"The call was prepared, an argument in itself, and sent forth with earnest private letters in all directions. It covered the entire question, as it now stands before the public. Though moderate in tone, carefully guarding the idea of the absolute unity of interests and of the destiny of the two sexes which nature has established, it still gave the alarm to conservatism.
"Letters, curt, reproachful, and sometimes almost insulting, came with absolute refusals to have the names of the writers used, or added to the swelling list already in hand. There was astonishment at the temerity of the writer in presenting such a request.
"Some few there were, so cheering and so excellent, that it is but justice to give extracts from them:
"'I doubt whether a more important movement has ever been launched, touching the destiny of the race, than this in regard to the equality of the sexes. You are at liberty to use my name.
"'You do me but justice in supposing me deeply interested in the question of woman's elevation.
Catherine M. Sedgwick.'
"'The new movement has my fullest sympathy, and my name is at its service.
"'William Henry Channing.'
"None came with such perfect and entire fullness as the one from which I quote the closing paragraph:
"'Yes, with all my heart I give my name to your noble call.
"'Elizabeth Cady Stanton.'
"'You are at liberty to append my own and my wife's name to your admirable call,
"'Ann Green Phillips,
"'Wendell Phillips.'
"Rev. Samuel J. May's letter, full of the warmest sympathy, well deserves to be quoted entire, but space forbids; suffice it that we have always known just where to find him.
"'Your business is to launch new ideas—not one of them will ever be wrecked or lost. Under the dominion of these ideas, right practice must gradually take the place of wrong, and the first we shall know we shall find the social swallowing up the political, and the whole governing its parts.
"'With genuine respect, your co-worker,
Elizur Wright.'
"'Mrs. Paulina W. Davis.
"Letters from Gerrit Smith, Joshua R. Giddings, John G. Whittier, Ralph Waldo Emerson, A. Bronson Alcott, Caroline Kirkland, Ann Estelle Lewis, Jane G. Swisshelm, William Elder, Rev. Thomas Brainard, and many others, expressive of deep interest, are before us.
"The Convention came together in the bright October days, a solemn, earnest crowd of noble men and women.