in all ages, in national degradation and
revolution." Henry Ward Beecher spoke eloquently in its favor, saying
in part:

[Autograph:

Yours truly,
L. Maria Child.]

I am not a farmer, but I know that spring comes but once in the
year. When the furrow is open is the time to put in your seed, if
you would gather a harvest in its season. Now, when the red-hot
plowshare of war has opened a furrow in this nation, is the time to
put in the seed. If any say to me, "Why will you agitate the woman
question when it is the hour for the black man?" I answer, it is
the hour for every man and every woman, black or white. The bees go
out in the morning to gather the honey from the morning-glories.
They take it when they are open, for by 10 o'clock they are shut,
never to open again. When the public mind is open, if you have
anything to say, say it. If you have any radical principles to
urge, any higher wisdom to make known, don't wait until quiet times
come, until the public mind shuts up altogether.

We are in the favored hour; and if you have great principles to
make known, this is the time to advocate them. I therefore say
whatever truth is to be known for the next fifty years in this
nation, let it be spoken now--let it be enforced now. The truth
that I have to urge is not that women have the right of
suffrage--not that Chinamen or Irishmen have that right--not that
native born Yankees have it--but that suffrage is the inherent
right of mankind.... I do not put back for a single day the black
man's enfranchisement. I ask not that he should wait. I demand that
this work should be done, not upon the ground that it is
politically expedient now to enfranchise black men; but I propose
that you take expediency out of the way, and put a principle which
is more enduring in the place of it--manhood and womanhood suffrage
for all. That is the question. You may just as well meet it now as
at any other time. You will never have so favorable an occasion, so
sympathetic a heart, never a public reason so willing to be
convinced as today.... I believe it is just as easy to carry the
enfranchisement of all as of any one class, and easier than to
carry it class after class.

[Autograph:

and believe me
very truly yours,
H. W. Beecher]

The resolution was adopted unanimously, as was also a memorial to