The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-04-10
MARRIAGE.

NJ ARRIACk Is part VI thS ~"
and known to both civilized ana savage
states. After the commonweai'hs Oh
Greece were established, marriage was
much encouraged by the laws, and abstain
IND from Il was discountenanced, and IN
many places punished. The Lacedemo-
mans were very remarkable for their Sc
verify towards those who deferred mar
riage beyond limited time, as well as to
those who wholly abstained fromit. The
Athenians had an express law that all
commanders, orators, and persons cntrust-
ed with any public affairs, should be mar
ricd men.
The time of marriage varied in differ
ent places; the Spartans were not permit
ted to marry, till they arrived at their full
strength; the reason assigned for which
custom, by Lycurgus, was, that the Spar
tan children might be strong and vigorous;
and the Athenian laws are said to have
once ordered, that men should not marry
ill they were thirty five years age.
Most of the Grecian states, especially
such rs made any figure, required that
the citizens should match with none but
citizens, and the children were not allow
ed to marry without the consent OF their
parents. The usual ceremony in prOmis-
ing fidelity, was kissing each other, or
giving their hands, which was general
form ofratifying all agreements.
So important was the marriage state
considered among the Romans, both in a
moral and political view, that they not
only rewarded those who married, but de-
creed penalties against m who remain
cd in a state ofcelibacy. Fines were first
levied on unmarried men, about the year
of Rome $50; and when pecuniary for
feitures failed to ensure their obedience
to these connubial edicts, their contuma-
cious neglect ofthe fair sex was punished
by degradation from their tribe. Celiba-
cy continued, however, to gain ground in
Rome; and to counteract its effects, we
find, that in the year SIG from the iounda-
ton OF fthe city, the censors had recourse
10 the extraordinary measures of obl'giDg
all the young unmarried men to pledge
themselves ON oath to marry within u cer-
tain time.
Augustus followed the example of C@-
-sar, and augmented the penalties on bach
elors, while he bestowed rewards on tho.e
who had a numerous offspring born in
wedlock. Marriage also gave numerous
advantages to fathers of families; they
xbtioe. the preference in all public en-
ploy.nents; ant II ,mcv had not obtained
the age required by iaws 81 many years
ofthat period were dispensed with as they
had children. Distinguished places were
assigned to married men in the pablic
xhoatres, they had the precedence of their
unmarried colleagu.., -!
ur.p, aeou rum tiic ursvnurg1 vr scvcra. (
brdensome public Offices. Such were
the immunities granted to married men,
among the Romans, until the reign of the
Emperor Constantine, who modified them
in several points, and abolished the pen
alties imposed OH celbacy.
Among all the savage nations, whether
in Asia, Africa, or America, the wife is
commonly bought by the husband from the
father, or those other relations who have
an authority over her; and the concl lsion
of bargain for this purpose, together
with the payment of the price, has there
fore been the usual form or solcmnity IN
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