New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-16
Nrw-YonE, Saturday, Nov. l3, 1876

T. he Editor Of The NsW Iork Obserer:.
An article in your paper of to-day does me so
much injustice that cannot afford to let it pass
tced
The drift Of your assault is to charge me with hostility
10 the marriage institution This charge is so far from
being true that have invariably aimed to advance the
honor Of marriage by seeking to free it from certain
purely arbitrary and conventional distractions in REF
eenCe to divorce For example, have always argued
against Mr. Greeley that IL not essential 10 the honor
O. marriage that two persons should be compelled TO
1--we together when they held the recipi ocal relation OF
dog end cat and ha. in that state OF things divorce
might probably intervene, provided the parties gUQran'
tetd the State against the charge OF their offspring.
have very earnestly md rs appears 10 me, very unan'
twtTaby commended fora greater freedom OF divorce on
these grounds in the columns of The Tribgne some
yers since bu, had no lca that was thus weakening
the respect ofmarrsge. seenedto myself TO beplanly
themng II, by removing purely arbitrary AMI dam
sgng OBJ truttons The existing difficulty OF divorce is
one Of those distractions You VIII not pretend 10 sRy
hin leg lative sanction OF divorce noe existing lis.
cagges the marriage rite OF respects How, them shall
any enlargement OF that sanction which propose avail
10 DO sol Is il possible ha. person exposed TO the
cvlng inut noes Of large city like THIS 90 long as
yCu Lave been should other security he faith
III union of husband and wife than that which dates
fiOn the M lice otiiCe | cannot believe II. gu must
know many married partners ify0u have been even or
dlNiy fortunate IN your company, who, the marriage
Institution were formally abolished tomorrow, would
instantly annul that legal aboon again by the unswerV
ing eonsancy of their hearts AM lIves:
Nomsn has a more cordial, nor a. CONCEIVE a nloIc
enlightened re pect for marriage than nave, WhethcT
be regarded let as beautiful ana very pcriect sym
Dol Of religious metaphysic truth or "a, as an He
pendent soSia in Il uOn. have ully SHOWN Is caii
torspect on both these grounds in number oil Ias
ItRs which YOU quoted NJ lifetime, hut whicntoeFyes
your dihonest instincts now 10 overlook. lou PROOF
by arC Indifferent 10 the subject IN It's hlgher uhd pr
may POINT OF view, but your present artcle proves t
You have some regard for i IN IL social aspects ~
regard arIaee then as social institution, on WIZ OF
tourte allow that lie value depends altogether upon tuo
aes promotes Ii these usco salu'ay the insiitG'
t@h honorable IT. on the contrary, they are MlcHie'-
O9s the M hru Is depl0raole. Now, no one cA1lSoS
tes the le tmats Of the marriage Institution are
onerwse than good But sociolinsttuton whose uses
HelhIlnsesly good may be very badly adNia'STe ana
topfoduee mi chief Tnis alege, is III Gaze with the
marriage institution II Is not administered hynsy or
VIM reference to the present need Of society but only
aaauonsly, or with reference to some wnoliy pas'
,.a'e OF soeitty. In disordeiy condition OF society
Ae s' nom which We have for the last two centuries
zen SLOWLY emerging, men OF wealth and power men
OF violence and Intrigue would have LAUGH d at the
s'eecest affections and rendered the family security
Lgscry, had not society fortified marriage by the moss
.ngenl SAT- guards. Toe st glaring inequality OF ine
= Aos' moreover, would have led kings and MOBILES mto
NE mot UNI ebuked lcertiousness and conse lently
~ me most brutal contemp for woman, had not the
SS-l1co eeoeslastics regime almost utterly Inhabited
.uSe Inc elevation Of woman in Christen ION hSS
US eeen owing exclusively to very rigid ADM .ra
o tne marriage institution in the earlier percds oil
- .ocu history Bur what man OF wealth AM power
.s nah o. violence and intrigue is there now to take
s"s! smans wife from bini No doubt there 10 very
,ous elandestne violation OF the marin sc bona az
- P'estt Time careful observers do no, hesitate %
an WtnOst unequGed violation % II but that Is an
"heh no positive legislation prev eni, becaue
M.oHysS.y based Upon popular eOafeppt J'T ms
49, "eoieR' aad rieiogS administration Of tlS 1ar
only possible chance for correcting il depends, "a
aniCrnly insisted upon change in that l,nns
a. 81 Is 10 say, upon freely legitimating divorce
49,. the llnis Of complete guarantee 70 soci@y
70 ~ the support Ct of pr.ng; because in that case
e. poc. tne indueemen, t. nu'ue fidelity no longer IN
gel bondage Of the parties merely but IN tnsT
,s1iOCsi inward sweetness or humanity. Ant tni' =
winch, when frankly AMI geuerou " maze no
~. vi wofnsn viii ever prove recreant 70. -,
san IN Ire Tribune article o. last summer wh,oi
Suo'e lor rather, shamelossly nsquolc) seem VI %
fsae NIle that was saying az gooi word Tor mar
- az had ever been sald beneath the stars was