R[ichard] H[arvey] Cain to Frederick Douglass, March 27, 1854
CHICAGO, ILL. March 27, 1854.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS: DEAR SIR:— As this
is the age of progress, we will inform you
that we are not far behind the times in
striving to keep pace with it. We confess
that we are behind in sending you an ac-
count of our proceedings. They should
have been sent before this; but we hope you
will pass over our negligence in this matter,
as we are free to confess our wrongs.
Our State Council met at 9 o'clock, Jan.
2nd, 1854, in the office of Jones & Bonner,
No. 88 Dearborn St., with a very small at-
tendance—there being only nine members
present, five of whom were members of this
city. The members present consisted of H.
O. Wagoner, E. Gordon, R. H. Rollins, Byrd
Parker, and Lewis Isabell of this city; R.
H. Coin, of Jo DAVIS County; Augustus
Dobbins, of Peoria; Augustus Hill, of Will
County.
The Council was called to order, and, on
motion of L. Isabell, A. H. Richardson, of
Galena, was chosen Chairman pro tem. On
motion of Byrd Parker, Augustus Hill was
chosen Vice-President pro tem; and R. H.
Coin and H. O. Wagoner, Secretaries.
Prayer being offered, on motion of R. H.
Rollins, R. H. Coin was appointed to draft
rules for governing the Council.
Mr. Parker moved that the Chairman be
empowered to invite the members of the Na-
tional Council to be present, and permitted
to make suggestions which they may deem
advisable. Carried.
On motion, the organization was retained
in its then persent form, until after the for-
mation of an adoption of the Constitution.
Mr. Rollins moved that a committee of five
be appointed to draft a constitution for the
State Council. R. H. Rollins, H. O. Wagon-
er, A. H. Richardson, R. H. Cain, B. Parker,
Committee. Mr. Parker moved that the
Committee report at three o'clock. Mr. Hill
moved an amendment, that the Committee
report at nine o'clock in the morning. The
amendment was accepted. Mr. Dobbins
moved that the members enroll their names
at two o'clock. The hour of twelve having
arrived, the Council adjourned to half-past
one o'clock, P. M.
Met at half-past one o'clock. Members
present, A. H. Richardson, R. H. Rollins, E.
Gordon, L. J. Sabell, R. H. Cain, A. Dob-
bins, A. Hill, B. Parker, H. O. Wagoner.
Absent members, J. H. Borguett, of Cook
county; A. M. Jackson, B. Henderson, of
Morgan county; S. Donnigan and E. L.
Coopery of Sangomon; R. J. Robinson, M.
L. Richardson, and James H. Johnson, of
Madison; William Jenkins of McLean; and
Thomas Mason of Peoria.
The minutes of the morning session was
read, corrected and adopted. Mr. Parker
then moved that the members of the Nation-
al Council be requested to be present at
business hours. Three o'clock having ar-
rived, the Council adjourned to meet at nine
o'clock next morning.
SECOND DAY.
Met at 9 o'clock. President in the Chair.
Prayer by Rev. B. Parker. Roll called. Mem-
bers all present except one of the Secre-
taries, who was absent, being ill. After some
other motions and remarks by several gen-
tlemen, Mr. Rollins, Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Constitution, reported a Consti-
tution; and on motion of H. O. Wagoner,
it was received. Mr. Wagoner then said he
had also hastily drawn up a form of a Con-
stitution which he desired to present. Mr.
Parker moved that it be submitted. Carried.
Both forms was taken up alternately, and
adopted. On the adoption of the second
section of Mr. Wagoner's form, quite a de-
bate arose on that part relating to females
voting, or the sexes without discrimination.
Mr. B. Parker moved that that section be
laid over to be submitted to the people for
approval or rejection. Here quite a spirit
of interest was manifested. Mr. Parker took
the ground that the question of Women's
Rights was new and novel, and as yet unde-
cided by the public at large; and that if we
passed it now, in its present form, we would
be acting without a precedent—a thing
which he did not feel disposed to favor—did
not want to be the first to set such an ex-
ample on foot, nor to establish such a pre-
cedent. Mr. Wagoner regretted to find the
gentleman falling back into old fogyism. He
had heretofore regarded the gentleman as a
reformer in the front ranks; nor did he think
it a sale criterion alway[s] to rely upon pre-
cedents. He said there were many existing
wrongs in the world, which had the prece-
dent of two thousand years; and he thought
they were none the less wrong on that ac-
count. They were quite as wrong to-day as
they were two thousand years ago; and so
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of liberty
was he, that he desired, from the bottom of
his soul, to extend all the God-given rights
to the whole human family; that he could
not give his vote to a measure which would
seem like doubting his convictions of right,
to accommodate a precedent. He, for one,
was willing to assume the responsibility, and
was willing to let his vote stand out in bold
relief. He wished to be Democratic, and was
not opposed to the well understood wishes of
the people; for he was willing to give them
a remedy by reserving to them the power of
altering or amending the Constitution when-
ever a majority of the people may so deter-
mine. Mr. Rollins did not wish to pass it
now. He thought it would be assuming too
much—more than this body had a right to
assume. Was opposed in toto to Women's
Rights, as advocated now-a-days. Thought
that the women had all the rights they ought
to have. Was not a Women's Rights man.
Though[t] this body was not sufficiently quali-
fied to pass such a measure. Did not care
if the National Constitution had allowed
women and children to vote. Much was said
on the question by several gentlemen. Mr.
Jones and Bonner made some suggestions.—
Mr. Dobbins, of Peoria, spoke in favor of
Women's Rights. Suffice it to say that we
formed a Constitution, appointed a State
Commissioner, two National Councilmen, a
Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary,
President, Vice-President. Owing to so
small an attendance, much business was omit-
ted, which might have been attended to. It
is due to say that during the last evening
session, Mr. Jenkins, of Bloomington, and
Mr. Mason, of Peoria, arrived in time to
participate in the doings of the Council.—
We shall be able to send you the proceed-
ings before long.
Yours for Liberty,
R. H. CAIN.