of woman? The very fact, then, of the diversity of the masculine
understanding and masculine spirit, proves the necessity of
assigning to woman a share in the work which is to be done
affecting woman. Manifestly one of these two things must be true:
Either there is no such essential difference worthy to be taken
into account, in which case woman has the same rights as man, and
there is no necessity for making a distinction; or there is an
essential difference, in which case man is not competent to do
the work of legislating for the whole of society without the aid
of woman. We might just as well let one effigy stand in the
tailor's shop, as the standard of measurement of every garment
the tailor is to make, and also of every garment the dressmaker
is to make as to found the legislation for all upon one standard.
If you recognize a difference, let your legislation proceed from
both elements of the body politic which your legislation is to
affect.

It is said also, that if you allow women to vote, the logic of
your argument will go further and require that women shall be
voted for and they may chance to receive votes enough for
election; and they may even go to the State Legislature or to
Congress. Suppose such a thing should happen, would a city which
is represented in the Congress of the United States by John
Morrissey and Fernando Wood, have reason to blush if by some
singular good fortune she should chance to be represented by
Elizabeth Cady Stanton? (Applause.) Would the halls of Congress
suffer any loss of dignity, or any loss of efficiency, even if
John Morrissey's place should be vacated to make room for Mrs.
Stanton, or if some Pennsylvania Democrat should be allowed to
remain at home while Lucretia Mott occupied his chair?
(Applause.) Is it so terrible that women who can utter sentiments
as noble and elevating as those to which you have listened, who
can sustain them by logic as clear, and who can expose with such
delicate wit the ridiculous absurdity of the opposite side,
should have a voice in the counsels of the nation? Somebody says
that "the child is father to the man." You know who govern the
children. Who governed you when you were children? Is it not as
safe that woman should govern in the halls of national
legislation