Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-05-11
FIR The EnQuiref.
nnnprna,Y OLE MARRIED. WOMEN.

. mi unirins Split ul change. The sphere u
n, OPERATIONS OF that spirit appears io e1lenu ~
IN. rsmolesl boundaries at civilizations; while the
snhipcs npon which lis influence is exercised, are
IN b. remembered only by comparison WIN lnr
varied ohec,s 10 vi icn mans moral, mental anu
physical effort and activity are applicable 70
Mrs literature, science, The industrial and ma
chanicaI ans, commerce and agriculture, arc all,
10 a greater or less extent, operated upon oy ms
ceaseiess spirit OF enquiry and alteration. one
mode OF its development hurls monarch ifoip
his throne; ano her furnishes our Western oack-
woods-man with patent axe. In one instance
il is manifested by The organization oil cohsIilu-
lional government upon the ruins OF an over
thrown European royalty; in another oy p'ung,ns
an impt we'd plough into the prairles VI
consin. Annually, il not ca'ly, are new plincl.
pies announced new theories pIomulSa'eu he"
Gsclrnes preached, new discoveries mace. oseal ",
and magnetism, and machinery, are chans'"s
our habits, performing many oil our laoofs, dna
almost revoutionlzins the pnysicai conioinid.'on
ui the globe; while institutions, once su,'diue1
Inv the reverence of submissive mullhudes anu
Governments. surrounded by all the time honored
apoliaDccs OF pump and power, are toiefins 10
obstruction before the development OF principles
whose annuncialion is, comparatively SPEAKING
but thing OF yesterday
Viewing The results ot this general lermen'd-
ZION Of The civilized MIND during the Two last &C.
npralions. we mus, upon The whole, admit lha'
they have been beneficial 10 humanity. Iakhs
The relative situations OF The civilized world al
me commencement Of the American Revolution,
and al presenr. | think we shall discover The
balance 10 be in favor Of our own Gays. IhouPh
seas of blood have been shed, and mines oil tfea,
sufe expended; though individual ana nalioaai
suffering, bsyond calculation or even Imasinai
lion has been endrre'; though crime, iearlu'
in is atrocily, and almos, boundiess IN us COM
nrehens,yeness, has been perpetrated; yel, on the
whole, The sum Of human liberty, intelligence
and comfort, has been increased.
Sill, however, II would be erroneous 10 sup
nose that unmixed good alone has resulted from
The revolutions IN opinion and action, lhai nave
cbarac,erzpd The generation that Immediately
preceded US, and are now operating upon our
selves. Much error has mingled with many Of
,te great truths that have lately gained, or are
now acquiring, general cfedence. Too often has
mere alteration been conlounded with improve
ment. Liberty has frequently degene aled into II.
cen,iousacss-hcnest and practicable efforts 10
ameiurale the condition OF The masses have been
n.uralized by Ulopian attempts 10 bring about
universal emancipation, fraternity and equality
While much that is great, and Just, and tue, hai
been rescued from the oppression of oden tyran
nv. AMI The ruins Of anliqualed ignorance and So
perstilion, much also that is evil, and false, and
absurd his sIaikei forth into The light OF day, and
claimed IN mankind the homage and Submis.
sion due lone 10 IfuIh and virtue. In all lands
NAV b. .ound men oI weak lnteliecs and strong
passio s. who seize upon great and true princl-
ples- nable TO comprehend the proper llmlta-
lions to be annexed 10 every doctrine fred by
tanarcism, ami blinded by bgofy, they rush
inio excuses, from which sensible men recoll
and which result only IN delrimenl 10 The cause
Thai is cursed BY such misguided advocates. The
coun,efpans vi The French Socialists may oe
found all over chrslend1m -ibe A0oIlioGist o
Boston, and The Red Republican OF Paris, are
brethren in absurdliy.
Whist every other department ot human ac'
ton has been influenced by the spirit OF change
il could no, be expected that The l,w should re-
main exempt from Innovation. By the phrase
"lawn he'e 10 HOT mean The constitutional
system and frame. work Of he sovernmcnt-he
changes in which are Sufficiently manifest and
radical: bat | intend 10 indicate that system Of
municipal regulations which defines our personal
duties. Liabilities, rights and privileges, whlcn
Furnishes our crimes, protects our properly, De-
lends our persons, and enforces our contracts
sysIem, the com nos lsv Of England, recognized
as il has been BY formal adoption, has Undergone
alterations in many PARTICULARS, some OF rnem Of
material const quence. CuuIi Coke, or PioW-
den. or Dye, enter Virginia Court House 10
these DAYS, doubtless they would see and h az
much al which they would stare ia aSlonish-
mrni and sh Ike the curls OF ther lui
hotomed wigs in sorowiul rprehension.-
YET they would discover much thai was Ia
them mater OF familiar Knowledge sEd regular
experience. Though they would learn Ihal every
yes,ise Of The teuda system was swept from the
-,...... t..--.s in al 81. &" ~ Pri'" sso"'tar
va a,.n0. tOrgut'en-th0n2h the once cherished
doctrine Of hr Kings supremacy wa Looked upon
IS an exploded heresy lnfy would see HE
ctZen charged VITA crime, Confronted ~ open
cour hy his accuses, and the decision OF his a'e
entrusted 10 jury Of his peers--'hey would see
a similar body engaged in The adjustment OF all
liiigaisd questions between nan ard man-they
would ascertain that The rules Of evidence we're
the same which prevailed in their own courts, in
their own days-lhat the important laws OF con-
tfac! had undergone no material change -iha The
sanrtily 81 tie dom,cile was still respecled-that
The essential unity Of The mariagi STAG was still
maintained all The multiplied obligations,
rights, duties and privileges Of creditor and debt
or parent aud child, maSer and servant, landlord
and tenant, vendor and vendee. were still fccog
nzed, sustained and enforced. They would learn.
in short that in numbeiless insta ices, tnr iaw ot
Ersland FIVE centuries ago is he law OF Virginia
a. this day.
Though rot inclined - concur in the cxIrava-
CANT audatious bestowed upon inc common law
~ some OF its ancient AMI enthusiastic aivo.
cafes, who pronounced il the perfection OF nu-
man reason,h we ale constrained 10 admit that il
was sys EN- of much excellence -Iha. us prn-
cipIes, modified by he changes uf tine and cir
cumslances, purified ami improved by The Wis
dom Of Just and learned men, were, and are well
calculated 10 promote The welfare Of those VINO
NAV be subject 10 us operation. Nor is il matter
OF regret 10 a citizen Of Virginia that alterations
and Innovations in that system have always been
considered in spirit OF careful deliberaion and
adopted with nc rash and incsut!ous precIpllaa-
cy.
One great and important department OF the
common law has undergone no material allera.
ZION in Virginia. aIlude 10 the class Of princi
pies which relae 10 the stale Of marriage and
control and regulate The respective rights, powers
and liabiliiirs OF husband an! wife. In many
very important and interesting particulars, tela-
tive 10 this subject the common law yet prevail,
in Virginia. Que ut these principles is the rule
which gives 10 The husband; upon his marriage
the personal property Of Inc vile. Such is the
aw OF Virsinia-but such is not he law, at Ibis
time OF some of our sister States, and such
would not be The lay OF Virginia il The inlen.
ions Of PARTON OF our legislative body could
be cffecluasd. An attemp was made al the last
session OF the Legislature, TO alter The law in this
respect, and 10 introduce new principle, similar
10 that which has been enacted in sGEla III the
other States. BY This proposed innovation, il
understand j, arisnt, ii was contemplated 10 de-
Drive The husband OF The power ID ALLEVIATE his
wie's personal pfopelty-lo relieve it from liabi.
!uy for his debts and oblig aiions--ani 10 leave H.
10 some extent al least, under her own manage.
ment and contfol. Fortunately. the attempt proved
unsu ccessiu: May such always be lis ia,e-for
| look upon II as proposition ifaushi Oily win
evil 10 society," and 10 none more injurious tian
the very class OF persons designed 10 be thereby
especially benefited, 10 vii: married women Il
is but another proof OF The dangerous extent 10
which men may be led when they pursue favor
lie principles 10 an undue and hazardous length
That females often suffer from The i'm prudence
and misconduct OF heir husbands, is a truth not
To b. dened-bul The existence OF such evils. and
our reerer al tsholdiog hem, ought not 10 hurry
a