Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-06-07

LitchfeI1 Enquirer in those cities.
DIVORCES.-.The frequency with
which our Legislature has, for the last
few years, granted applications for d.
vorce, has justly brought disgrace upon
the fair fame of our commonwealth, and
excited the serious and earnest condem-
nation of the good and wise among our
own citizens. Indeed, so notorious has
the Gland of steady habits" become, in
this respect, that it is no uncommon
thing for persons Of other States, who are
dysirous of being released from their tho
ly bonds.'' to take up their temporary
abode among us for the express purpose
Of awaiting themselves of the facilities af-
fordcd by our General Assembly. This
is state Of things greatly to be deplored,
and calls for some immediate and decisive
steps of reform. 1t indicates looseness
of morals in the public mind, and dis
regard of the divine precepts, which the
sturdy fathers of New England would
have looked upon as the ripcned fruits Of
infdelity and atheism.
We suppose that not less than seventy
FIVE petitions for divorce have been
brought before the Legislature at the pre-
sent session. Some of these petitions are
predicated upon aggravated causes, but
large majority of them had their origin
in the most insignificant and even con-
temptible quarrels. It is humiliating to
listen to the stories Of the petty bicker-
ings. GOODNESS, insults, resentments, jeal-
ousies, and the more violent outbursts of
malice and revenge, which at each sue
cessive session are brought out in detail
before the committee on divorce. The
smallest beginnings end in the most la
mentable results. An unkind look or
cross word, which should he overlooked
and forgotten, IS cherished and aggrava-
ted, and retaliation follow". Knowing
how easy separation may be affected,
neither party is disposed to compromise
matters, or even to exhibit conciliatory
spirit. Thus the breach widens. until all
hope Of remedy is abandoned.
Ho, ye reformers! is there no room
for the bestowal Of your energies here |?
Must the requirements Of religion and the
welfare of society be thus sacrificed, and
no voice of rebuke be heard from you {?
Sentinels are We upon the high places,
set to guard the purity Of the church and
the world, and sound ye no alarm when
the enemy lsssHHBy has nitohAa Ii" +-
We regret sincerely that any editor
in the State should have stopped low
enough to defend this wholesale system
of divorce. The Hartford Times says:
"Nothing is more subversive of social
order, or more conducive to licentious-
ness, than to compel persons to remain
together when the desire to separate is
mutual"
We shall not stop to comment on such
a vile doctrine. The Times would reduce
the marriage covenant to par with an or
binary business copartnership, which may
be formed to-day and dissolved to-mor-
or whenever the whim of the
parties may desire. Possibly the editor
in question is in favor of the system of
shopping wives which is very popular
with his locofoco brethren in some parts
of Asia.
The Religious Herald suggests that
the growing evil would be greatly check
ed by forbidding divorced persons to
marry. We think a still better way
would be to grant no divorces at all ex-
cept upon strictly scriptural grounds.
Let it be understood that divorces can
not be otherwise obtained. AMI parties
will be slow to cherish their wrath, and
heap insult upon injury. They will
rather cultivate aspirit Of forgiveness Or
at least of fcrbearance, if they are as
sured that the bonds which unite them
can only be severed by death.
The Bridge Question.-1t will be seen