l consideration, that efficient steps
might be taken for a thorough canvass of the State, preparatory to
the May election, and issued the following call:

The friends of woman suffrage in Vermont are requested to meet in
mass convention at Montpelier on Wednesday, February 2, at 10
o'clock, for the purpose of considering and advancing the best
interests of the cause in this State, in view of the
constitutional amendment proposed by the council of censors. The
convention will be addressed by several ladies and prominent
gentlemen of this State, and by William Lloyd Garrison, Julia
Ward Howe and Rev. Ada C. Bowles of Massachusetts; Lucy Stone and
Henry B. Blackwell of New Jersey, and Mary A. Livermore of
Illinois. A public meeting will also be held the evening before
the convention, which will be addressed by some of the eminent
speakers above named. The Hutchinson family will be present and
sing their woman suffrage songs. The Vermont Central, Passumpsic,
Rutland and Burlington and Bennington and Rutland lines of
railroad will extend the courtesy of free return checks, provided
they shall be applied for by twenty-five or more persons paying
full fare one way over an average distance of each of their
respective roads, which will be determined by the secretary.

C. W. WILLARD, JAMES HUTCHINSON, JR.,
GEORGE H. BIGELOW, CHARLES REED,
NEWMAN WEEKS, JONATHAN ROSS,
JAMES S. PECK.
_Ex. Com. Vermont Woman Suffrage Association_.[195]

_Montpelier_, January 10, 1870.

It is a noticeable fact that the movement for the enfranchisement
of woman in Vermont was inaugurated wholly by men. Not a woman was
on its official board, nor was there one to speak in the State. Men
called the first woman's rights convention, and chose Hon. Charles
Reed of Montpelier as its presiding officer, as well as president
of the State association.

However, these gentlemen invited ladies from other States, and a
series of meetings[196] was inaugurated through the chief towns and
cities of Vermont. The speakers[197] were heartily welcomed at some
points and rudely received at others. The usual "free-love" cry was
started by some of the opposition papers--a cry that like "infidel"
in the anti-slavery days, oft' times frightened even the f