to maintain government, she ought to have a
voice in forming that government. If she has to pay taxes to
maintain government, she ought to have a voice in saying how
those taxes shall be applied.

On these grounds we make our claims, on natural, humane, eternal,
and well-recognized laws and principles of this republic. On
these grounds we ask man to meet us, and meet us in the spirit of
inquiry, in the spirit of candor and honesty, as rational human
beings ought to meet each other, face to face, and adduce
arguments, if they can, to convince us that we are not included
in that great Declaration of Independence; that although it is a
right principle that taxation and representation are inseparable,
yet woman ought to be taxed, and ought not to be represented; and
that although it is an acknowledged principle that all just power
of government is derived from the consent of the governed, yet
woman should be governed without her consent. Let them meet us
fairly and openly; let them meet us like rational men, men who
appreciate their own freedom, and we will hear them. If they can
convince us that we are wrong, we will give up our claims; but if
we can convince them that we are right in claiming our rights, as
they are in claiming theirs, then we expect them in a spirit of
candor and honesty to acknowledge it.

Joseph Dugdale read several letters, which, as usual, seemed to be
something of a bore to the audience. When he finished, Lucretia Mott
suggested that if there were any more lengthy epistles to be read, it
would be well for the secretaries to look them over, and omit all that
in their wisdom might not be worth reading.

Lucy Stone, from the Business Committee, read a series of
resolutions,[70] and as some one from the audience called, "Louder!"
she remarked that if ladies would keep their bonnets tied down over
their ears, they must not ask others to find lungs of sufficient power
to penetrate the heavy pasteboard and millinery over them. She spoke
briefly on the resolutions, and the steadily increasing interest in
the subject of woman's rights.

Hannah Tracy Cutler gave a report of Illinois, Frances Dana Gage of
Missouri, and Susan B. Anthony of New York.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson, of Massachusetts, said he had a matter of
business to present. Mrs. Paulina Wright Davis being too ill to attend
the Conventi