The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-16
Fam, u<ems,e B.,,.,.

The remarks which we give below from the
New York Evening Post, convey so forcibly
our own feelings aud impressions, after reading
the documents in the case, Of the cool mslignity
to which Mrs. Butler has been subjected, that
we cannot withhold them from our readers:
"BuTLER 90. BUTLER-DvoRcE- conclu-
ded in yesterdays paper the publication of the
proceedings in this unhappy controversy. AZ
ter careful perusal of these documents, and
the correspondence which accompanies them,
the coolest and most scepticsl judgment will
lind great difficulty in resisting the adoption Of
decided opinions upon the merits of the case
we are aware Of the manifest improperly Of
preJadging litigation in which but one side
has been heard; and without assuming a single
statement or fact set forth in Mrs Buffers an
swer, which is not admitted by the counsel for
Mr.. Butler TO be true, we are constrained to say,
that there would seem to be better prospect Of
justice icing melted out TO the parties if they
were to change places before the court, and
Mrs. Butler were the accuser instead of the ac-
cused. single circumstance set forth in the
answer, AID not disputed by the plaintiff, is suf-
iicient to establish in the public mind the i'm
preston that Mr. Butler adopted course OF
treatment towards his wife which no miscon-
duct on her part could excuse. We refer par
ticulariy to the written conditions which she
was compelled to subscribe for the privilege Of
| returning 10 her home aud to her children.
Among them we refer to the following extraor-
binary stipslations:
"'l will observe entire abstinence from. all
reference TO the past; neither riH mention 10 aaJ
person, any circumstance rhieh may occur in Mr..
BatlsT' shonseor family.
j "IwiH neither write nor SPEAK of Mr. Butler Ia
any one sohiIe Iremain under his roof will also
conform to the arrangements Of his house as
shall find them on entering 1t. and promise il
lind myself unable to fulfil any Of the afore-
said conditions. Immediately TO give notice to
Mr.. Butler Of my inability to do so, and to leave
his house. (Signed,)
FRANCES ANNE BUTLER"
One may well ask in Mr. Choate's emphatic
language. what must that past have been
around which Mr.. Butler strove to draw the
mantle Of oblivion with such penal precision
Who ever before heard of such stipulation.
being required by husband of a wife, whom
he had sworn to love and cherish All her near.
est and dearest interests are prescribed topics Of
conversation. She may not allude to theil
father in her intercourse with her children
chains are bound upon her memory, and the
very currents Of her life are to abandon theil
accustomed courses. Nothing is clearer thar
that the purpose Of those conditions was not ts
restore harmony and peace to the family of Mr.
Butler Ii was as impossible to observe them
strictly as il was unnatural and wicked to i'm.
pose them The restoration of Mrs. Butler. un.
der such circumstances, was a refinement OF
cruelty almost without parallel
The spectacle of woman. of sensibility, cul-
ture. and strong domestic attachments. strug.
Cling under bonds like these. would have afford
ed luxury to Domitian after he had grown sa.
tiated with impsling flies upon a bodkin. II Il
a spectacle which il is difficult to contemplal,
without horror. We know the feelings which
il is calculated to inspire. for We have seen sur
ieiied spider binding up superfuous fly in hi
venomous cords, and when every faculty for es
cape or resistance was disarmed, the ingeniou,
iormenior would retire where he might mos
comfortably feast his Only unsatisfied appetit,
upon the agonies and struggles of his victim.