ace of half an hour did Mr. Bradburn, six feet high
and well-proportioned, with vehement gesticulations and voice of
thunder, bombard the prejudices of England and the hypocrisies of
America.

George Thompson: I have listened to the arguments advanced on
this side and on that side of this vexed question. I listened
with profound attention to the arguments of Mr. Burnet, expecting
that from him, as I was justified in expecting, I should hear the
strongest arguments that could be adduced on this, or any other
subject upon which he might be pleased to employ his talents, or
which he might adorn with his eloquence. What are his arguments?
Let it be premised, as I speak in the presence of American
friends, that that gentleman is one of the best controversialists
in the country, and one of the best authorities upon questions of
business, points of order, and matters of principle. What are
the strongest arguments, which one of the greatest champions on
any question which he chooses to espouse, has brought forward?
They are these:

1st. That English phraseology should be construed according
to English usage.

2d. That it was never contemplated by the anti-slavery
committee that ladies should occupy a seat in this
Convention.

3d. That the ladies of England are not here as delegates.

4th. That he has no desire to offer an affront to the ladies
now present.

Here I presume are the strongest arguments the gentleman has to
adduce, for he never fails to use to the best advantage the
resources within his reach. I look at these arguments, and I
place on the other side of the question, the fact that there are
in this assembly ladies who present themselves as delegates from
the oldest societies in America. I expected that Mr. Burnet
would, as he was bound to do, if he intended to offer a
successful opposition to their introduction into this Convention,
grapple with the constitutionality of their credentials. I
thought he would come to the question of title. I thought he
would dispute the right of a convention assembled in
Philadelphia, for the abolition of slavery, consisting of
delegates from different States in the Union, and comprised of
individuals of both sexes, to send one or all of the ladies now
in