Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-09-26
From the Banner Of the C0Uenant..
A DEFENCE OF POLYGAMY.

1t may seem strange, Messrs. Editors, to
attempt a defence of polygamy, a practice
now wholly disused among civilized nations,
and generally considered as a violation, OF
the divine law. Yet there are many things
which exist in society from the mere force of
habit, and the propriety of which none ques-
ton, merely because they never think Of
them as subjects of examination: they are
customary, and it is taken for granted they
are right. Now, may not this be the case
with Monogamy, or having but one wile!-
Would it not be better for society that polyg-
amy should be permitted Would not the
condition of all classes male and female, old
and young, be improved? And is not PoIyg-
amy authorized and even recommended by
the Scriptures!
Many assert this of slavery. We feel con
fdent we may assert it with equal propriety
and force of poiygamy.
Consider polygamy as n mere social insfi-
tuition. Woman, we all know, is the aceak-
err pesseL. She was made to be a help meet
to the man, a help meat, to help him in pro-
curing subsistence to make him more COM
Portable. As an inferior class in tho commu-
nity. she should contribute to the advantage
of the superior, Just as the degraded descend
ants of Ham are made only TO toll for the
qualification and enjoyment of their more en-
liphtened and exalted masters. Woman Is
not to be alone, for she was made for man.
But besides, as weak in body, and feeble In
intellect, comparatively devoid of energy and
spirit, she sscan't take care of herself" if a.
lone. Every woman should be under the
charge of one of the other sex. Some carp
ing critics may here object that it is incon-
sistent to say that woman is to provide for
man, and then that man must provide for
her; but what of this! We may say, in the
words of a late sappy-ent writer, though on
another subject, "Well, you are content to
make my inconsistency your apology. | am
not bound to reconcile the inconsistency OF
men in this argument. | an explaining and
laboring to enforce the claims"* Of one man
to have as many wives as he pleases.
But to return to the subject. We have
shown that every woman ought TO be marrl'
ed to a man; a conclusion in which we eN'
pect to have the general concurrence OF on
female readers, though they may dlsscn'
from the principles on which our argument is
founded. Now, as the number ofboth seXe.
is nearly equal, it might at first view seem a;
if there was here an argument against poiy9
amy; but if we notice the fact that many
men cannot take care of themselves, and q
course could not be expected to take care o
wives, it VII ap rear that but a small mum
Der of men ough to be married, and hence
there will be a multitude of women for a sin
gle man. AS, then, all women ought to MAJ
nv, and all men need not, polygtm Is sane
Toned by the natural state OF society. 4
things now are, we behold tn lamentahl
sight of many females unmar led, and q
many unhappy matches. Were ~polygamy al
lowed, this might cease. BY letting me.
take more than one wife, all women Nigh
be married; and if any man showed he coul
not take care Of his wife, or became tired G
keeping her, be might send her oil to som
person who would take care of her, and Wa
Willing to have her.
Here again we are encountered by tn
sickly sensibility OF some sentimental PHI
lanthropists. They will talk of the feeling
of a wife being torn, and her heart wounde
at being treated il this mlnncr,-soparLte
from her husband and children, and traded 0
like merchandise. We admit that such
thing would be hard, had females the higi
acute, and noble seusibilitics of the 9th,
sex; but they are only females, so that
gives them but LITE pain. Thus reasons a
eminent jurist Of South Carolinl when d
Tending slavery against a similar objecuJ
and as suitable for our purpose, we apply
in the present case. Where is the hear Ia
does moi bleed at contemplating the conditiC
of unmarried females. Pining away
Indebtedness and toll, living in the most a
ject want, without lii0 or spirit, eXistcn,
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