caprice and tyranny. This government, having therefore exercised
powers underived from the consent of the governed, and having
signally failed to secure the end for which all just government
is instituted, should be immediately altered, or abolished.

We can not better describe the political condition of woman, than
by quoting from a distinguished lawyer of our own State.
Professor Walker, in his "Introduction to American Law," says

OF HUSBAND AND WIFE,

"We have a few statutory provisions on the subject, but for
the most part the law of husband and wife is _Common Law_,
and you will find that it savors of its origin in all its
leading features. The whole theory is a slavish one,
compared even with the civil law. I do not hesitate to say,
by way of arousing your attention to the subject, that the
law of husband and wife, as you gather it from the books, is
a disgrace to any civilized nation. I do not mean to say
that females are degraded in point of fact. I only say, that
the theory of the law degrades them almost to the level of
slaves." We thank Prof. Walker for his candor. He might have
added that the practice of the law does degrade woman to the
level of the slave. He also says: "With regard to political
rights, females form a positive exception to the general
doctrine of equality. They have no part nor lot in the
formation or administration of government. They can not vote
or hold office. We require them to contribute their share in
the way of taxes for the support of government, but allow
them no voice in its direction. We hold them amenable to the
laws when made, but allow them no share in making them. This
language applied to males, would be the exact definition of
political slavery; applied to females, custom does not teach
us so to regard it."

Of married women he says: "The legal theory is, marriage makes
the husband and wife one person, and that person is the husband.
He the substantive, she the adjective. In a word, there is
scarcely a legal act of any description that she is competent to
perform. If she leaves him without cause, (legal) he may seize
and bring her back, for he has a right