than encroach upon, and change a long settled principle. While it is not our purpose to go into an elaborate examination of this subject which its interest demands, but our time forbids; neither to enter into a disquisition upon the design of the great AUTHOR of being and SUPREME LEGISLATOR of the Universe, who declared without a disabling qualification, that, "in the likeness of God made he him, male and female created he them and called their name ADAM." Nor to descend down through the history of early ages, and point out when, and by what authority man presumed upon, and exercised the exclusive right of government and dictation to his associate sex; and in such capacity incumbered himself with the barbarism of the dark ages; but emerging from that dismal period of civilization, we narrow ourselves down to our own time, and let charity (if we may be allowed the term,) spring from our own National threshold. It was a noble principle, uttered with all the nobility of imperishable truth, by the immortal FOUNDERS of our REPUBLIC, when cutting themselves loose from usurpation and tyranny, they declared in their great INSTRUMENT of INDEPENDENCE from the British Crown, that "Governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Who, then, are the governed?

The prayer of the petitioners that woman, equally a citizen with man, is entitled to the privilege of the elective franchise by virtue of her citizenship aud indisputable identity as a subject of government, has thus far, by the lapse of ages, been practically ignored. That she is a "citizen" is not more clearly established than is the authority unquestioned whose author affixes as the qualifications of a citizen, "an inhabitant, a dweller in any city, town or place;" neither can any doubt dispossess her of the title of "subject," so long as it is equally authoritative that she is "one who owes allegiance to a SOVEREIGN and is governed by his laws," that "natives of the United States and naturalized foreigners are subjects of the Federal Government." No question, therefore, will be raised that females are in any way excluded beyond the pale of citizenship, nor without the jurisdiction of the laws of the land. If it has become, and is necessary that laws should be instituted, whose immunities and restrictions are applicable to both sexes, there can be no valid reason offered, why an invidious discrimination should be made whereby a part of the subjects of government should arrogate to themselves the right and

exercise the power of restriction, to a dependency of one class of citizenship upon another. If then the principle announced in the declaration of our national rights, was not in its origin conceived to be but "glitter. ing generalities," sent abroad to arrest the world by its metallic sound rather than by its intonations of truth, then must we claim that the consent of the governed should be secured, as well of woman as of man, in giving tone and legislative dignity to the insiitutions and laws of ourr land. If taxation and representation was an indivisible problem which required too great national powers to solve, then must the triumph of the American Revolution come to our rescue in the defence of the indissoluble rights which politically connect the governed with those who govern. Woman, then, in the possession of her citizenship, acknowledging her allegiance, and subjecting herself to the legislation of the land, clearly and undeniably acquires the right of participation in the structure of all legislative authority. We scarcely declare this position ere we hear ringing from the "Lords of creation" the self-evincing" but hackneyed inference that their plenitude of experience authorizes men to wield those powers, which a natural organism incapacitates woman for self control. This claim requires no better refutation than the tenacity with which the right of control is carefully guarded and exercised.

It would be far below the dignity of true manhood to allow "invidious comparisons" to deter him from awarding a just measure of capacity to a meritorious class because such concession might derogate from man's elevated entrenchment. It is a common observation that the "book worm " will forever confine his sinuosities within the covers of his favorite authors, unless by some means he is led to view his acquisitions from a different stand point; where the light of practical experience may clear up and invigorate the mist of his mental seclusion. No less true is it that in the graduation of mental endowment and intellectual acquirements practical life is a more reliable umpire than any mental or scholastic assumption. In forming an estimate of the respective sexes, their claims to intellectual superiority can only be justly weighed in the light of a liberal access to every attainment for the one, and a restricted field for the development of the other. With this allowance we shrink not from a comparison. Were we permitted the

tify the position we claim. In the light of genuine courage and elevation of soul, who will disown the unexampled fortitude of those noble matrons, who, charging their warrior sons with the high responsibility of a "country's mission," cut short their lingering adieu with the imperishable injunction, "Let victory crown your valor, or Spartan shields return you the lifeless trophies of your renown"? In legislative and executive relations, CATHARINE of Russia and ELIZABETH of England started prosperous epochs in their national capacities. Logical and metaphysical research cannot boast of more ardent champions than MADAM DESTAEL and MARGARET FULLER. Where will you find the most fastidious artist, whose life of skill has not failed to awaken him to that musical inspiration which first enraptured his soul at the spirituelle of JENNY LIND? In the light of genuine humanity, who will compare with the indefatigable zeal and charitable labors of a JUDSON or NIGHTINGALE, who, denying the pleasures and luxuries of a blissful nativity, have immortalized their sympathies with Indian and Crimean fame?

The literary world would tread its endless cycles with only the light of its principal orbs, without the brilliant retinue, whose reflections through FERN and GREENWOOD leaves, point upward and invest the peesy of nature with the shining stars of HEMANS and SIGOURNEY. The boundaries of EPIC and EPISODE will never find their measure until the pens of STOWE and SOUTHWORTH cease to descry their limit.

The wings of the press are weaving their undulations with outward vigor, but less of inward current, when shorn of the vitalizing sanctums of a SWISSHELM or BLOOMER. The itinerant lore which the lecturing of these latter days is spreading broadcast throughout our intelligent land, is invigorating its logic and beautifying its rhetoric with the harmonious diction of E. ОAKES SMITH and LUCY STONE. While the clerical profession is enriching its doctrines with all of the spiritual pathos and stirring appeals of an ANTOINETTE BROWN, whose emotional sex peculiarly fits such for inspiring the soul with a heavenly relish.

Amid this paucity of allusion to female intellect, who are historizing the progress of the world, the objection to their want of capacity will doubtless be waived, while we hasten to the last, greatest but least fortification of the nobler sex. The argument with all the gravity of its authority s submitted; that the opening of the door to political ac

tion for an indiscriminate entrance of both sexes would allow an interference with the varied relations of man, and seriously jeopardize his present ascendancy. We take exceptions to such untenable ground. The author of nature in all the ramifications of his creation has exhibited the perfection of his handiwork, by the masterly manner in which he has blended characteristics to establish the peculiar identity of each distinctive object. Together with this matchless arrangement has he instituted his law to regulate and control the existence and interchange of such numerous progeny. To one is given magnitude, another solidity, thence tenacity, another vigorous activity, and another listless inertia. Force to one, subjection to another, athletic proportions here and delicacy of organism there; angular exterior to this and beautiful symmetry to that; attraction to one and repulsion to another; life beauty and power, with vitality everywhere; and yet no dogmatical distinctions, restrictive enforcements and authoritative compulsions surround this wonderful system of organism; but everything is left to the free exercise of its own peculiarities and harmony, and just appreciation follows the fiat of order reigning through the vast universe of associated and personal identity. Nature presents its bold and angular objects with all of the nobler lines of rock, mountain, hill and granite pile, yet amid all of such rigid aspect, spring up wood-bine and sward, foliage and flower, fountain, rivulet and sea, to beautify and complete the Eeach has its own peculiarities, but with unrestricted existence, and yet all necessary to each other in the perfection of the whole. Relations of life therefore should be so adjusted as to leave personal identity to develop spontaneously its own forces of nature, and thus occupy just such positions as congenital qualifications must command. Law should be instituted for no other purpose than to establish a relative equality and to secure the most perfect development and complete happiness of each and every subject; and man fails to imitate the Supreme Legislative authority, and falls far below the high demands of his nature, when he neglects to recognise for others that which he claims for himself.

scene.

It is an unavoidable concession which we are forced to avow; that to preserve our ascendant relation we are driven to the necessity of fortify.

than encroach upon, and change a long settled principle. While it is not our purpose to go into an elaborate examination of this subject which its interest demands, but our time forbids; neither to enter into a disquisition upon the design of the great AUTHOR of being and SUPREME LEGISLATOR of the Universe, who declared without a disabling qualification, that, "in the likeness of GOD made he him, male and female created he them and called their name ADAM." Nor to descend down through the history of early ages, and point out when, and by what authority man presumed upon, and exercised the exclusive right of government and dictation to his associate sex; and in such capacity incumbered himself with the barbarism of the dark ages; but emerging from that dismal period of civilization, we narrow ourselves down to our own time, and let charity (if we may be allowed the term,) spring from our own National threshold. It was a noble principle, uttered with all the nobility of imperishable truth, by the immortal FOUNDERS of our REPUBLIC, when cutting themselves loose from usurpation and tyranny, they declared in their great INSTRUMENT of INDEPENDENCE from the British Crown, that "Governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Who, then, are the governed?

The prayer of the petitioners that woman, equally a citizen with man, is entitled to the privilege of the elective franchise by virtue of her citizenship aud indisputable identity as a subject of government, has thus far, by the lapse of ages, been practically ignored. That she is a "citizen" is not more clearly established than is the authority unquestioned whose author affixes as the qualifications of a citizen, "an inhabitant, a dweller in any city, town or place;" neither can any doubt dispossess her of the title of "subject," so long as it is equally authoritative that she is " one who owes allegiance to a SOVEREIGN and is governed by his laws," that "natives of the United States and naturalized foreigners are subjects of the Federal Government." No question, therefore, will be raised that females are in any way excluded beyond the pale of citizenship, nor without the jurisdiction of the laws of the land. If it has become, and is necessary that laws should be instituted, whose immunities and restrictions are applicable to both sexes, there can be no valid reason offered, why an invidious discrimination should be made whereby a part of the subjects of government should arrogate to themselves the right and