_ residents in the States they
represented, but they seemed so undecided in reference to the
question of woman suffrage, finding it hardly possible to tell
whether they were for it or against it, that it was thought not
best for them to propose themselves as self-constituted
delegates. Near the close of the Convention, those from Nebraska
and Virginia sought the Chairman of the Committee to say that if
another convention were to be held, they could heartily and
conscientiously take seats as delegates; for if they had any
doubts as to the justice and utility of woman suffrage in the
outset, they had been wholly removed by the arguments to which
they had listened. Twenty-one States were thus represented in the
Convention, making it truly National.

On motion of Mr. Blackwell, the President was authorized to
appoint a committee,[183] consisting of one from each State on
the permanent organization of the Convention. Pending the
announcement of the committee, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, of Boston,
delivered an address to the Convention, replete with the noblest
wisdom and the soundest morality. Her utterance was both
prophetic and hortatory. She cautioned women not to do injustice
to others, while seeking justice for themselves; advised them
that they must prepare for the new responsibilities they coveted;
and that they would better learn to command, by learning well how
to serve. She closed her grand and inspiring address with this