custody and education of the children.
All this as a legislator I have endeavored to accomplish, making
large innovations upon the ancient common law. If I differ from you
as to her political rights, it is because I think that, from
political as well as moral considerations, she is unfit for, indeed
incapacitated from, the performance of most of the duties which are
now performed by men as members of the body politic; but there are
many avocations and professions now exclusively occupied by men
which women are as well, perhaps better fitted to fill. I hope
these will soon be thrown open to an active competition of both
sexes.

Then came the raid on Harper's Ferry and all its terrible consequences,
and in December Judge Ormond wrote again:

MADAM: In redemption of my promise to tell you the fate of the
woman's rights petition to our Legislature, I have the honor to
inform you that it was virtually rejected, being laid on the table.
I interested a distinguished member of our Senate in its
presentation and, in addition, wrote a letter which under ordinary
circumstances would have insured its respectful consideration. But
after your petition was forwarded came the treasonable and
murderous invasion of John Brown. The atrocity of this act,
countenanced as it manifestly was by a great party at the North,
has extinguished our last spark of fraternal feeling. Whilst we are
all living under a Constitution which secures to us our right to
our slaves, the results of which are in truth more beneficial to
the whole North, and especially to the New England States, than to
us, you are secretly plotting murderous inroads into our peaceful
country and endeavoring to incite our slaves to cut the throats of
our wives and children. Can you believe that this state of things
can last? We now look upon you as our worst enemies and are ready
to separate from you. Measures are in progress as far as
practicable to establish non-intercourse with you and to proscribe
all articles of northern manufacture or origin, including New
England teachers. We can live without you; it remains to be seen
how you will get along without us. You will probably find that
fanaticism is not an element of national wealth or conducive to the
happiness or comfort of the people.

In conclusion, let me assure you this is written mo