s, though she has led the way in most other reforms,
has in this fallen behind her rivals, consenting to learn, as to
the protection of the property of married women, of many younger
States. Let us redeem for her the old pre-eminence, and urge her
to set a noble example in this the most important of all civil
reforms. To this we ask you to join with us[49] in the
accompanying petition to the Constitutional Convention.

In favor of this Appeal Lucy Stone, Theodore Parker, Wendell Phillips,
and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, were heard.

We find in _The Una_ the following report of Mr. Higginson's speech
before the Committee of the Constitutional Convention on the
qualification of voters, June 3, 1853, the question being on the
petition of Abby May Alcott, and other women of Massachusetts, that
they be permitted to vote on the amendments that may be made to the
Constitution.

MR. HIGGINSON'S SPEECH.

I need hardly suggest to the Committee the disadvantage under
which I appear before them, in coming to glean after three of the
most eloquent voices in this community, or any other [Lucy Stone,
Wendell Phillips, and Theodore Parker]; in doing this, moreover,
without having heard all their arguments, and in a fragment of
time at the end of a two hours' sitting. I have also the minor
disadvantage of gleaning after myself, having just ventured to
submit a more elaborate essay on this subject, in a different
form, to the notice of the Convention.

I shall therefore abstain from all debate upon the general
question, and confine myself to the specific point now before
this Committee. I shall waive all inquiry as to the right of
women to equality in education, in occupations, or in the
ordinary use of the elective franchise. The question before this
Committee is not whether women shall become legal voters--but
whether they shall have power to say, once for all, whether they
wish to become legal voters. Whether, in one word, they desire to
accept this Constitution which the Convention is framing.

It is well that the question should come up in this form, since
the one efficient argument against the right of women to vote, in
ordinary cases, is the plea that they do not wish to do it.
"Their whole nature revolts at it." Very well; these petitioners
simply desire a