latform and took part in the deliberations. The
special importance of this convention at this time, was the
consideration of the immediate duty of securing a recognition of
the rights of women in the new constitution, for the framing of
which a convention had been called.

All the speakers had strong convictions and showed broad
differences, continually making sharp points against each other.
Several clergymen were present, some in favor of woman suffrage,
some opposed, some in doubt. Among these were the two
Collyers--one, the Rev. Robert, the English blacksmith of former
days, liberal, progressive, of large physical proportions; the
other, the Rev. Robert Laird, a much smaller man, and of
conservative tendencies.

The Rev. Robert Collyer dissented so entirely from what the
preceding speaker, Dr. Hammond, had said, that he was
determined to run the risk of attempting to reply. He
thought that a majority of men who began by being reformers,
ended by being old fogies, and he thought that might be the
case with Mr. Hammond. He felt no doubt that the whole
movement of women's rights was to be established in America.
He had seen the effects of woman's presence in associations
upon men, and he was sure that this same agency would have
the effect of bringing politics to such a condition as that
decent people of either sex might take part in it. As to the
Bible declaring that man shall rule over woman, he found a
similar case where it used to be quoted in support of the
institution of slavery, but when the grander and more
beautiful principles of the Bible came to be applied the
contrary was clearly established. So it was with the
question of woman's rights. To him the Bible seemed like an
immense pasture wherein any and every species of animal
might find its own peculiar food. In regard to what Mr.
Hammond said as to the rights of infants, he wished he had
conferred with his wife and got her approval before he said
it. The speaker was sure his own wife would not have advised
him to say it. He believed that when maternal and home
duties conflicted, the children and the home relations would
take the preference invariably,