, 1878, largely sustained by
federal patronage, commented as follows:

To allow the advocates of woman suffrage to plead their cause on
the floor of the Senate, as proposed yesterday by Mr. Sargent,
would be a decided innovation upon the established usages of
parliamentary bodies. If the privilege were granted in this case
it would next be claimed by the friends and the enemies of the
silver bill, by the supporters and opponents of resumption, by
hard money men and soft money men, by protectionists and
free-traders, by labor-reformers, prohibitionists and the Lord
knows whom besides. In fact, the admission of the ladies to speak
on the floor of the Senate would be the beginning of lively times
in that body.

The convention was held in Lincoln Hall, January, 8, 9, 1878. The
house was filled to overflowing at the first session. A large
number of representative women occupied the platform.[25] In
opening the meeting the president, Dr. Clemence Lozier, gave a
resume of the progress of the cause. Mrs. Stanton made an argument
on "National Protection for National Citizens."[26] Mrs. Lockwood
presented the following resolutions, which called out an amusing
debate on the "man idea"--that he can best represent the home, the
church, the State, the industries, etc., etc.:

_Resolved_, That the president of this convention appoint a
committee to select three intelligent women who shall be paid
commissioners to the Paris exposition; and also six other women
who shall be volunteer commissioners to said exposition to
represent the industries of American women.

_Resolved_, That to further this object the committee be
instructed to confer with the President, the Secretary of State,
and Commissioner McCormick.

A committee was appointed[27] and at once repaired to the
white-house, where they were pleasantly received by President
Hayes. After learning the object of their visit, the president
named the different classes of industries for which no
commissioners had been appointed, asked the ladies to nominate
their candidates, and assured them he would favor a representation
by women.

Miss JULIA SMITH of Glastonbury, Conn., the veteran defender of
the maxim of our fathers, "no taxation without representation,"
narrated the experience of herself and her sister Abby with the
tax-gatherers. They attended the town-meetin