BLACKWELL FAMILY Speech "Resolved, that women should NOT STUDY LUCY STONE POLITICS."(an early agument for women's right by Lucy Stone) Resolved that Women should not Study Politics. I shall not attempt to refute the arguments brought forward upon the other side of the question. I am perfectly willing that they should be felt with all their power. I am perfectly willing that, all the good arguments and reasons which exist in its favor should be known and their utmost influence excited. I know that a vast majority of men and women believe that women should not study Politics. While such is the fact, the individual who supports the opposite opinion meeting their combined opposition, sustains a most unequal warfare and in the preparation of this discussion, I have almost felt disposed to say as that prophet said, of whom we have all heard, who lived at a period (?) to all history, and dateless as eternity, where the dread Sovereign of the Universe was known only as the Universal Parent, when there was no alter but the pure heart, and thanksgiving and grateful Love the sole sacrifice. It is said, you know, that the Prophet in his cave was warned by an unknown voice to hasten to his brethren and tell them that on the thirtith(?) morn, from the next sun's rising during the space of thrice three days, and thrice three nights, thick clouds should cover the sky, and a heavy rain fall upon the earth, that whoever was wet by it upon him, and upon his children's children, should fall the Spirit of Madness. But the people did not take shelter from the rain and when the Prophet came out of his cave again, and found all ofhis companions raving maniacs finding himself endangered, harassed, solitary, in a world of forms like his own, without any sympathy or objects of love, he sought some of the unevaporated maddening water, and uttering the last words of reason, "It is vain to be sane in a world of mad men," he plunged and rolled in the liquid poison, and came out mad, and wretched as those around him. So on this question it seems almost vain to be sane, for to be so, is either to be regarded as mad or as the dupe of perverted reason. And yet it is not altogether vain, for Truth will ultimately prevail, and though- "Crushed to Earth Will rise again." Hence I am glad that it has fallen to me, to support the negative of the Resolution, for I believe it is the only true ground. Politics according to Webster is the science of government. Now, since women in common with men, are the subjects of government, pay equally with them for its support, and suffer the same penalties for the violation of its laws. Why should they not in common with them, study the government which they are obliged to support and from whose exactions they cannot escape. I know that many excuse themselves simply because men wish them to. Others conscientiously refrain, while others still think that men make the same laws for themselves that they do for women, and that they will not make bad laws for themselves, so that we are safe, and have all the benefit, without any trouble. Benevolent surely! But are the same laws made for both? Let us refer to a few and see, and itseems to me that when the tremendous legal disabilities under which women labor are known, every mouth will be stopped, so far as reasons why we should not study politics are concerned. I will read from the laws of my native State, and I blush for Massachusetts when I know that upon her statute book, are such laws as the following -- cite a case. The above all bear particularly upon married women, but here is one which affects us all alike. The property of women shall be taxed, without representation (this ends abruptly.)LS Argument for early woman's rights debate Resolved that Women should not study Politics. I shall not attempt to refute the arguments brought foward upon the other side of the question. I am perfectly willing that they should be felt with all their power. I am perfectly willing that, all the good arguments and reasons, which exist in its favor should be known and their utmost influence excited. I know that a vast majority of men and women believe that women should not study Politics. While such is the fact, the individual who support the opposite opinion meeting their (?) opposition, sustains a most (?) warfare and in it preparation of this discussion, I have almost felt disposed to say as the prophet said, of whom we have all heard, who lives at a period antecedent to all history,and (?) as eternity when the dread Soverign of the Universe was known only as the Universal Parent, when there was no Alter but the pure heart, and thanksgiving and grateful love the sole sacrifice. It s said, you know, that the Prophet in his cave, was warned by an unknown voice to hasten to his breathren, and tell them that on the thirtith morn, from the next sun's rising, during the space of thrice three days and thrice three nightsthick clouds should cover the sky, and a heavy rain fall upon the earth, that whoever was wet by it upon him, and upon his children's children, should fall the Spirit of Madness. But the people did not take shelter from the rain and when the Prophet came out of his cave again and found all his companions raving maniacs, finding himself endangered, {ha?a?ed], solitary in a world of forms like his own. Without sympathy or object of love, he [found] sought some of the unevaporated maddening water, and uttering the last words of reason "It is vain to be sane, in a world of mad men." he plunged and rolled in the liquid poison, and came out mad, and wretched, as those around him. So on this question, it seems almost vain to be sane. For to be so, is, either to be regarded as mad or as the dupe of perverted reason ad yet it is not altogether vain, for Truth will ultimately prevail, and though "Crushed to Earth, Will rise again. Hence I am glad that it has fallen to me, to support the negative of the resolution, for I believe it is the only true ground. Politics according to Webster is the science of government. Now, since women, in common with men, are the subjects of government. [?] [?] with them for its support, and suffer the same penalties for the violations of its laws, why should they not in common with them, study the government which they are obliged to support, and from whose exactions they cannot escape. I know that many excuse themselves, simply because men [men] wish them to, others conscientiously refrain, while others still, think that men make the same laws for themselves, that they do for women, and that they will not make bad laws for themselves, so that we are safe and have all the benefit without any trouble. Benevolent surely!! But are the same laws made for both? Let us refer to a few and see. And it seems to me that when the tremendous legal disabilities under which women labor are known every mouth will be stopped. So far as reasons why we should not study politics are concerned, I will read from the laws of my native state and I blush for [?]. Where I know that upon her statute book, are such laws as the following -- Cite a case. The above all bear particularly upon married women but here is one which affects us all alike. The property of women shall be taxed, without representation.