Not at all daunted or discouraged, Miss Anthony took her speakers forthwith into the very heart of the enemy’s country, the capital of the State.  Albany had at that time a Democratic mayor, George H. Thacher.  As soon as the papers announced the coming of the Abolitionists, over a hundred prominent citizens addressed a petition to the mayor to forbid their meeting for fear of the same riotous demonstrations which had disgraced the other cities.  He replied at considerable length, saying that he had taken an oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New York, that both guaranteed the right of free speech to all citizens, and while he was mayor he intended to protect them in that right.

On the day of the convention he called at the Delevan House for Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stan ton, now reinforced by Lucretia Mott, Martha C. Wright, Gerrit Smith and Frederick Douglass, and accompanied them to Association Hall.  They found it packed to the doors.  The mayor went on the platform and announced that he had placed policemen in various parts of the hall in citizens’ clothes, and that whoever made the least disturbance would be at once arrested.  Then he laid a revolver across his knees, and there he sat during the morning, afternoon and evening sessions.  Several times the mob broke forth, and each time arrests were promptly made.  Toward the close of the evening he said to Miss Anthony:  “If you insist upon holding your meetings tomorrow, I shall still protect you, but it will be a difficult thing to hold this rabble in check much longer.  If you will adjourn at the close of this session I shall consider it a personal favor.”  Of course she willingly acceded to his request.  He accompanied the ladies to their hotel, the mob following all the way.

This closed the series of conventions.  With a Republican mayor in every other city, there had been no attempt at official protection; and yet it may be remembered, in extenuation, that it is always easier for the party out of power than for the one in power to stand for principle; the former has nothing to lose.  The Republicans at this time were panic-stricken and staggering under the weight of responsibility suddenly laid upon them; and the Abolitionists, by their radical demands and scathing criticism, were adding to their difficulties.  There can be no justification, however, for any official who is too cowardly or too dishonest to fulfill the duties of his office.

Immediately upon the close of this anti-slavery meeting, the State Woman’s Rights Convention was held in Albany, February 7 and 8.  Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Rose, Lucretia Mott and many of the old brilliant galaxy were among the speakers.  They little thought that this was the last convention they would hold for five years, that a long and terrible war would cast its shadow over every household before they met again, that differences would arise in their own ranks, and that never more would they come together in the old, fraternal spirit that had bound them so closely and given them strength to bear the innumerable hardships which so largely had been their portion.