Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-10-16

,.orrcsSiye ihcrca'. ~
Fapro, ,ce, and the facility with which
r'% rrs been granted seems to make
ns'rl%s Of the parties. and almost at
lra'm Of one of the parties. They
pie"s" refused if any genteel interest
are ,rra a in their favor; they are often
Is sa ,tel upon nothing but exparte re-
srann,a,i1ns, unaccompanied with any
.. Ike the shadow of what can be
'D .usd legal testimony of the facts al
ra .I. sometimes upon the simple allie
EN- ,;"n Of iucompatibility of tempcrs,
~ At in substance amounts to no
rsl as they were granted by civil
p'% ,istrates in France during the phrrn-
IL, # the revolution. The Congress of
~ United States. having exclusive le-
n;Jativc Jurisdiction over the District
: columbia. have set their faces a.
c,inst the application for divorce made
:, them the consequence is, that par
- in the District, wishing for divorce,
ms across the line, iatn Maryland.
,oyc hoard at some house for month
r. ;w0. fnr which receipt is sent to
II. legislature of MARYLAND, as evidence
,fthrir residence in Mary land. and the
snpI;caion is granted. Judging from
thr pa>t. the causes for divorce seem to
h, unlimited. There is no rule ulon
tIc subject promulgated to the citizens.
The rule is locked up in the breast of a
;nn;,hturr. ever VARYING in its Compo-
,,,t parts, and the divorce is granted
or refused at its momrntary and arbi-
trary will and pleasUc. 1t is time for
this state Of things to cease: it is time
H. oppose some barriers to this too great
facility Of divorce. or Judging from the
rand strides a laXity of principles has
already made, we may soon expect
sccncsthat will cast opprobium upon the
marriage state, and sulls the dignity of
the mast sacred and honorable ut human
rpragrmpnts.---Havc we not already
seen tie new marriage If divorced
party take place under the very eyes of
the legislature. as irwcre. almost before
The ink WAS dry that endorsed the pas
sage If The di, orcinS bill
1T is hut TOO true. that the mari sc
bOn!. destined TO fhrm the sweetest
charm Of human lifr. often fills il with
hi'i"",n>S and Woe. 1t must br Confes
SCI. that aan is too weak. too imperfeC.
ton rhaug"ahlr. on that the laws which
soycrn him can always remain infrxi
be. IN all times the torrent Of morals
furcos OH the laws: necessarily they
must follow man in his starts and wan-
behring's, with the hope of retaining
him. What law ought somewhat to re
laI from it's rigor. and suffer tempcra-
IIrnts, and exceptions. more than that
Which imposes yoke for life upon tw"
ineQual beings the one OF whom has in
his favor. strength and authority. whirh
he may abuse against the weakness of
ne other? Ought not the unfortunate
,iCtim to DC lamented and suCcored,
Who instead Of finding friend in hus-
,and finds only an odious tyrant. whose
angry transports threaten every moment
VI her life: or who. by slow and mcdi,
ated cruelty, makes of her life torture
more frightFul than death? SO long rs
nan may deceive himself. may change
n his temper aud habits. and grow cor
upt: so long as a thousand interests,
III different from moral love and esteem.
nay determine to matrimonial union;
10 long as the authority Of parents may
ross the choice Of the heart. may chain
iitne To vice. may bind together income
,atibie humors and characters thus
ong it will be not only East. it will he
IcCesSary, not Ia reject the cnm.i;'ints
# The Oppressci-~t0 lend attention to
he reciL;il Of her woes and ii they arc
0und grave, il they re' OH humanity. to
FrCst her from the power OF her
pprcssor. 70 leave her forever in the
,rievuus subsection to an unteei;ig ty
ant, would be rigor insulting to hu-
nanity-wouId be crushing oppressed
nnoCcnce-wopld change grief into dcs-
ain
Bat neither should light causes SUI
ee to sIacken he nuptial band even TO
Uthorize the Judgment of separation "f
odirs and goods. There oaght to be
iciShty causes excuses that revolt,
that there iS ground to dread,
ud which it is essential to the order OF
acicty to prevent. # the husband has
isUltcd by his liCenuOusness under the
-, "a 60, L., ,v,cn iI ba