Blackwell Family Lucy Stone 1853 Anthony, Susan B.S. B. Anthony 1853 S. B. Anthony to L. S. July 8, 1853 I am pleased with the call for the N.Y. Woman's Rights Con., & and will cheerfully grant the use of my name, if it is needed. It seems to me, however, that there are members whose names have been longer known as friends to this cause, who should sign it in preference to me. (Goes on to speak of World's Temp Convention to be held Sept 8 & Brick Church Con.Suffrage Referendum State Committee. Headquarters, 3 Park Street, Boston. September 23, 1895. To the Editor: Dear Sir,--We enclose herewith a copy of the Suffrage Referendum Act passed by the late Legislature, and respectfully request that you will do what you can to promote a full vote of men and women on this question by printing the Act and the appended Rules for the Registration of Women Voters in your paper, and by calling frequent and conspicuous attention to the fact that the registration of voters will close October 16 (the date in Boston), or on such date as the Registrar of Voters in your city or town may have fixed. In behalf of the Committee, Mrs. OLE BULL, Chairman. MARY C. SMITH, State Organizer. She & Mamma favored call for separate convention on same dates as [those] that of the "Old Fogeys", & were blue because Higginson & others did not.Suffrage Referendum State Committee. Headquarters, 3 Park Street, Boston. September 23, 1895. To the Editor: Dear Sir,-We enclose herewith a copy of the Suffrage Referendum Act passed by the late Legislature, and respectfully request that you will do what you can to promote a full vote of men and women on this question by printing the Act and the appended Rules for the Registration of Women Voters in your paper, and by calling frequent and conspicuous attention to the fact that the registration of voters will close October 16 (the date in Boston), or on such date as the Registrar of Voters in your city or town may be fixed. In behalf of the Committee, Mrs. Ole Bull, Chairman. Mary C. Smith, State Organizer.Thday Sept. 15/53 Dear Susan Will you send a draft, or check. (or something,) for $30. to Mrs. Rose[?]. 37 Meade St. from the Woman's Rights funds. The Publishing Com. should be paid, at least that, and Mrs. Rose[?] needs some money. Since the Rescue meetings are postponed I conclude to go to Rochester, for an anti slavery meeting on Sunday evening Sept. 25. if the Hall can had at that time - Will you see to it? Crandall has just been in, and says that the Jerry meetings are not [of] deferred[?] Still if it is but one day, I shall not be needed there - So will go to Rochester as above, if the Hall can be had I wish you would telegraph me on Monday to Albany at 37 Maiden Lane, and say if the Hall can be had. aff - Lucy StoneLucy Stone Sept. 15. 1853 Jerry Rescue Meeting 1852July 14 / 53 Lucy Stone Dear Susan "The long agony is over!" The "Whole World's Temperance Convention" is to be held Sept 1st and 2nd. And the Woman's Convention I think will come on 6 and 7 - the very time of the Dem's. Won't that be capital? From the Woman's meeting, I want to go along through N. Y. so as to [arrive?] at Syracuse Oct. 1. Now will your write, and give me names of persons and places en route, where I can do best service for the Slave, and for Women? In haste! aff. LucyI wrote Mrs. Stanton and Netta to give their names for the Call for the Women's Convention, but have not heard a word from either of them. I wrote Netta at Dr Dutton[?] Wayne so if that's not right, I wish you would write her. Tell her the substance of the Call. and ask her, to send her name[?] to me at once. and tell her that we shall want her, both at the Temperance Con. and at the Woman's meeting. So she must prepare exchange [?] [*[?] July 14/53*]Indianapolis, Nov. 28, 1853 Dear Susan I see you are to have a Convention the day after to-morrow. God bless it and you, and all the other noble ones who are to be there. And our dear Nettie has performed a marriage ceremony! Isn't she helping to work out this problem for women most grandly! God bless her! Lucy Stone July 14, 1853 Dear Susan The long agony is over. The Whole World's Temperance Convention is to be held Sep. 1 and 2, and the Woman's Convention, I think will come on the 6th and 7th. Won't that be capital? From the Woman's meeting, I want to go along through New York so as to be at Syracuse Oct. 1. Now will you write and give me names of persons and places en route where I can do the best service for the Slave and for Woman? Lucy LS West Brookfield Jan. 7 1853 Dear Susan Since I wrote you at Seneca Falls, I have received your other letter--You say there is not a woman in all the State who can speak at the Meeting at Albany. You forget Antoinette Brown. I think you would do well to have her, as she is a States Woman. She is now at Henrietta. It is important that some Speaking Woman should be there, and if Antoinette cant go, I will try to do so, and make a speech either afternoon, or evening, of Friday the 21--But it will be vastly better for your cause, to have a woman from your own State. I cant, in conscience speak in favor of the Maine Law. It does not seem to me to be based on a sound philosophy. A law will notamount to much, so long as there is not a temperance public sentiment. Such a sentiment would be stronger than law, written on parchment. My speech would have to go behind law, to the peoples hearts. I hope you can get Antoinette, and then, I shall not be needed. But if not, and if you still think it best for me to go I will (Deo volente) Drop me a line at West Brookfield Mass. I think you, and not Mrs Albro, should go before the Legislature. Yours sincerely Lucy Stone [*Lucy Stone Jan. 7th*] [*Lucy Stone Jan 3/53*] L.S. West Brookfield Jan. 8/53 Dear Susan Your letter mailed from Johnstown, on the third instant has just come to my hand. I mailed a letter yesterday to you at Seneca Falls. Saying that I thought it important that there should be women speakers, and that if you could not get Miss Brown, I would endeavor to go. Now, I see by your letter, that you want a "lot" of us, and that some of us are to be taken by force. I think Antoinette will do well to speak before the Legislature. I have not one word to say in favor of the Maine Law, so I should make a sorry figure, attempting to address their [?]; for unfortunately, I have to believe, what I advocate, or I can make no impression.I cant have time to prepare more than one speech. So dont depend upon me, for only that amount. If at your P.M. meeting anything is then given me to speak, I will do so. God bless your earnest, and faithful spirit Susan. I am glad that the temperance cause has so devoted, and judicious a friend. Yours Sincerely and admiringly Lucy Stone [*Lucy Stone Jun. 8th/53*] LS 21 Cornhill Boston Mar. 22/53 Dear Susan Your note reached me. Dont I want Antoinette with me at N.Y.? No. I should be glad to have her with me in the city, and to be with her all the [th] time there, except in the meeting. And there I do not want her or any body else that I even know.--The other day in the midst of one of my lectures my own sister came in, and her presence spoiled a lecture, that would have been at least decent but for her. I know it is very weak, to be so, but I cant help it. I am tired and nervous, and half sick too, and just this minute, cant help wishing that my body was safely at rest. Tomorrow may be I shall be better. I am tired of the hard labor of stirring this state to do something before the constitutional convention. If Nette only could see how important it is that much should be done right now, she would come. But I cant get her. Then too, I have tried to getMrs. Stanton and Mrs. Severance to write for papers that are ready to give us a corner for our cause, but I cant get any reply from either of them. But Susan dear I did not mean to write such a whining letter. Excuse me, and blame my aching head & back. If I go to N.Y. I would far rather go alone than to have any one, even Nette This evening you are to have your great meeting at Rochester. I hope that you who are to do the work, will be strong and courageous, and feel that you help the cause along I have taken this whole week to rest. I need it, and next week, I will go at it again On the divorce question I am on your side. For the reason that drunkenness so depraves a man's system that he is not fit to be a father. Yours in weariness Lucy Stone 53Lucy Stone March 22, 1853 D[????]Susan dear, your patience is almost out with me, but I waited to learn definitely relative to our "Whole World's Convention." Oliver Johnson of the Local Committee proposed what Mrs. Fowler wrote you. Br. Wellington & Mr. Higginson immediately wrote me that they concurred with it, Mr. H. said he was willing to heed a Call, accepting of their Call, and pledging that no one should be excluded. At the same time he said, he had no doubt that we should be rejected, but they would have a place prepared to which we could at once adjourn, and thus have a better schism than the first. No one could then accuse us of not having used all means of agreement. Mr. H sent me such a Call. I immediately wrote Burleigh [*to publish as soon as possible. I received [?] down, and have written Wm and Mary [?], the good couple! I love to [?] her then.--*] [*It is an awful book. By the way you speak of Villette I fancy it was not of much interest to you. Do get well rested this summer What became of Miss Wright? Where is your sister? aff Lucy Stone*]Higginson & Wellington, that after the meeting at Dr [Tralls?] had decided to hold our convention. No Committee had a right to change that decision, and give us into the Camp of the enemy. That after our secession and public protest, it was due, both to the principle involved, and to our own self respect, not to [Jacharet?],-- that it seemed to me like Childs play, and that for one, I did not want to offer myself again to be insulted. Today O. Johnson is at Abington to celebrate the 4th, and I have written Garrison to "take him over the coals," and convince him. They were to have had the meeting to decide the matter, last Thursday. And L. Baron, who has kept me well posted up, wrote me that their Com. were in favor of giving in to the Fogy meeting, but that they waited to hear from the Com. on the Call. Now they know my opinion thoroughly, Chas. Burleigh, is somewhere in Bucks Co. and I have not heard from him. J.A. Dugdale, agrees with the N.Y. Com. I have been sick, head and heart, at the thought of the loss of the glorious vantage ground, the Brick Ch. meeting gave us, but I have done what I could to prevent it. Reason and instinct, both revolt, at the course they are pursuing. I am sad, sad, sad. So much for that. Rochester has borne two terrible inflictions, in its two Temperance meetings. I received the papers from your brother, and Wm. Hallowell. How mean!! Will the women learn anything by it? It is doubtful-- You ask in your first letter, if it will not be well now, to have a Soc. where men, and women, can work side by side? I do not know enough of the circumstances to advise. If "the peaceis not ripe," in other words, if there are not enough, who agree with you to form a Soc. that can live, it will be best to wait again[?], in the mean time, might by printings, in the different best localities, create the material. What is the Carson League? Could you effect anything through that? We cant get the National Woman's Convention, changed from Cleveland, so we are calling an independent meeting in N.Y. City to follow immediately, after the Temperance Meeting--The Call is in circulation. I spent all day yesterday, in getting it ready to send--Will you sign it, and get Channing to (if he is in Rochester, if not dont trouble yourself) I would copy it, but I have not time, and you and Channing can trust me to give you the substance of it, which is, that already much good feeling exists towards our movement, and that we should use every opportunity, to embody that feeling into action. Saying also that much is already gained, and that since the press of N.Y. is listened to by the Nation and the crowd will be there, we invite all the wellwishers to the Cause to meet us[?]. Now let me know [soon] whether you can sign it, for the desire (Lucy Stone to Susan B. Anthony) West Brookfield Jan. 7 1853 Dear Susan: Since I wrote you at Seneca Falls I have received your other letter.You say there is not a woman in all the State who can speak at the meeting at Albany. You forget Antoinette Brown. I think you would do well to have her as she is a State woman. She is now at Henrietta. It is important that some speaking woman should be there, and if Antoinette can't go, I will try to do so, and make a speech either afternoon or evening of Friday 21st. But it will be vastly better for your cause to have a woman from your own State. I can't in conscience speak in favor of the Maine Law. It does not seem to me to be based on a sound philosophy. A law will not amount to much, so long as there is not a temperance public sentiment. Such a sentiment would be stronger than law written on parchment. My speech would have to go behind Law to the peoples hearts. I hope you can get Antoinette, and then I shall not be needed. But if not, and if you still think it wise for me to go, I will (Deo volente) Drop me a line at West Brookfield, Mass. I think you, and not Mrs Albro should go before the Legislature. Yours sincerely Lucy Stone 21 Cornhill St. Boston, Mass, Mar. 22, 1853 Dear Susan: Your note reached me. Don't I want Antoinette with me at New York? No. I should be glad to have her with me in the city, and to be with her all the time there, except in the meeting, and there I do not want her or anybody else that I ever knew. The other day, in the midst of one of my lectures, my own sister came in, and her presence spoiled a lecture that would have been at least decent, but for her. I know it is very weak to be so, but I can't help it. I am tired and nervous, and half-sick too, and just this minute can't help wishing that my body was safely at rest. I am tired of the hard labor, of stirring this State to do something before the Constitutional Convention. If Nettie only could see how important it is that much should be done right now, she would come. But I can't get her. Then, too, I have tried to get Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Severance to write for papers that are ready to give us a corner for our cause, but I can't get any reply from either of them. But Susan dear, I did not mean to write such a whining letter. Excuse me, and blame my aching head and back. If I go to New York, I would far rather go alone than to have any one, even Nettie. This evening you are to have your great meeting at Rochester. I hope that you who are to do the work will be strong and courageous, and feel that you help the cause along. I have taken the whole week to rest. I need it, and next week I will go at it again. On the divorce question I am on your side. For the reason that drunkenness so depraves a man's system that he is not fit to be a father. Yours in weariness Lucy Stone