Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-06-05

fatal gift fair the eye turning ashes the lips
As the apple their first mother, Wilt bring TO them
sin and misery Married women when deprived by the
Common Law rule, OF their worldly possessions, have
delicate sentiment, refined feeling But let them once
FEEL that they the OF property, and all deli
cate sentiment will wither all refined feeling will die
From that day they will lose all those gentle graces,
which form the indssolube of the marriage
tie Selfish dicatorial, overbearng, instead OF gladly
yielding to good husband the management oil their al
fairs, aiding unfortunate 10y generous sacrifice,
wives, if suffer them enjoy the ownership of prop
erty, will hold it their luckess husbands rod,
and hnay usup entire control OF the domestic exche-
quer."
1.-THE author of the sentiment which have here TAX
the liberty produce, freed from its cerements
repudlate his own offspring, cannot he LIP that have
not changed feature. have but set each forth IN the
/ light of day.
| Nor have l selected, from numerous arguments, even
the most odious Let parapbrase from the debate IN
question: another passage which to my memory
which the railing accusation virtually brought against
the sex, is of graver character STILL Here 1t is:
.sThe proposed provision would rob the holy rela-
ton of husband and wife OF that which alike constitutes
its charm and its strength that the twain are one In
its effect, ii will be direct attack upon the sacredness
of the marriage contract"
= Here let us translate again:
$50 long the legal existence OF woman is merged
her husband; so long she is wholly dependent ON
is magnanmity Tor every dollar she exPends; just so
we expect her, In the holy relation oil WIFE, so TO
guard her conduct that marriage may retain its charm
and her the altar their strength. But release
her from this pecuniay dependence suffer her regain
er's had garnered mothers love bestowed and
the inevitable effect is stain her purity of life,
sail her conugal fdey is, in fne attack the
credness OF the marriage contract"
Have too broadly construed the arguments Of our
OpponenSf Then for what purpose, pray yOu did one
oil them advert that Roman Statute, advocated by
Cato the Censor, enacted some two hundred years be-
lore the Christian Era, which PROVIDED that women
should take inheritances beyond fixed amount and
why did he then quote with marked APPRECIATION the
sons given by Llvy support oil that sumptuary law
Here are the words quoted:
! alt thought, that, to the weaker sex, wealth
might hold dangerous temptations TO luxurious iudu
gene; and that fond by of dissipation, dress
and show, they might be induced depart from that
sancy OF manner and purity of conduct, which, of DID,
were deemed the Brightest ornaments OF the female
character"
The weaker SEX" beg you remark; so weak as
to be unable TO resist do, the temptations 10 lux
urious indulgence attendant the possession of weath
weak in principle; weak in confluence; abandoned
to idle loes. given up, by their very natures dis
spation, bndy addicted dress and show, that, if
they but command the means the bounds Of honor
aud innocence speedily overpas sed and they retain
neither sanctity of manner p.aiiy OF conduct
What is this but distrust, but contempt. Of womenl
How uch better is it, than that infamous adage, con-
celved in the heart of hoary proigate oil SEX
that every heart a rake!" What it else
than delare that female virtue is but the mercenary
offspring OF necessity: that there Is bat the difference Of
opportunity between it and abandoned licensed
Before my heart conceves before my tongue learns
utter, against my mothers base calumny that
may rest, with my latnerS IN the quiet grave!
! But it is imprisoned sentiment would appeal
| ask a verdict of calm, dispassionate reason.
/ l consider it insult to tell them, many
do who at heart, desPise theis thatthey fault
less angels. They have their special raltes their
characteristic weaknesseS which do easily beset
them. But in these, take women as sex, there is MOTH
ing sordid, mean, coarse; their peculiar
of the meTcenary, selfish worldly class On the
ry many of them spring from the best and nobes inn
pulses of nature when these stray beyond the lust
bounds of prudence escape the appointed rammes of
| aonventinoiism
Women, whether from nature position, are not
usually clear-headed, dispassionate caculators
men. Their reason Is easily brlbed by their afec
tons; their judgments more readily diverted by their
sympathies. Their abstract views of men and things
usually, think, less accurate and comprehensive
than ours; and in these, disturbing element, per-
sonal predictions more frequently minge. They have
commonly less cool seI-rellance Than men, and less
promptly stirred TO Indignation by injury injustice to
themselves. Thus they are in a general way more
liable than men, TO be turned aside from Just purpose
whether by the peadngs oil aleclon or the threaten
.ngs OF public opinion.
I nature with these for its characteristic defects
supported and improved instead of being nured
rupted by obtaining its fair share in the ownership and
control Of properly The possession of property brings
into play latent powers OF comblnaton strengthens Fee
Bic purpose, nurtnres independent judgment and eneour
ages selireance. may doubtless, also, enlarge the
sphere OF temptation But are women as the ceDsorlOus
Roman has it, easily tempted than to luxurious
inluIgence2 The reverse; emphatcally the reverse
When is left her own mistress, widowed
r.
unprncpled father does spend in riot and debauchery
in drunkenness the gambling table, favor
ed mnion the money that should 90 to eeG and cothe
her cildrenl Or take the opposite extremes and for
woman who hardcns into miser do not find ten
menl
Doubtless, in wealthy circles, there be found
| in time, IN CatOs day among the matrons of
Rome, many women who are fond of dress and show.
Without pausing to enquire how much of this passion
for ornament and display its birth to the
which pay, and the admiration they openly accord,
that very dress and show which, in theory they may
condemn, suter to ask you, which is the more like
ly indulge in suchluxurious extravaganza, the
man possessing property of her lose by lavish
expenditure, to save by prudent she, equal
ly INDUCED and dependent, who is neither richer
poorer at the end oil the year. whether she squander
economic often ignorant, even, Of her husbands
tual pecunary condition, cut of IRON all means of udg
ing how much she may prudenty him in debt; aud
whose theory of propertyrights commonly amounts to
this that her husband owes her handsome living that
it her privilege TO up accounts, as her fancy die
tates and his duty pay them without troubling her
about the amount. - - d. a
! That all wives in easy circumstances blessed with
good-naiurod husbands and living under the Common
Law do yield to the temptations incident TO false
position; and like the Southern slave possessed OF
right but claim for substance, become VIGOROUSLY
thoughess of economy reckless of waste is conclusye
proof how little justice there is the accusation brought
against their sex, which them down van weak
creatures tempted, by every chance afforded, uxur
ious indulgence.
But let turn from the rich, who can usually take
of themselves TO the poor numerous at once
and more defenceess. Let us take the of INDECENT
women in our great cities, for example, and enquire.
source of degradation, among them. The Roman law
sought to guard women against the alurements OF
wealth. Wise would law be, if it could protect
them from the perils of poverty Talk of temptation
Cold, hunger abect deslitution; youth dragged out
in incessant, e-wearing toil-to unrequted, save by