o lay hands on her, to shut her up in
prison, to take away her life, the life of one who has made with
it no compact--giving such awful power--the life of one who never
consented to the laws which assert over her so terrible a
supremacy! All the principles already applied come in here with
perhaps renewed force, as being the arbiters of a question which
may be regarded by some as of a still more absorbing interest,
although to woman it may not be so, for when did she value life
more highly than tenderness, domestic confidence, and affection?
(Prolonged laughter).

Dr. H. K. ROOT, of New York, rose in his place among the audience
and declared his intention of arguing against the principles and
demands of the Convention. Being requested to take the rostrum,
he did so, and spoke thus:

Mrs. President and Ladies: I do not come here with the slightest
intention of offering to the ladies any opposition for mere
opposition's sake. If they are proved to have more knowledge and
intelligence than men, let them govern! My purpose, ladies, is to
try and attain truth, which, I think, will not be found favorable
to the views you express. I come, rather, as a matter of
intelligence than opposition. I do not come here for the purpose
of opposing the ladies too much; but as the question was not only
open yesterday, but still is for discussion, I maintain that if
the ladies have more intelligence, and more energy, and science
than the male sex, they should rule. I think I can give three
reasons why men should vote, and one why woman should not vote.
(Cheers).

My first reason is, because there was an original command from
God that man should rule. It may be supposed that we are in the
garden of Eden now, as in the days of Adam and Eve. Now, it will
be remembered, when Adam and Eve fell, Adam, because Eve tempted
him, was placed in the garden as its keeper, and it was necessary
in those days, as it is now, that woman should be a helpmeet for
him; but you recollect that by the eating of the forbidden fruit,
original sin came into the world. What was the expression of God
to Adam? He says in the third chapter of Genesis, 17th verse:
"Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast
eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying, thou s