est Christians after the six millions had gone. I say this new
personage who makes her appearance upon the drama of human
affairs informs you that you and your religion, under the conduct
of the male, generative, fecundative principle of the sex, have
filled the world with blood from one end to the other of it. What
for? To give her liberty. She complains to-day; she complains in
your most intelligent high places; she complains in your most
refined cities; she complains in your halls decorated with a more
than Grecian beauty of architecture; she complains where all of
past civilization, all of past adornment, and all of past
education comes down to satisfy us that we stand upon the very
acme of human progress; she complains that you have been tyrant
to her. Mr. President, let me read from the proceedings of the
Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery
Society. I propose to read from the remarks of Mrs. Gage, a
woman, a lady, a lady of brain and intellect, of courage and
force; and whether I am in earnest or not, whether I may be
charged with being serious or not, no man dare charge Mrs. Gage
with not being serious. Mrs. Frances D. Gage said: "I have read
speeches and heard a great deal said about the right of suffrage
for the freedmen." So have we all, Mr. President; and the
probability is that we have been even more afflicted if that can
be said to be a punishment, and there is very great difficulty
now to ascertain what is punishment in this world. If that can be
said to be a punishment, I think this Senate can with at least
equal propriety with Mrs. Gage, complain of its extraordinary
infliction upon them without any previous trial and conviction.
[Laughter]. "What does it mean? Does it mean the male freedman
only, or does it mean the freedwoman also? I was glad to hear the
voice of Miss Anthony in behalf of her sex." I am glad, Mr.
President, that we have a male of that name in this body who
emulates the virtues of his more humble sister [laughter], and
stands up equally here for the broad rights of humanity as she
does. "I know it is said that this is bringing in a new issue."
Yes, that is what was said about me yesterday evening. Gentlemen
said it was a new issue; we had not talked about this thing here
before; nobody