l speakers must have
equal rights on their platform and there was no escape. Sometimes it
was nothing more harmful than a man with a map to explain how the
national debt could be paid without money, or a woman with a system of
celestial kites by which she proposed to communicate with the other
world. Occasionally the advocates of various political theories would
secure possession, consuming the time and diverting attention from the
main issue. At the convention just closed, the hobby-riders were
present in greater force than ever before and it seemed imperative that
some means should be adopted to shut them out thereafter. It was
proposed to change the name to Woman Suffrage Association, which would
bar all discussion of a miscellaneous character. There was a strong
objection to this, however, because such action required three months'
notice.

At the close of the convention a reception was held at the Woman's
Bureau, Saturday evening, May 15, 1869, and attended by women from
nineteen States who had come as representatives to the Equal Rights
Association.[50] At their earnest request, it was decided to form a new
organization to be called the National Woman Suffrage Association,
whose especial object should be a Sixteenth Amendment to the Federal
Constitution, securing the ballot to the women of the nation on equal
terms with men. A convention of officially appointed delegates was at
that time impracticable, as there were but few local suffrage societies
and still fewer State organizations. It was thought that although it
might not be formed by delegates elected for this specific object, it
would be sufficient for working purposes until the next spring when,
the required three months' notice having been given, a permanent
organization might be effected. Accordingly, a constitution was adopted
and officers elected.[51] The following week at Cooper Institute Anna
Dickinson made her great speech for the rights of women, entitled
"Nothing Unreasonable," to inaugurate the new National Woman Suffrage
Association, and before an immense audience she pleaded for woman with
the same beauty and eloquence as in days past she had pictured the
wrongs of the slave and urged his emancipation.

The association was organized May 15, and on the 17th Mrs. Livermore
wrote Miss Anthony from Boston: "I hope you are rested somewhat. I am
very sorry for you, that you are carrying such heavy burdens. If you
and I lived in the same city, I woul