Editing Seneca Falls Convention (section)

== Second day ==

A larger crowd attended on the second day, including more men. [[Amelia Bloomer]] arrived late and took a seat in the upstairs gallery, there being none left in the main seating area. Quaker James Mott was well enough to attend, and he chaired the morning meeting; it was still too radical a concept that a woman serve as chair in front of both men and women.<ref name=McMillen92/>

=== Morning session, day two ===

After Mott opened the meeting, the minutes of the previous day were read, and Stanton presented the Declaration of Sentiments. In regard to the grievance "He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns," Assemblyman Ansel Bascom stood to say that he had recently been at the New York State Assembly which passed the Married Woman's Property Act. Bascom spoke at length about the property rights it secured for married women, including property acquired after marriage.<ref name=McMillen92/> Further discussion of the Declaration ensued, including comments by [[Frederick Douglass]], Thomas and Mary Ann M'Clintock, and [[Amy Post]]; the document was adopted unanimously.<ref name="nps report">National Park Service. Women's Rights. [http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/report-of-the-womans-rights-convention.htm Report of the Woman's Rights Convention, July 19–20, 1848]. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref> The question of men's signatures was solved by having two sections of signatures, one for women followed by one for men. One hundred of the 300<ref>Mani, 2007, p. 62.</ref> present signed the Declaration of Sentiments, including 68 women and 32 men.<ref>National Park Service. Women's Rights. [http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/signers-of-the-declaration-of-sentiments.htm ''Signers of the Declaration of Sentiments'']. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref> Amelia Bloomer was one of the participants who did ''not'' endorse the Declaration; she was focused at that time on the [[temperance movement in the United States|temperance movement]].<ref>Bloomer, D. C. [https://books.google.com/books?id=6b-xYhNvI3QC&pg=PA35 ''Life And Writings Of Amelia Bloomer''], 1895, p. 35.</ref> Ansel Bascom was the most conspicuous attendee who chose not to sign the Declaration.<ref>Stanton, 1997, p. 87.</ref> The ''National Reformer'' reported that those in the audience who evidently regarded the Declaration as "too bold and ultra", including the lawyers known to be opposed to the equal rights of women, "failed to call out any opposition, except in a neighboring <small>BAR-ROOM</small>."<ref name=NatReformer/>

=== Afternoon session, day two ===

[[File:Frederick Douglass (1840s).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Frederick Douglass]] stood up to speak in favor of women's right to vote.]]

At the afternoon session, the eleven resolutions were read again, and each one was voted on individually. The only one that was materially questioned was the ninth, the one Stanton had added regarding women's right to vote. It read: {{blockquote|Resolved, that it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise.<ref name=Text>USConstitution.net. [http://www.usconstitution.net/sentiments.html Text of the "Declaration of Sentiments", and the resolutions]. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref>}}
Those who opposed this resolution argued that its presence would cause the other, more rational resolutions to lose support.<ref>Buhle, 1978 p. 97.</ref> Others argued that only the social, civil and religious rights of women should be addressed, not the political rights.<ref name=McMillen93/> James and Lucretia Mott were against the resolution; Lucretia said to Stanton, "Why Lizzie, thee will make us ridiculous."<ref name=McMillen93/> Stanton defended the concept of woman suffrage, saying women would then be able to affect future legislation and gain further rights.<ref name=McMillen93/> Frederick Douglass, the only African American at the meeting,<ref>Stanton, 1997, p. 85.</ref> stood and spoke eloquently in favor; he said that he could not accept the right to vote himself as a black man if women could not also claim that right. Douglass projected that the world would be a better place if women were involved in the political sphere. "In this denial of the right to participate in government, not merely the degradation of woman and the perpetuation of a great injustice happens, but the maiming and repudiation of one-half of the moral and intellectual power of the government of the world."<ref>McMillen, 2008, pp. 93–94.</ref> Douglass's powerful words rang true with many in attendance, and the resolution passed by a large majority.<ref name="nps report"/> Lucretia Mott spoke to end the session.<ref name="nps report"/>

=== Evening session, day two ===

Quaker Thomas M'Clintock served as chair for the evening session, opening it at half-past seven.<ref name="nps report"/> The minutes were read, then Stanton spoke in defense of the many severe accusations brought against the much-abused "Lords of Creation."<ref name="nps report"/> Following Stanton, Thomas M'Clintock read several passages from Sir [[William Blackstone]]'s laws, to expose for the audience the basis of woman's current legal condition of servitude to man.<ref>National Park Service. Women's Rights. [http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/thomas-mclintock.htm ''Thomas M'Clintock'']. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref> Lucretia Mott stood to offer another resolution: "Resolved, That the speedy success of our cause depends upon the zealous and untiring efforts of both men and women, for the overthrow of the monopoly of the pulpit, and for the securing to woman an equal participation with men in the various trades, professions and commerce."<ref name=Stanton83>Stanton, 1997, p. 83.</ref> This, the twelfth resolution, passed.{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}

Mary Ann M'Clintock Jr. spoke briefly, calling upon woman to arouse from her lethargy and be true to herself and her God. Douglass again rose to speak in support of the cause of woman.<ref name=Stanton83/> Lucretia Mott spoke for an hour with one of her "most beautiful and spiritual appeals".<ref name=Stanton83/> Although Lucretia Mott's reputation as a speaker drew the audience, Mott recognized Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Mary Ann M'Clintock as the "chief planners and architects" of the convention.<ref name="nps quakers"/> To close the meeting, a committee was appointed to edit and publish the convention proceedings, with Amy Post, [[Eunice Newton Foote]], Mary Ann M'Clintock Jr., Elizabeth W. M'Clintock and Stanton serving.<ref name="nps quakers"/>