different
countries wended their way through the crooked streets of London to
Freemasons' Hall. Entering the vestibule, little groups might be seen
gathered here and there, earnestly discussing the best disposition to
make of those women delegates from America. The excitement and
vehemence of protest and denunciation could not have been greater, if
the news had come that the French were about to invade England. In
vain those obdurate women had been conjured to withhold their
credentials, and not thrust a question that must produce such discord
on the Convention. Lucretia Mott, in her calm, firm manner, insisted
that the delegates had no discretionary power in the proposed action,
and the responsibility of accepting or rejecting them must rest on the
Convention.

At eleven o'clock, the spacious Hall being filled, the Convention was
called to order. The venerable Thomas Clarkson, who was to be
President, on entering, was received by the large audience standing;
owing to his feeble health, the chairman requested that there should
be no other demonstrations. As soon as Thomas Clarkson withdrew,
Wendell Phillips made the following motion:

"That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare a correct list
of the members of this Convention, with instructions to include
in such list, all persons bearing credentials from any
Anti-Slavery body."

This motion at once opened the debate on the admission of women
delegates.

Mr. Phillips: When the call reached America we found that it was
an invitation to the friends of the slave of every nation and of
every clime. Massachusetts has for several years acted on the
principle of admitting women to an equal seat with men, in the
deliberative bodies of anti-slavery societies. When the
Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society received that paper, it
interpreted it, as it was its duty, in its broadest and most
liberal sense. If there be any other paper, emanating from the
Committee, limiting to one sex the qualification of membership,
there is no proof; and, as an individual, I have no knowledge
that such a paper ever reached Massachusetts. We stand here in
consequence of your invitation, and knowing our custom, as it
must be presumed you did, we had a right to interpret "friends of
the slave," to include women as well as men. In such
circumstances, we do not think it just or equitable to that