ed classes, negroes and women, since to do so must be at
double cost of time, energy and money.... Therefore, that we may
henceforth concentrate all our forces for the practical application
of our one grand, distinctive, national idea--universal suffrage--I
hope we will unanimously adopt the resolution before us, thus
resolving ourselves into the American Equal Eights Association.

Notwithstanding the rebuff they had received from the Anti-Slavery
Society, this resolution was unanimously adopted and the Woman's Rights
Society which had existed practically for sixteen years was merged into
the American Equal Rights Association to work for universal suffrage. A
constitution was adopted and officers chosen.[37] Mrs. Stanton thus
describes the last moments of the convention: "As Lucretia Mott uttered
her few parting words of benediction, the fading sunlight through the
stained windows falling upon her pure face, a celestial glory seemed
about her, a sweet and peaceful influence pervaded every heart, and all
responded to Theodore Tilton when he said this closing meeting was one
of the most beautiful, delightful and memorable which any of its
participants ever enjoyed."

A short time thereafter Miss Anthony, Mrs. Stanton, Mr. Phillips and
Mr. Tilton were in the Standard office discussing the work. Mr.
Phillips argued that the time was ripe for striking the word "white"
out of the New York constitution, at its coming convention, but not for
striking out "male." Mr. Tilton supported him, in direct contradiction
to all he had so warmly advocated only a few weeks before, and said
what the women should do was to canvass the State with speeches and
petitions for the enfranchisement of the negro, leaving that of the
women to come afterward, presumably twenty years later, when there
would be another revision of the constitution. Mrs. Stanton, entirely
overcome by the eloquence of these two gifted men, acquiesced in all
they said; but Miss Anthony, who never could be swerved from her
standard by any sophistry or blandishments, was highly indignant and
declared that she would sooner cut off her right hand than ask the
ballot for the black man and not for woman. After Phillips had left,
she overheard Tilton say to Mrs. Stanton, "What does ail Susan? She
acts like one possessed." Mrs. Stanton replied, "I can not imagine; I
never before saw her so unreasonable and absolutely rude."

She was obliged to leave immediate