New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-24
.NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
Ror The Tribune.
WOMAN AND HER NEEDS.
BY 2. DANES SMITH.
MARRIAGE-DIvORCE.


that TIE very heilg or legal existence Of the women j:
suspend Cd during h- marriage or ~ least l. ncorpprs'ed
and consoldAsed into thstof her husband -BLIcEs7as
The above extract, remarkable alike for the
force and beauty Of its expression, would seem
TO imply that the philosophy of law is Rot
greatly at variance with the truth, recognizing
that unity of life and feeling which our Saviour
hlmselfdefines to be the true marriage, bat which
has had less TO do in the sctuslites of life, than
in the romsnces of literature, where it fsures
so conspicuousy one would be led to imagine
that the great sum OF lite was made up of the
anxieties and uncertainties OF lovers prior to their
entering this temple of beauttudes.
81 have many things to say unto you, bat Min
erto We were not able TO bear them, neither n0T
are We able, were the words of the Divine
Teacher and assuredly there are many and deep
revelations awaiting the reyereut sear;her into
the great law of Love, which time and human
progress will develop when the world IS able 70
bear them. Jesus implied that Love was the
oundation Of the true Church, when he three
times asked the impusive Peter, Lowest thou
me-" and then commissioned him to feed the
lambs with his life impartng bread. His teachings
are full ofGuRmt aph0risms illustrating the impOs
sibiiity of any Kind OF harmony existing where
this great Law is wanting. "Can two walk 20
gether, except they be agreed -" house di-
vidtd against itself cannot stand" sc. | am
versiBg now upon delicate ground When PLATE
as ed what is Truth, answer was returned
Oby lOusly because Truth is not fixture IN thIs
worlds not one fact-tO all minds, but reyela
ton of the best 20 all who will arch for It.
We talk much, we write more, we cavil, We
speculate, and ask every side whist is Truth,
aud then every man casts blank look into MIS-
neighbors face, aud encounters one as blank IN re-
tuIn-tOr no one dares receive her AS she Is-he
is afraid OF her-he will be perpetusily lowering
buckets into the well, not tor the purpose ot a
fresh beautiful god like reveaton-ior OF this no
is afraid IL might shame his prejudices or imoe.
cilities therefore he is content TO muddy the va
ters, and fish up bedsobled image best pleasing
to his distorted vltlOn.
have heretofore urged the Importance of de-
nyiug the marriage rite 10 those incompetent By
the Is VS. TO enter into other contracts. ! might
saN but the sarcasm is too severe, that beng
held as infant chattel, an IDIOT IN la", Herer
reacktA her majority. and Is therefore 1OT0Iy IRE
Sgonsibic eUcn IN ms. Men who are delicate OF
their honor, careful OF their names, and DESTROYS
TO preserve the ssnctty OF the marriage relation
would do ell % raise the legal liabilities OF our
sex end by placing IN the same relative posi-
tion with themselves, increase not only our sense
of loyalty, but of dlgnlty also.
IN
state of society among US, there might be found
an apology for early marriages. and IN this pOlnt
of view many Of the Wings of Poor Richard even
had per,nency applicable TO the times, bat we
have survived their use and yet like other explOd
ed doctrines, they cling to the minds OF the people
like a fOrlOrn leaf upon an autumuRl tree, SILVER
ing and wasted, yet tenacious OF ITS hold. Com
mon sense and common Justice cry out against
them, aud yet they find their advocates and then,
when the natural consequences result, modern
society shakes her robe pOusy and thanks tI0d
she is not like others.
The marriage relation 10 certainly at some time
In the life OF individuals the natural aud hsrmO-
NOUS state but az II now stands It Is bondage
more than a life giving sacrament The parties
are unequal; the atDitles essential 10 joyful aud
peaceful relation are often wanting; the vile Is
not the he p-meet for the man, but the appendage,
the housekeeper the female, OF the establishment;
| admit these terms are coarse but the facts are
coarse ike wise her very existence is merged 10
that OF her husband; the children of her blood are
not hers; her property is not hers; she Is legally
dead and in this point OF view, believe, on my
soul, she 10 morally irresponsible 70 soclety-not
% God, be it remembered, not to the greatness
and purity OF her own nature, for, thanks 20 the
Trainer of our spirits, under all these human disa-
bilities come in the majestic laws of the great
God, engraved upon the sacred tablet OF the heart
In Ines Of fire, and there we read aud grow calm
and thoughtful, and aspiring.
| would guard the relation OF marriage as the
most holy sacrament OF earth. would nave the
family altar for the entertainment OF Angels not
unaWsres | would have the festivals OF Hestla
genial with the sweetest offerings of esrth-the
Penates crowned with undylng gsrends-the
PeHetralia holy and fresh and beautiful, and un-
protsned. and for this purpose no one should De
admitted to the Temple without solemn prepare
ton of heart and life. 1t should as now, confer
dignity upon the parties, but dignity of a higher
ind ha
of God only. Even nov every generous mind
respects a genuine, earnest, devoted human
attachment, however at vsrlance with conven-
tionasm-but these sad hopeless manifestations
would have 10 existence In truly ordered 40
ciety Marriage would only take place where
the deepest emotions OF the heart, the highest
sfinities Of intellect, and the utmost sense of
beauty, one all Of these combine to make It
desirable. In this case there could be no dis
loV atty, no chickering's, DO division OF interest
Thee Eould be no dlr0Tce, for none icould he de-
,p,d.
That radical wrong exists in the present system
of marriage, is evident from the frequency OF dI
vorce. The gIddy manner 10 which the marriage
vows are now assumed would be pitful were not
the subsequent evils humuiating. When We see
two discordantly joined, wearing out loyless ex-
istence without cornpaniOnship without sympa-
thy, looking to the past as all wretchedness, ana
the future as all hopeless we are apt 10 say " Dl-
vorce should rake place We are apt to ieel and
perhaps Justly that no part Of existence should be
defrsuded OF is right 70 its best means oil naPPl
ness. We say this world is & state important 10
the link, and how do we know that the future
vii not be shorn Of its glory by dscordans ele'
men,s ike these How do We know tnst we
shall not look back upon this little bail halt IL sor'
and half spite &c the place little ent'le1t 70
our good wll-and, therefore, these should De
freed.
think not By divorce We let 10 food gate
Of evil lncalcul.be in It's amount Toe majority
Of the world admit Of easy compromises, are so
much the creatures Of habit, Of circu instance aad
opinion that they can sette into the YOKE WIN
hr,le comparative discomfort and legislation %
Tor the many, not for few. VINO sfe : az ~
thernselvss T. would seem tina, the few, Who
realy suffer, Who have tuas ingrsined sense Of