property, has
important rights to be protected. The whole history of
legislation so unequal between the sexes, shows that she can not
safely trust these to the other sex. Neither have her rights as
mother, wife, daughter, laborer, ever received full legislative
protection. Besides, our institutions are not based on the idea
of one class receiving protection from another; but on the
well-recognized rule that each class, or sex, is entitled to such
civil rights, as will enable it to protect itself. The exercise
of civil rights is one of the best means of education. Interest
in great questions, and the discussion of them under momentous
responsibility, call forth all the faculties and nerve them to
their fullest strength. The grant of these rights on the part of
society, would quickly lead to the enjoyment by woman, of a share
in the higher grades of professional employment. Indeed, without
these, mere book study is often but a waste of time. The learning
for which no use is found or anticipated, is too frequently
forgotten, almost as soon as acquired. The influence of such a
share, on the moral condition of society, is still more
important. Crowded now into few employments, women starve each
other by close competition; and too often vice borrows
overwhelming power of temptation from poverty. Open to women a
great variety of employments, and her wages in each will rise;
the energy and enterprise of the more highly endowed, will find
full scope in honest effort, and the frightful vice of our cities
will be stopped at its fountain-head. We hint very briefly at
these matters. A circular like this will not allow room for more.
Some may think it too soon to expect any action from the
Convention. Many facts lead us to think that public opinion is
more advanced on this question than is generally supposed.
Beside, there can be no time so proper to call public attention
to a radical change in our civil polity as now, when the whole
framework of our government is to be subjected to examination and
discussion. It is never too early to begin the discussion of any
desired change. To urge our claim on the Convention, is to bring
our question before the proper tribunal, and secure at the same
time the immediate attention of the general public.
Massachusett