e one issued by our Central
Committee, are alike fragmentary. And yet with such a brilliant array
of speakers of both men and women, it should have been one of our most
interesting and successful Conventions. The Tabernacle, holding three
thousand persons, was packed long before the hour announced. At ten
o'clock Lucy Stone called the Convention to order, and presented a
list of officers[117] nominated at a preliminary meeting, which was
adopted. In this list we find England, Germany, and eleven States
represented. The Rev. William Henry Channing opened the meeting with
prayer. After which Mrs. Mott made a few appropriate remarks. Lucy
Stone read a series of resolutions[118] which were accepted and laid
on the table for discussion.

Charles Burleigh and Lydia A. Jenkins spoke briefly on the many
grounds of opposition to this movement, which in all respects commends
itself as one of the greatest reforms of the age.

Mr. GARRISON said: The first pertinent question is, what has
brought us together? Why have we come from the East and from the
West, and from the North? I was about to add, and from the South;
but the South, alas! is so cursed by the spirit of slavery, that
there seems to be no vitality left there in regard to any
enterprise, however good; hence the South is not represented on
an occasion like this. It is because justice is outraged. We have
met to protest against proud, rapacious, inexorable usurpation.
What is this usurpation? What is this oppression of which we
complain? Is it local? Does it pertain to the city of New York,
or to the Empire State? No! It is universal--broader than the
Empire State--broader than our national domains--wide as the
whole world, weighing on the entire human race. How old is the
oppression which we have met to look in the face? Is it of
to-day? Is it young in years, or is it as old as the world
itself? In all ages men have regarded women as inferior to
themselves, and have robbed them of their co-equal rights. We
are, therefore, contesting hoary tyranny--universal tyranny. And
what follows, as a natural result?

That the land is beginning to be convulsed. The opposition to the
movement is assuming a malignant, desperate, and satanic
character; every missile of wickedness that can be hurled against
it is used. The pulpit is excited, the press is aroused; Church