Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-17
DIVORCES.


gencer, 1.-THE whole of which is too long for our
| paper,) we extract the following judicious and
| pertinent servations-which, though calculated
| for the meridian Of Maryland, will answer,
without essential variation, for that OF New
| Jersey.-Irste american.
An opinion, conviction Of the in
dissolubie nature Of the marriage bond,
is necessary curb, an useful counterpoise
to that proneness TO change and novelty
too inherent in the imperfect nature of
man.
Is it not the wiser and safer course to
let few individuals suffer under the cha
grins incident to the coniugal state, than
TO hazard the opening of the flood gates
to deprayity? Take mankind, such as
they are, and hold out the prospect that
the marriage bond may be severed 10 con-
sequence of ones own acts, and expert
ence teaches that it will give birth 10 a
spirit of restlessness in the conjugal state,
that never would have been generated
without that prospect held out. Make
cruelty cause for the absolute divorce,
aud it is to be feared that cruelties will
multiply. Make adultery the cause, and
adnlteries will multiply even collisions
I will be resorted to, TO impose upon and
obtain this end, when desired by both
the parties. An attempt to cure the evils
incident TO the conjugal state, by opening
the door Of absolute divorce, is like cast
ing oil upon the confagration; it infalIibly
increases the evil intended to be remedied.
The experience of the state of Maryland
itself proves the truth of this: annually
there is progressive increase Of applica-
tons for divorce, and the facility with
which they have been granted seems TO
make marriages dissolvable at the will
and pleasure Of the parties, and almost
at the pleasure of one Of the parties.
They are rarely refused if any genteeI
interest is exerted in their favor; the,
are often granted upon nothing but eS-
parte representations, unaccompanied with
any thing like the shadow OF what can be
called legal testimony of the facts alleged
sometimes upon the simple allegation OF
incompatibility of tempers, Cor what ia
substance amounts to no more as they
we're granted by the civil magistrates in
France during the phrenzy Of the revo-
luton. The Congress ofthe United States,
having exclusive legislative jurisdiction
over the District of Columbia, have set
their faces against The applications for
divorce made to them; the consequence
is, that party in the District wishing for
"a divorce comes across the line into Ma
ry land, pays board at some house for a
month or two, for which receipt is sent
10 the legislature of Mary land, as evidence
of residence in Maryland, and the appli-
cation is granted. Judging from the past,
the causes for divorce seem to be unlimit-
ed. There is no rule upon the subject
promulgated to the citizens. The rule
is locked up 10 the breast of legislature,
ever varying 10 its Component parts, aud
the divorce is granted or refused at its
momentary and arbitrary will and pleas
ure. 1t is time for this state of things to
cease; ii is time to oppose some barriers
TO this too great facility of divorce, or,
Judging from the rapid strides laxity Of
principles has already made, we may soon
expect scenes that will cast opprobrium
upon the marriage state, and sully the
dignity of the most sacred and honorable
of human engagements. Have we not
already seen the new marriage OF di-
-vorced party take place under the very
eyes of the legislature, as it were, almosl
before the ink was dry that endorsed the
passage Of the divorcing bill
I" 1t is but too true, that the marriage
bond, destined to form the sweetest charm
Of human life, often fills it with bitterness
and woe. 1t must be confessed, that nan
is too weak. too imperfect, too chaugeable,
or. that the laws which govern him can al
ways remain inaexible. In all times the
torrent of morals forces on the laws ne
cessarily they must follow man in his
starts and wanderings, with the hope of re-
claiming him. What law ought somewhat
to relax from its rigor, and suffer tempera-
ments and exceptions, more than that
which imposes yoke for life upon two
unequal beings, the one Of whom has in
his favor, strength and authority, which
he may abuse against the weakness of the
other? Ought not the unfortunate victim
to be lamented and succored, who, instead
Of finding friend in husband, finds only
an odious tyrant, whose angry transports
every moment threaten her life; or who,
by slow and meditated cruelty, makes
Of her life torture more frightful than
death? So long as man may deceive him
self, may change 10 his temper and habits,
and grow corrupt; so long as thousand
interests, all different from mutual love
and esteem, may determine TO matrimonial
unions; so long as the authority of parents
may cross the choice of the heart, may
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