Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-03-31

1--WE than reasonable. A law, which will secure =
iiaifieo woman the property which she has in bo,
possession al the time of her marriage. would -
cordlng 10 Mr.. ), wholly change the nature ftbo
Wlie-she would become speculator-a b,ver ana
seler--a partner IN business transactions Or ~
husband ana otner nen-a coarse brawling iockrv
with all of her amiable sensibilities blunfeS-yi
prepared, on the return home OF her ,yea,ie3 l,a
band, to open upon his wearied ear the loudmanfbod
slang OF barter and bargain. AS he approyirna+oS
the Climax OF has ob|ecGonsthe Hon. MIR s. co,inroa
up images more and more trightul; and iipaIlztco
Guides as one OF the horrible effects. that iorrL
OF the children OF Wisconsin, under the Consti+,,t;
will be bastardS This, doubtless, was considere5
by the honorable gentleman as browning aror
mont, Tor find he cr0soed three times in "a lew i'll
lowing remarks.
But have these sombre anticipations of the Racine
councillor any foundation in truth? I think NOT
There IS not man and wife in Wisconsin w 90,
affections and respect for each other would Ia
changed under the operation OF the section Tbero
is not husband whose love for his wife ana cara
for his offspring would be changed-nor VITA
who would cease to regard the wishes and suoos
tons OF him to whose destiny in lie she was united
With those who esteem and respect each Other
and who feel a solicitude for the welfare Of
their families, the provision under consideration
would be of little consequence for the plain reason
as now, both would act in concert in the acopisi'
ton and disposition of property But however
little the section will affect the proceedings and
demeanor OF the ma of married people inWiscon
SIM it cennot be doubted that many instances will
occur to prove its beneficial operation There is
scarcely town or settlement in Wisconsin or else
where, where cannot be found some unfortunate
man, who, from mania tor speculation gambling
or strong drink, is not rendered more incapable
hon, l., 10 81. Z
Indeed, almost every person can call TO ther reco
lection instances where the property owned BIZ the
wife at the time OF her marriage which had been
given her by kind relations has been squandered by
an lmprovldent and desperate husband-and doubt.
less 1t was to prevent the injustice and cruelty pro-
duced IN this manner, than TO effect any other
object that the Convention provided for the secu
nty OF the rights OF married women While
therefore, the provision viii produce no evil it
furnishes the means of OF etiecting much good.
Mr.. S. also objects to the section because OF the
great frauds which will be practiced under it-but
he leaves 1t TO every one to think OF divers ways"
in which the property of the husband in failing
circumstances will find It's way into the ownershipof
the wife. To this objection | would remark that
1t Is quite as easy to guard against frauds under the
Constitution, by suitable salutary provisions, as to
prevent them under insolyent or bankrupt laws and
If the councillors objection be sound one against
the section, it is equally good against all laws for
the collection OF debts.
Able lawyers usually reserve the strongest aud
and most striking portion of their argument lor the
conclusion OF their speech to jury, and for this
reason, perhaps, Mr. s concludes his objections 10
the section on the rights unmarried women by the
broad md sheer assertion that it will change en-
tiTely our laws OF pleading. practice, evidence do
mestlc relations, and indeed throw confusion into
every branch, &c, &c. Now DO not feel that
1t is incumbent upon me any other citizen Of
Wisconsin to reply to the predictions or the naLed
assertion o! Mr.. S. The proper way for dspo>ug
OF such matter is to meet assertion with assertion
and prediction with predictions; and without any
desire to question the legdl acuncn or The l4,ata
resources OF the learned councillor may lie PEI
united to express my confident belief that there are
many wise and practical lawyers ard citizens n
Wisconsin, who are able to 90 sc statutes which
viii remove the mountains which Mr. l. has cast
against this particular section.
Having written at greater length than intended
when commenced this lc,ter, I viii ~e'e, .ar.2r
remarks tor my next Aourg sincerely.
J. PS