parative rights
or wrongs of one class or another. This is the question before us:
Is it possible that peace and union shall be established in this
country, is it possible for this government to be a true democracy,
a genuine republic, while one-sixth or one-half of the people are
disfranchised?

The resolution was adopted by a large majority. A business meeting was
held in the afternoon to decide upon the practical work, and again the
room was crowded. Miss Anthony was in the chair. There were women of
all ages, classes and conditions, and the assembly was pervaded with
deep and solemn feeling. The following was unanimously adopted: "We,
loyal women of the nation, assembled in convention this 14th day of
May, 1863, hereby pledge ourselves one to another in a Loyal League, to
give support to the government in so far as it makes a war for
freedom." Mrs. Stanton was elected president and Miss Anthony secretary
of the permanent organization. A great meeting was held in Cooper
Institute in the evening. An eloquent address to President Lincoln,
read by Miss Anthony, was adopted and sent to him.[32] Powerful
speeches were made by Ernestine L. Rose and Rev. Antoinette Blackwell,
a patriotic address to the soldiers was adopted, and the convention
closed amid great enthusiasm.

At subsequent meetings it was decided to confine the work of the League
to the one object of securing signatures to petitions to the Senate and
House of Representatives, praying for an act emancipating all persons
of African descent held in involuntary servitude. They set their
standard at a million names. Their scheme received the commendation of
the entire anti-slavery press, and of prominent men and women in all
parts of the country. The first of June headquarters were opened in
Room 20, Cooper Institute, and the great work was begun. Miss Anthony
prepared and sent out thousands of petitions accompanied by this
letter:

THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL LOYAL LEAGUE TO THE WOMEN OF THE REPUBLIC: We
ask you to sign and circulate this petition for the entire
abolition of slavery. Remember the President's proclamation reaches
only the slaves of rebels. The jails of loyal Kentucky are today
filled with Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama slaves, advertised to
be sold for their jail fees "according to law," precisely as before
the war! While slavery exists anywhere there can be freedom
nowhere. There must be a law abo