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The Third National Woman's
Rights Convention
.."My friends,
do we realize for what purpose we are convened?....Our aim is nothing
less than...that every American citizen, whether man or woman, may have
a voice in the laws by which we are governed." William Henry Channing, Paulina Wright Davis, Samuel J. May, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone, signed the call to the 1852 convention, to discuss "woman's social, civil, and religious rights" and a "plan of operation" to secure them. Lucretia Mott presided over the convention; Martha Wright served as a secretary; James Mott and Elizabeth M'Clintock Phillips on the business committee. Mary and Sarah Hallowell, Thomas and MaryAnn M'Clintock, James Mott, Amy Post, and Catherine Stebbins, all signers of the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments, took part. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote to the convention, which adopted several of her resolutions. The Syracuse meeting was the first national convention marred by "coarse and ribald speech." Lucretia Mott silenced one minister after he offended many during debate on a the biblical basis of women's rights. Mott and Thomas M'Clintock objected to taking an official position for a varied movement. The convention then discussed strategy, determining to continue to work as a coalition of local groups by appointing a central committee, encouraging local and state conventions and work on local issues, and cooperating "throughout the nation and the world." |