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

| II other cases, but DECLARED II should
Extend to a separation from bed aai
board only, and it vested power in
1.-The court of chancery to provide fo.
1.-The wife and children. 1t extends to
lall cases of abandonment Of the wife,
|cruelty, or other inhuman treatment.
But in these cases the law did not per-
INIT either party to marry again. The
lease now before tie committee, is of
that class already fully provided for,
lin relation to every thing, but that Of
lgiying liberty to the lady to marry a.
gain. The object of the application
Twas therefore in substance to permit
1.-The wife TO be divorced and to marry
Iasai in a case where the Legislature
Ihad hitherto refused it. Ii this sys.
Item is to be exchanged it ought to &c
|by general law, applicable to all ST.
Imilar cases, and he asked were tic
!committee ready to say that III every
lease of separation, they would allow
la divorce from the bond, Of marriageI
lIf not, there was nothing in this case
lof a peculiar nature. A man, for
merly Incorporate, left his wife, after
Idissipatins the greater part of his
property, and joined religious soCi.
lety, who, though protesting doctrines
Unusual and fanatical, were neyerthe-
less known to be sober. industrious,
and inoiFtnsive. lie, after some time,
took with him lis children and kept
them there No cruelty was a!leg.
ed. Adultery had been imputed to
the husband by the artful pamphlet
laid on the table Of the members no
proof was, however, produced YET,
as it was said he had boasted Of il.
proof would have been easy, and she
might, if innocent herself, have pro-
cured divorce through the court Of
chanccry, that would lave given per-
mission to marry again. lie warned
the house against permitting marriage
upon Il divorce for abandonment. era
city, drunkenness, or FOR any other
cause than for adultery. And parti-
Icularly for having joined the society
of Shakers. The bill declared t!,at,
| if one of the parties joined this soci-
lety, and remained with them for "a
year. the other party may file bill
| in the court of chanccry, and upon
proof Of the fact, the court divorce
the parties, the guilty party not being
Iallowed to marry again. Residence
for year there. procures divorce,
and then the party may quit them and
go where he plcases. 1t opens wide
door for divorces, which would soon
become frequent, and he productive
of infinite mischief. Hc mentioned
|other cases this session Of appiica-
|tionsfor divorces, some of which were
much stronger than this. Aud tins
would have shared the same fate, had
lit not been for the artful pamphlet &c
Mrs. Chapman, the facts of which
were denied by another pamphlet
1t was quarrel between husband and
lwilc, who. as usual, criminate each
other. and the committee have not,
and cannot have any proof to deter
mine whose statement is true. The
statute allows the party complained
|of, to prove the i'll conduct Of the
complainant. as an excuse and there
alone, such proof Tan be given. he
considered tie bill as highly mischief.
Gus, and would give it his decided ne
gative.
Mr.. Irving replied. lie said the
husband having abandoned his vile
without any provision, had violated
the marriage contract, and had DO
right orpower to hold her in the bonds
of marriage. He described in pa.
thetic terms the abandoned and dis
consulate situation of the wife, in this
case. The divorce for adultery, was
on the ground of its being breach
of the marriage contract. Ever
case where this is violated, whether
10y abandoning the party or other
wise, gave right to have he mar
riage dissolved. The cause MAS much
stronger here, where man had lolI-
| ed society who held all carnal NJ
,tercourse between the sexes. even be"
tween man and wifi, to be sinful. The
principle tended to demoralize and u
corrupt the youth who joined them
and the community at large. A gen
eral law might be passed, hut as tbs
case was before the legislature. they
might with prophet! decide upon il:
TT ,,o+;t;oner here. has n" means o.