As New York could boast
a larger number of strong-minded women than any other State, whose
continuity of purpose knew no variableness nor shadow of turning, the
agitation was persistently continued in all directions.

THE SYRACUSE NATIONAL CONVENTION,

_September 8, 9, and 10, 1852._

This Convention, lasting three days, was in many respects remarkable,
even for that "City of Conventions." It called out immense audiences,
attracted many eminent persons from different points of the State, and
was most favorably noticed by the press; the debates were unusually
earnest and brilliant, and the proceedings orderly and harmonious
throughout. Notwithstanding an admission fee of one shilling, the City
Hall was densely packed at every session, and at the hour of
adjournment it was with difficulty that the audience could gain the
street. The preliminary[103] editorials of the city papers reflected
their own conservative or progressive tendencies.

In no one respect were the participants in these early Conventions
more unsparingly ridiculed, and more maliciously falsified, than in
their personal appearance; it may therefore be wise to say that in
dignity and grace of manner and style of dress, the majority of these
ladies were superior to the mass of women; while the neat and
unadorned Quaker costume was worn by some, many others were elegantly
and fashionably attired; two of them in such extreme style as to call
forth much criticism from the majority, to whom a happy medium seemed
desirable.

The Convention was called to order by Paulina Wright Davis, chairman
of the Central Committee, and prayer offered by the Rev. Samuel J.
May, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Syracuse.

Although this was the first Woman's Rights Convention at which Mr. May
was ever present, he had been represented in nearly all by letter, and
as early as 1845 had preached an able sermon advocating the social,
civil, and political rights of woman. He had been an early convert to
this doctrine, and enjoyed telling the manner of his conversion.
Speaking once in Providence on the question of slavery, he
was attracted by the earnest attention he received from an
intelligent-looking woman. At the close of the meeting, she said to
him: "I have listened to you with an interest that only a woman can
feel. I doubt whether you see how much of your description of the
helpless dependence of slaves applies equally to all women." She ran
the parallel rapidly, quot