BUSINESS COMMITTEE.

Mrs. Ernstine L. Rose, N. Y., Mrs. Abby Kelly Foster, Mass.,

Mr. James Mott, Pa.,

Miss Lucy Stone, Mass.,

Mrs. Mary T. Corner, Ohio.,

Mr. C. C. Burleigh, Conn.,

Mr. Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Mass. Mrs. Martha J. Tilden, Ohio., Mr. John O. Wattles, Indiana.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Miss Susan B. Anthony, Rochester, Mr. H. M. Addison, Ohio. Mrs. Phebe H. Merritt, Mich.,

Mrs. Hettie Little, Ohio.,

Mrs. E. P. Heaton, Ohio.

PROCEEDINGS.

WEDNESDAY, October 5th, 1853.

MORNING SESSION.

ON taking the chair, Mrs. GAGE made the following remarks:— "It is with fear and trembling that I take upon me the duties of presiding over your deliberations; not fear and trembling for the cause, but, lest I should not have the capacity and strength to do all that the position requires of me.

It may not, perhaps, be uninteresting to the audience, to hear a short account of our movement, from its beginning up to the present time. I think the first Woman's Rights Convention ever called in the United States, was called by a band of earnest men and women, at Seneca Falls, N. Y., in the fall of 1848. They met, held a two days session, and passed resolutions which were printed in the New York Tribune, and other papers, and created considerable sensation throughout the country. But very little was said, however, in favor of the move

ment, anywhere. Almost every one who spoke of it, characterized it as the work of a set of ultra fanatics. Sometime after, another meeting of the same kind was called in Rochester, New York. The proceedings of that, also, were published in the Tribune, and thoughtful people began to think better things of the movement. One year from that time, (1849) a Woman's Rights Convention was called in Salem, Ohio. It was quite well attended; the proceedings were thrown to the world through different channels, especially through the Tribune again; and occasioned a great deal of discussion, stiring up the people very generally, especially in Ohio. County Conventions were next called, and memorials and petitions were gotten up, and sent on to the "Constitutional Convention" of Ohio, which held its session soon after, (1850.) In October of the same year, a convention was called in Worcester, Mass., and like proceedings, in the way of speeches and resolutions, were there had. They also were given to the world in pamphlets and newspapers. In the following spring, (1851) another convention was held in Ohio, at Akron; another in the autumn of the following year, at Worcester; one in Indiana the same year; another in Ohio, at Massilon; one at Westchester, Penn., and another in Syracuse, during the month of September.

MRS. MOTT.-I would ask the President to make a distinction between the Local and National Conventions.

MRS. GAGE. The Syracuse meeting was a National Convention. That convention gave the call for this. It was appointed to be held in Cleveland some time during this year, I think the month only was stated.

Perhaps no movement of such vital importance, warring so greatly against the old established prejudices of society, has ever been proposed to any people; and none, perhaps, has made such rapid strides in the favor of the people, as this movement for Woman's Rights. It is talked of everywhere. All our periodicals feel themselves bound to bring out long articles upon the Woman Question," and "Woman's Mission." Our newspapers and pulpits have also employed a deal of their time during the last few years, in

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discussing this movement, and trying to keep woman in her "proper place"-some for, and some against. I was asked a few days ago, "What do you women want?" I replied, "We ask equality with men, before the law. The rights of humanity. The rights guaranteed to all mankind." "But are you not afraid that woman will run into excesses, that homes will be deserted, that men will lack wives in this country?" I have but one reply to make to that question. Society grants to every man in the United States, every free "white male citizen," who has complied with a few restrictions of the law, the privilege of voting, and of being voted for; of being President of the United States; of sitting upon the bench; of filling the jury box, of going to Congress; to the Senate of the United States; to the Halls of the Legislature, and of filling every office in the gift of the people, if he can get himself appointed to that office; and we don't believe woman will get very far out of her place, if society should yield her the same rights. If her neighbors and friends seriously think she is fitted to fill an office, I see no reason why she should not. Give us the privileges we ask; give us equality, and then let this truer society regulate human affairs, as men have hitherto done alone. I think there is enough of the conservative principle in society, to prevent any dangers growing out of this matter, or any thing deleterious to society; and I think this covers the whole ground so far as the real right is concerned. The details I shall not here enlarge upon.

I hope our discussions will be a little more extensive than the call would seem to warrant, which indicates simply our right to the political franchise.

MRS. MOTT.-I would state that the limitation in the call, was not anticipated at all, at the last convention. The issuing of the call was left to the central committee; but it was not supposed that they would specify any particular part of the labor of the convention, but that the broad ground of the presentation of the wrongs of woman; the assertion of her rights, and the encouragement to perseverance in individual and combined action, and the restoration of those rights, should be taken.

MRS. GAGE. I would remark once for all, to the convention, that there is perfect liberty given here to every one to speak upon the subject under discussion, both for and against, and that we urge all to do so. If there are any who have objections, we wish to hear them. If arguments are presented, which convince us that we are doing wrong, we wish all to act upon them. I feel extremely to regret that while we have held convention after convention, where this same liberty has been given, no one has had a word to say against us at the time, but that some have reserved their hard words of opposition to the movement, only to go away and vent them through the newspapers, amounting frequently even to gross misrepresentation. I hope every one here, will remember, with deep seriousness, that the same Almighty finger wbich traced upon the tablets of stone the commands, Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal," traced also there these words, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

A letter was next read by Miss ANTOINETTE L. BROWN, from ABRAM BAIRD, Jr.

Letters were then read by Mrs. C. M. SEVERANCE. One from SAMUEL J. MAY, of Syracuse, N. Y., not designed for publication, expressive of unabated interest in the great question the convention had met to consider, and regreting deeply his inability to be present; extracts of a private letter from Mrs. SARAH OTIS ERNST, of Cincinnati, touching strongly and ably, some points suggestive of the needful reform in reference to woman's position and education, political and property rights; and the following from Mrs. REBECCA M. SANFORD:

FRIENDS OF REFORM:

NEW LONDON, HURON Co., O. 7
October 3d, 1853.

Not being present at the convention, I can but express my interest by a few lines, addressed to my sisters in the work of woman's social and civil elevation.

The mere question of woman's civil rights, is not a deep one, for it is a natural one, and closely follows her mission in this world. She was not created anything else than a helpmeet to man, and

where to limit that assistance, there is no rule in nature, except her physical functions; there is a limit in law, but whether the law has the right to place her where she is, is the question.

It must be conceded that the law has drawn too great an inference from her ancient social attitude, and from present custom and prejudice. But has the law the right to be prejudiced-ought it not to stand pure, and noble, and magnanimous, founded on the natural rights of the human soul?

The law grants woman protection; it also grants negroes, animals and property, protection in their certain spheres. It gives no more to woman.

Woman's sphere, is her capability of performing her duty to herself, her family and to society-taking self-preservation as the first law of her nature. At present, she does not fully act in her sphere. The lid of the ballot-box, shuts out more than one-half of her duty to herself, family and society. The eye of the law is diseased, and woman must be made assistant occulist, to render that eye pure and single-sighted. Let not this convention close until some way and means are decided upon to secure woman's vote at the polls. The propriety or impropriety of the same place and box, and other objections, can be disposed of in a short time, as occasion requires. This done, the monster evils of society, Intemperance, &c., can be handled with ungloved hands.

At this time, as far as custom-made potent by law-permits woman to lead her sons on in the journey of life, she keeps them pure and unspotted from the world; but, where she leaves off, hell's avenues are opened, and man too often leads them through.

By the agitation of this question during the last five years, the elevation of woman has sensibly progressed, in the trades, in the professions, in mercantile employments, and in self-respect; at the same time, she has not lessened her influence around the fireside! She is the same noble, cheerful, patient wife and mother, and a better philanthropist. I can adduce facts on this point.

My mission of lecturing has led me into nearly all the northern counties of this State, and of my acquaintances-nearly one thousand