The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-21 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.:::-LIVERPCOL; THERS DAY.

after a corn niete divorce has been obtained ; that
clause is omitted in the present bill, but the
Bishop of Oxford threatens to restore it.

The intention of this bill is good, but, in our
judgment, it stops short, and does not reach far
enough. All must feel the exceeding difficulty,
delicacy, and complexity of this subject It
would be easy to produce social disorder and
confusion in families by crude legislation, but it
is not easy to say what changes may be safely
made, that shall not do more harm than good,
or that shall give us the good with a minimum
of the harm. We are strongly of opinion that
all legislation on this subject ought to proceed on
the principle of dealing out the same equal
justice, to man and woman, the same moral
measure for both sexes.

Wbat is morally wrong in the woman must be
equally wrong in the man. If society does not
think so at present, this only shows that
society has not yet grown up to the
moral law. But we hold that moral law
is on earth supreme over all your narrow
expediencies. If man, by his legislation, will
treat woman in a spirit of perfect fairness and
even-handed justice, we believe that this in the
end will prove the true expediency. The Bill
falls short of this : it does not place the woman
on the sante standing with the man in reference
to the causes that may dissolve the marriage.
The hand of man is still visible in all legislation
that he may undertake for his sister, woman. A
true chivalrous feeling would allow that if law is
to show any bias, it ought rather incline to the
side of tie weaker vessel. Another objection
we have to the Bill. It allows only one
cause to justify complete legal divorce
from the marriage bond, namely, con-
jugal unfaithfulness clearly proved. It is
worth considering whether prolonged voluntary
desertion by either party should not justify
divorce. The very object and purpose of mar-
riage is frustrated by obstinate and heartless
desertion. To hold such parties legally united,
while they are morally and locally severed, is
like compelling parties to live among the tombs.
Better legally disunite them, and set both free.

Perhaps it ought not to be stated, as an objec-
tion to this Bill, that it does not in a large and
philosophic spirit enter into the question, under
what circumstances marriage ought to be
permitted ? We could hardly expect this in the
present state of feeling and of society, we must
be satisfied if we can get any considerable
improvement.

The Bill is an highly important one, intimately
connected with the dearest interests of society,
and demanding the most matured and earnest
consideration. This change cannot be final ;
but any real improvement in the existing laws
relative to married parties, will be thankfully and
wisely accepted by all good men and women.

COMMODORE VANDERBILT is no doubt a very en-
terprising, but we greatly fear that lie is not a very
prudent man. His offering to run a steam- boat
race across the Atlantic for a prize valued at
130,0001. is highly objectionable ; and if his chal-
lenge should be foolishly accepted and acted
upon, there is no knowing what sacrifice of life
would be the result. We have had quite enough
of this system of racing across the Atlantic, It
serves no good purpose, and we know full well
that it rouses •feelings of jealousy and hatred
combined with recklessness and a total indif-
ference to the preservation of life and property.

The terms proposed by Commodore VANDER-
BILT to test the superiority of his own steamer,
Vanderbilt, is to run her against the Persia,
and the owner of the one that makes the quickest
passage is to win the slowest ship. A race of
three thousand miles for a stake valued at
130,000/. We are aware that the amount of the
prize is highly tempting, and that there are many
persons who would jump at the offer of the Com-
modore. We have full confidence that both
the owners and the gallant captain of the Persia,
no matter how anxious they may be to merit and
retain the reputation of being connected with the
fastest ocean steam-ships afloat, will turn a deaf
ear to Mr. VANDERBILT'S proposal.
The passages of the Persia both to and from
New York have not been equalled. She stands,
without cavil or dispute, as the fastest ocean
steam-ship in the world and until the Vander-
bilt has made passages of a similar duration, we
deem the challenge entirely uncalled for, It is
a display of national vanity, which we thought a
man of so much general experience of the world
as the Commodore has had would be very slow
to adopt or encourage.
A spirit of rivalry, although excellent in its
way, is liable to lead to great abuses, and to
injuries national as well as personal. It should
be our object to extend and cultivate our
friendly relations with the people of America.
They have found it to their advantage to do so ;
and notwithstanding all their ambition as a
rapidly progressing nation, they have not failed
to take advantage of all the means of frequent
and accelerated communication between the two
countries which we have placed at their service.
It is a well-known fact that the great bulk of
of the goods and passengers shipped on board of
the Cunard steamers are American, and that
they show a preference for the ships of that line
over those belonging to and built by their
fellow-citizens. National prejudice gives way to
self-interest and personal convenience. It is to
break down this latter feeling, and to excite a
spirit of national partiality in favour of American
ocean steam ships that Commodore VANDERBILT
has made the challenge alluded to. He desires
to be regarded as the owner of the swiftest
steamers here or elsewhere, and that to America
will belong the credit of building a steam-ship
that can almost bridge the Atlantic.
Let us suppose that the proposed race has
taken place, what would be the result ? The
defeated line and the country to which she
belongs would be indignant, mortified, and
smarting under the effects of the defeat, every
effort would be made to regain their departed