New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-07

legislative action is far behind public sentiment
and that il is imperaveiy called ior by the voice OF
the people, the Hon. Member 70 the contrary not
wi,hstandIns.
Another objection urged by Mr. Bailey against
this bill shall be given IN his own words: " There
is no punishment provided in the bill for the other
sex, and notwithstanding his feelings prompted him
as strong as other gentlemen, 10 throw veil over
their iraties, 10 regard them with tenderness and
feeling, yet it could not be denied that lovely wo-
man Il sometimes the seducer, and that many OF
those miseries so elo1uenl!y and politically Por
traved BY the gentleman from Steuben, (Mr. Van
Valkenburgh) are the consequences OF female de-
pravitv" This one-sICed legislation, as The gen
tleman terms 1t, becomes very serious evil, when
brought 10 bear on the shoulders OF Iordy man. So
long as the penalty of transgresson was VISITED
only on woman, so loas as the shame and disgrace
and suffering we're borne only by her. the Unequal
ity of punishment was never made SUBJECTED COM
nIaint BY the guardians of public morals. And
now, what is the real ground OF objection ,
That the law, IN It's penalties. bears On
the seducer rather than on the seduced; on
the thief and murderer OF virtue, rather than on ms
wretched victim. Can il be, that any man with
human heart in his bosom, can coelly stand up in
his place as Legislator, and plead for the escape
of the libcrtine, because the partner OF crime
(takng the worst supposable case) ls not sharer
in the legal consequences OF transgresson In the
name of humanity, what would the gentleman
have! Is it not enough, that the errlng female
loses name and fame, and friends, and hope; that
she becomes TOO frequently an outcast from So
cety, an alien from home and kindred. and an OBJ.
iect of loathing and scorn even 10 him by whoR
she was betrayed and ruined Is II not enough
that the sweetest affections OF the heart are
turned to gall and wormwood at their very foun-
tain, by the shame and disgrace which attend the
sacred name Of motler-for be 1t remembered that
the bill provides for the punishment of the guilty
only in cases where the crime becomes public by
It's consequences. All this and more-much more
that language may not express-must be borne by
her, who, in a great majority OF cases. IS the de-
ceived, deluded victim OF her own ungOverned al
fecrons and the wiles OF man. And yet because
she is not mulcted in dollars and cents-because,
though the soul is crushed, the body s still al hber
", there lives man so cowardiy, so cruel as 10
complain, that the punishment OF line or lmprlson-
ment awarded TO the seducer Is an unequal one
Unequal So indeed it is--blt The inequality IL all
on the other side, and spite Of pains and penalties
will continue so TO be, until public sentiment shall
award the same measure OF condemnation TO crime
in either sex, where both are equally guilty before
God Let but 1.-THE OF the sympathy lavshcd by
the Hon. member on the hbertlne whose inquiries
have found him out, be extended 10 the erung IT,.
male and there can be no doubt that there would
more frequently be Joy on earth and IN heaven over
the repen,ing and returning prodlgal
1t would be useless labor TO follow the other re-
marks of the gentleman through all their winnings
and ramiicatlons. To the. candid mind they con-
vev their own reiutatlon along with them; and IN
deed the speaker sometimes answers his own Oh
iections by urging new on precisely the OPP
posite grounds What he might have done with
better cause know not, but as friend OF virtue.
one who desires IN her behalf only TAR held and
equal terms could wish that the opponents OF the
bill might select another champion, so that when
the day of triumph shall come, no one may be
able TO say that the case (of the bertlne) reat by
default. >. l. NJ.