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916 History of Women Suffrage.
the 10th of May, was duly recieved. I should be extremely happy to be with you in your deliberations, but so much of my time has of late been occupied in the work of the American Union Commision, that I can hardly spare a moment for even your good work. I, however, feel only selfish refrets, for I should be but a listener and partaker of the rich mental feasts that will there be freely offered to all who will partake. The great arguments have all be made by our opponents, and they concede all that we ask, save that they substitute expendicy for principle. They have yet to learn that God will not be dethroned; that when He decrees a human soul, He surrounds it with all the dignity of free will and consequent responsibility. He therefore endows the soul with rights, the exercise and protection of which are the crown of humanity. We ask no new code of rights. We simply ask to be included in the general method of asserting and protecting them, which even the shadowy-browed children of bondage are now perceived to claim without presumption. It has been with no small degree of interest that I have seen that our wisest statesmen begin to so far see and feel the importance of the issue that lies inevitably in their path, that they stop to explan and apologize; but they dare not deny, lest the logic they use should be turned against themselves.
The great Christian doctrine of the equality of all before God, who is declared to be no respecter of persons, is the axe laid at the root of the tree of prejudice, which has for such long ago brought forth injustice and oppression in a multiple of forms. Our good and great men are reading with anointed eyes the declaration, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither boond nor free," and we may hope they will soon read the final assertion, "Neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." In this full and broad assertion lies the completion of the great Christian scheme, not limited to any number of parts, but embracing the great while, thus recognizing the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Legally, our position is conceded , so far as the logical sequences are concerned; but the pulpit, on which woman is prone to lean for all her opinions on questions of morality, has, with a few rare exceptions, been silent. Henry Ward Beecher has dared to speak out in a manly, Christian way; but even he has not laid upon the women of the Church that burden of responsibility concerning government that they ought to be made to feel. For what, let me ask, is to excuse them, if their want of intelligence and activity should lead to a thorough corruption of political morals such as we have seen in portions of our country during a few years past. Will they not be among those who hide their Lord's talent in the earth, and by and by come back with the little morsel carefullt wrapped up in a napkin, all beautifully embroidered, it may be, and tender it back, saying, "Lo! there is thine own, take it!" In this religious aspect women must come to consider the question before it will become vital. Political action may give it body, but God only can breathe into it the breath of life that will constitute it a living soul. Hence we see that without the best religious sanction, little progress can really be assured. I am conscious that my views are not identical with those of many who have reached the same general conclusions; but as many are disposed to regard the questions from this standpoint, I have thought it best to expreses myself with great frankness. With many regrets that I can not partake in your deliberations,
I remain, truly yours, MRS. H. M. TRACY CUTLER.

1710 LOCUST STEET, PHILADELPHIA, May 10,1866.
MY VERY DEAR SUSAN ANTHONY:- I fully intended coming to the meetings-gave up Washington, made all my arrangements, packed my bag- and stayed at home. Circumstances which I could not control, and which I can't very well explain, put itterly out of my power the duty and pleasure of coming. There's no use in saying how sorry I am, for it would waste paper and time to state all my regrets. Suffice it to declare that I have rarely been so extremely sorry and disappointed.
Affectionately and truly thine, ANNA E. DICKINSON.

OFFICE OF CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE MISSING MEN OF UNITED STATE ARMY, WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 1866.
DEAR MISS ANTHONY:- I am glad that my took kind and partial friends have set me "right on the record." I am "with you," and with all who labor for the advancement

Indianapolis in History of Women, Suffrage, edit Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Matilda Joslyn gage, Rochester, N.Y., 1881 v.2, Appendix, p. 917

Appendix-Chapter XVIII 917

of humaity and the world through the proper channels- the elevation of women. You have my heart, my sympathies (if needed), my prayers, and best of all, my hope, for the success of your every endeavor; and my poor words you should have, if they could add either strength or interest, but neither nature nor art have contributed me anything in this direction. I sometimes work a little, but it seems to me to be in the most common manner, and I am sure I could not speak at all. But no one knows how happpy I should be to be present and listen to those who can; and if not prevented by duties of a very pressing and positive nature, I shall indulge myself so far. With assurances of the highest regard, believe me your friend, CLARA BARTON.

NEWPORT, R. I., May 14, 1866.
MISS SUSAN B ANTHONY- Dear Friend:- It have proved impossible for me to attend the Convention: and I hope it is unnecessary, so far as my own position is concerned, for me to renew my allegiance to the Equal Rights movement. It seems to me the most glaring of logical absurdities to apply the name of Universal Suffrage to any system which does not include both sexes. It seems, in this point of view, a righteous retribution upon American men, that the disfranchisment of woman has put such a weapon into the hands of those who would disfranchise the negro also. I must say, however, that a still greater share of this responsibility rests upon American women, for it is their unwillingness to ask for their rights which chiefly renderes our legislators unwilling to conceede them.
Cordially yours, THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON.

A letter declining to speak to speak at the Boston Equal Rights meeting, says: "There has been a time when no one could do any better than I, to speak in favor of women physicians, and then I was willing to come forward and do my best. At present there are so many able and eloquent, however, on the platform to advocate what we need-political franchise-that I would appear presumptuous should I attempt to add myself to the list. There is no other right which I want besides the elective franchise, because the right work on equality with man we can obtain, with nothing but energy and firm well. My own case as a physocian illustrates that; while I am paying very nearly $400 taxes (State and national), without the right to vote. These enormous taxes come from money earned, dollar by dollar, on equality with men, and yet there are all round me here many physicians of the stronger sex, who do not pay half this amount of taxes, who vote and rule. I hope before long a republic in the true sense of the world will be our share in this glorious country. With sincere wishes for the best of results in your present movement,
I am truly yours, M. E. ZAKRZEWSKA

FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
In a letter, saying it would be impossible for him to attend the Boston Equal Rights meeting on the 31st of May, says, "My best and most earnest wishes for the success of your noble Convention. The cause which it aims to subserve is the cause of the whole human family, in a sense the broadcast and most striking ever hit upon by any other association."

WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON,
In a letter stating that ill health prevented him from attending the National Women's Rights Convention in New York, says: "In some way I will try to expresss my warm adn hearty of approval of the Equal Rights movement at the approaching meeting in Boston. I hail it with gladness, and as of far-reaching importance. The time has fully come to drop the phrase "Woman's Rights" for that of "Equal Rights."
THE following appeal, written by Parker Pillsbury, was issued in behalf of the American Equal Rights Association in the autumn of 1866:

APPEAL FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
In restoring the foundations of the Government Justice, as the chief corner-stone, can alone secure a permanence of Peace and Prosperity. The eighteenth centry gave the World the Declaration of Independence, the war of the Revolution, and the Constitution of the United States; but only in the light of the nineteenth are these