ime for
examination, should make a motion which, if carried, will
preclude light and prevent examination. The gentleman sees fit to
regard the memorial of these 6,000 men and women as a firebrand.
I do not believe the ladies who presented it intended it as such;
and they will be surprised to learn that a gentleman of his age
and experience should have taken fire from it. Their requests are
simple. They ask for "justice and equal rights," and this simple
request is made the excuse for an attack upon them as unheard of
as it is unjust. They ask only for "justice and equal rights." If
the House does not see fit to grant them what they ask, let my
motion be voted down, and send the memorial to the Judiciary
Committee, of which the gentleman from Essex is chairman. Let
such a disposition be made of it, and there will then be no
danger that any one will be fired up by it, for it will then be
sure to sleep the sleep of death.

Sir, when a petition like this comes before the Legislature, it
should not only be respectfully received, but courteously
considered; particularly when it asks, as this petition does, a
review of the entire code of our statute laws. It should not be
sent to a Committee adverse to its request. That would be
unparliamentary and the end of it. If sent to such a Committee it
would be smothered. The House, I am sure, is not prepared for any
such disposition of the matter, but is willing to look candidly
at the alleged grievances, and, if consistent with public policy,
redress them, although in doing so we may infringe upon
time-honored notions and usages.

Mr. PETERS: I am not surprised at the direction which the
gentleman from Essex seeks to give this memorial. Any gentleman
who would assail these ladies as he has done, would be prepared
to make any disrespectful disposition of their rights. I may
regret that he has sought to deny a hearing to these petitioners,
but I am not surprised that he has done so. I trust that no other
member on this floor will refuse, practically, to receive this
petition--refuse to our mothers, wives, and sisters, what we
every day grant to our fathers, brothers, and sons. These women
come here with a respectful petition, and we should give them a
candid and respectful hearing. If it be true, and t