sence of open protest? The same argument maybe used concerning
the black majority in South Carolina. Besides, your new
Constitution is not yet made, and there has been no opportunity
to assent to it. It will not be identical with the old one; but,
even if it were, you propose to ask a renewed consent from men,
and why not from women? Is it because a lady's "Yes" is always so
fixed a certainty, that it never can be transformed to a "No," at
a later period?

But I am compelled, by the fixed period of adjournment (10 A.M.),
to cut short my argument, as I have been already compelled to
condense it. I pray your consideration for the points I have
urged. Believe me, it is easier to ridicule the petition of these
women than to answer the arguments which sustain it. And, as the
great republic of ancient times did not blush to claim that laws
and governments were first introduced by Ceres, a woman, so I
trust that the representatives of this noblest of modern
commonwealths may not be ashamed to receive legislative
suggestions from even female petitioners.

On Tuesday, August 12, 1853, in Committee of the Whole, the report
that "it is inexpedient to act on the petition" of several parties
that women may vote, was taken up.

Mr. GREEN, of Brookfield, opposed the report, contending that
women being capable of giving or withholding their assent to the
acts of government, should upon every principle of justice and
equality, be permitted to participate in its administration. He
denied that men were of right the guardians or trustees of women,
since they had not been appointed, but had usurped that position.
Women had inherent natural rights as a portion of the people, and
they should be permitted to vote in order to protect those
inherent rights.

Mr. KEYES, of Abington, paid a warm tribute to the virtues and
abilities of the fairer sex, and was willing to concede that they
were to some extent oppressed and denied their rights; but he did
not believe the granting of the privileges these petitioners
claimed would tend to elevate or ameliorate their condition.
Woman exerted great power by the exercise of her feminine graces
and virtues, which she would lose the moment she should step
beyond her proper sphere and mingle in the affairs of State!

Mr. WHITNEY, o