action of women, is unknown to the Federal Constitution, as well
as the word "black," and that its introduction into that document
should be resisted in the most strenuous manner, since we can
never have a true democracy while the work of government is
monopolized by a privileged class.... Wendell Phillips, admitting
that the suffrage is the great question of the hour, thought,
nevertheless, that in view of the peculiar circumstances of the
negro's position, his claim to this right might fairly be
considered to have precedence.... This hour, then, is
preeminently the property of the negro. Nevertheless, said Mr.
Phillips, I willingly stand here to plead the woman's cause,
because the Republican party are seeking to carry their purpose
by newly introducing the word "male" into the Constitution. To
prevent such a corruption of the National Constitution, as well
as for the general welfare of the community, male and female, I
wish to excite interest everywhere in the maintenance of woman's
right to vote. This woman's meeting was well conducted, and met
with success in every way.....

FRANCES D. GAGE, in a letter to the _National Anti-Slavery
Standard_, May 26, 1866, speaking of her attendance of the
anniversary meetings in New York, said: "If the Anti-Slavery work
has fallen somewhat behind our hope, that of the Woman's Rights
movement has far outstripped our most sanguine expectations. When
the war-cry was heard in 1861, the advance-guard of the Woman's
Rights party cried 'halt!' And for five years we have stood
waiting while the grand drama of the Rebellion was passing. Not
as idle spectators, but as the busiest and most unwearied actors
on the boards. We have, as our manly men assert, fought half the
battle, and helped to win the victory.

"Wendell Phillips said, 'Women made this war!' By the same
process of reasoning women may claim that 'they made the peace,'
that 'they broke the chains of the slave, and redeemed the land
from its most direful curse.' Be this true or otherwise, one fact
is patent to every mind--woman to-day is an acknowledged power!
And when we met at the Church of the Puritans last week, we found
Woman's Rights filling its halls and galleries as never before;
with a Beecher and a Tilton to defend our cause, but not one