of
the "National Woman's Rights Committee," called the Convention to
order, and said:

We have assembled to-day to discuss the right and duty of women
to claim and use the ballot. Now in the reconstruction is the
opportunity, perhaps for the century, to base our government on
the broad principle of equal rights to all. The representative
women of the nation feel that they have an interest and duty
equal with man in the struggles and triumphs of this hour.

It may not be known to all of you that, during the past year,
thousands of petitions, asking the ballot for woman, have been
circulated through the Northern States and sent to Congress. Our
thanks are due to the Hon. James Brooks for his kindness in
franking our petitions, and his skill in calling to them the
attention of the nation. As we have lost this champion in the
House, I trust his more fortunate successor will not _dodge_ his
responsibilities to his countrywomen who are taxed but not
represented. This should be a year of great activity among the
women of this State. As New York is to have a constitutional
convention in '67, it behooves us now to make an earnest demand,
by appeals and petitions, to have the word "male" as well as
"white" stricken from our Constitution.

SUSAN B. ANTHONY, presented several resolutions for consideration.

5. _Resolved_, That disfranchisement _in a republic_ is as
great an anomaly, if not cruelty, as slavery itself. It is,
therefore, the solemn duty of Congress, in "_guaranteeing a
republican form of government to every State of this
Union_," to see that there be no abridgment of suffrage
among persons responsible to law, on account of color or
sex.

6. _Resolved_, That the Joint Resolutions and report of the
"Committee of Fifteen," now before Congress, to introduce
the word "_male_" into the Federal Constitution, are a
desecration of the last will and testament of the Fathers, a
violation of the spirit of republicanism, and cruel
injustice to the women of the nation.

7. _Resolved_, That while we return our thanks to those
members of Congress who, recognizing the sacred right of
petition, gave our prayer for the ballot a respectful
consideration, we also remind