Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-09-02
For the wisconsin Herald.


Mr.. EDIToR The opportune adjourn
ment Of the Legislature, saved us from one
calamity impending over US, at least for a
Itime--I mean the law confirming to married
women all the property they possessed
whilst sole.
A very stupid editor in the eastern part of
of the State complacently tells US that this
law is IA MATTER of JUSTICE, woman may
trust her person and confde her happiness to
her. husband, but not her property! Should
such a law pass, it will only benefit lawyers;
practically adopted it will destroy that union
Of feeling and identity of interest which has
blessed;he domestic freside, guarded as it has
been by the genius of common law. As no
change in the structure ofgovernment could
be attended with such peruieious conse-
1uences as this wholesale divorce of the in
terests of man and wife, every voter ought
to understand the question:, the motives by
which the abettors of this measure are ac-
tuated, the practical workings of the law on
domestic happiness aud the interest of So
ciety s. that this attemptto legisate against
the order of nature may be successfully re-
sisted. Should the law ever pass, it must
be repealed.
In the first place; where is the injustice
done the woman, by investing her husband
with the title to her personal property? She
hazards her person, her happiness, her all
ON the alter of love and confidence; is her
personal property alone too sacred? The
Common Law understands the simple, con
filling affection that has ever distinguished
English waves. They are strangers TO that
disirust and fear that has dried up the fouG-
tains oflove and affection in those countries
where the civil law has prevailed. If the
noble English woman gives her heart to the
man she loves, would she withhold the gold
are utterly unacquainted with the feelings of
the persons they would protect The pro-
verbal attachment, the chivalrous love
which has given the English women and
their kindred, an enviable pre-eminence a
bove the Roman matron and French CO.
quette, Is attributable to that confidence
which il is the object of the Common Law
to enforce and inculcaie. Suppose bride
should address her devoted husband, in the
language of the proposed law, 81 give you
my heart, my hand, without reserve, but
my money shall keep in my own purse
may lend you few dimes when you want
cigars, or tobacco, but remember, my dear,
if you don't pay me, | shall send an ofb7er
after you" Here we instantly see the play
of selfishnsss, a severance of interest, hus-
band and wife independent traders, keeping
accounts with each other, and m
terest their only bond Here Is the protec-
ton which this Yankee editor claims for
wonanl She must barter of her husbands
love for dollars and cents; she must become
a stranger 10 that aniable and characteristic
trus, and faith in her husband which is the
dement, Of her being. AID Substitute person
AZ properly tor womau's bliss; forPeTsOa-
al property in short, she must cease to be a
woman. Don Quixoie's devotion to BIS
Dnlcinea was ten times more wise and SIR
cere than these modern volunteer knights Of
the peIticoai. They are a brotherhood q
eowarily knaves, " ho instead Of protecting
this emblem Of wOman's rights, are IN tar
seeking his protection from il.
]. T. N.