Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-04-16

of Sc inches to SO 1917 inches, new
standard yard shall be made, bearing
the same proportion Of such pendu'
lun as aforesaid.
From the Albany Gazette, Of April 7.
THE CASE OF EUNICE CHAP,
MAN,
Which occupied the attention oil
the house Of Assembly on Thursday
and Friday, having excited conslde'
rable interest and curiosity in the
minds of the public, we have thought
proper to give a brief statement OF
1.-The case and sketch of the Obserya.
tons of gentlemen Or the bill for her
relief.
Eunice Chapman was married in
1904, to James Chapman, with whom
she lived until tie year 1911, and by
whom she had three children. an one
Thousand eight hundred and eleven j.
Chapman joined the society Of Sha-
Ikers, in NcSkauna, ia this county.
He insists that the marriage contract
lis annullcd, and has taken the chill
drcn from the mother and keeps them
concealed.
Mrs. Chapman published state.
mcnt of her case, in pamphlet Of 60
pages, which contains narrative Of
the conduct of the Shakers towards
her. and the abuses she had suffered
from her husband. A counter state
ment has also been published by Chap
man, denying many of the charges.
and accompanied by a memorial in
behalf of the society of Shakers.
On the eth March a bill :" for the
relief Of Eunice Chapman, and for o.
iher purposes" was introduced into
the Senate. It passed that body by a
large majority, and was sent to the
house for concurrence, where it pass
ed its third reading on Saturday, af
ter having occupied the attention of
the house for the two proceeding
days.
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
In committee Of the 1ChOle, on TIE bill
for the relief Of Eunice Chapman
.lpr1L 4.
Mr.. Duer replied to Mr.. Sergeant
and Mr.. Irving, who spoke yesterday
in favor of the bill. He stated the
bad policy Of an example of lesisla-
tive divorces in general. Tie bill
was grounded upon the circumstance
OF the husband having abandoned the
wife, and un. cd with tie society OF
lShakers, whose tenets are, that mar
riage is unlawful. The bill proceeds
to declare, that if any one of two
married people Joined the society of
Shakers, it should be considered as a
sufficient ground for a divorce, on the
OF the other party. This,
| he contended, was doctrine repuS-
nant to the principles Of the Chris
tan reiigienwhich allows divorces OIL
| ly for adultery. Our own laws have
been founded upon the same princi-
piles, and therefore the chancellor has
been allowed to divorce for adultre, ..
and for that alone. But the present
| bill is unconstitutional. 1t goes to
prescribe the society OF Shakers, and
iinHicts the same punishment, and fix
es the same stigma upon the charac-
ter of the man who joins their society,
as the policy of the laws inficts upon
the guilty party in cases Of adultery.
Shakers are religious society, and
are therefore entitled to the protec-
ton of our laws, 50 long as they do
not violate or disturb the public peace.
He deprecated the bill. as likely II
produce incalcmable mischiefin socie-
lty.
Mr.. Sergeant said, he had heard
nothing to convince him the bill was
mot proper. The husband having
Joined a society who believe that
marriage is not lawful; having left
his wife without support ; and having
declared he considered il criminal To
receive her to his bosom as his wife
l-she ought to be divorced.
Mr.. Ptnd!eton apologized for ask
ling the attention Of the committee, al
ter the subject had been 50 fully and