bation of some of the terms of
the amendment, with the hope that it will not pass in the form
offered, and politely requesting Mr. Gordon to define his
position as the resolution is susceptible of being construed both
for and against equal rights.

At a meeting held April 21, 1869, delegates[287] were elected to
attend the May anniversary of the American Equal Rights
Association in New York. Mrs. Margaret V. Longley was placed on
the executive committee of the National Association to represent
Ohio. On her return from New York she joined with the Cincinnati
Equal Rights Society in a call for a convention in Pike's Hall,
September 15, 16, 1869, for the organization of an Ohio State
Society.[288] Mrs. Longley presided; the audiences were large and
enthusiastic;[289] the press of the city gave extended reports.
Murat Halstead, editor of the Cincinnati _Commercial_, sent the
following reply to his invitation:

CINCINNATI, July 28, 1869.

Mrs. M. V. LONGLEY: _Dear Madam_--I cannot sign your call
for a woman suffrage convention, for I do not feel a serious
interest in the subject. That there are woman's wrongs that
the law-makers should right, I believe. For instance, I
think married women should hold property independently; that
they should be able to save and enjoy the fruits of their
own industry; and that they should not be absolutely in the
power of lazy, dissipated or worthless husbands. But I
cannot see clearly how the possession of the ballot would
help women in the reform indicated. If, however, a majority
of the women of Ohio should signify by means proving their
active interest in the subject that they wanted to acquire
the right of suffrage, I don't think I would offer
opposition.

M. HALSTEAD.

Mrs. Livermore and Miss Anthony made some amusing strictures on
Mr. Halstead's letter, which called out laughter and cheers from
the audience. April 27 and 28, 1870, a mass-meeting was held in
Dayton. Describing the occasion, Miss Sallie Joy, in a letter to
a Boston paper, says:

The west is evidently wide awake on the suffrage question.
The people are working with zeal almost unkno