New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-27
The Marriage Question.

To the Editor Of The ~ y Tribune:
Your remarks ON Marriage and Divorce, to.
gether with the latitude given to its free discussion In
your paper have induced the following brief reflections
on the subject
Its perfectly evident from existing social preudice,
that Woman is almost not quite the sole recipient OF
all the honor conferred in the conjuga relation In
other words all the shame Disgrace md contempt
arising from the irregular intercourse of the sexes fas
upon the Woman alone. man may have as many
wives and concubines he pleases-may discard and
renew them at peasure-and still retain his social posi-
ton among his fellows No supposes for an instant
that the character Of his associates for honor and proby
in bis BURNERS relations s in the least affected by hs
habits of incontnency. The lawyer continues his plea
the merchant his business and the physician his prac
tce notwithstanding habits irregular inercourscare
alleged against him. and the fastidious dame will con-
tnue to receive them with friendly greetings as
though the original intent OF the Creator in distributing
the sexes III appropriate pairs had never been violated
With Woman the decision OF public sentiment e quitc
the of all ts Let her sustain relation to man
other than the conugn relation and the seal of conde
nation is at by universal consent passed upon the
entire indiridRal
No oualities however ennobling, no circumstances,
however mitigating no repentance however sincere,
can remove the impression that the rhoie Woman Is
lost irrftrdbiy lost, in the commission OF an act or
of acs of precisely the same nature and de
gree as those INDUCED in by the opposite SEX without
flc ellr
otherwise Paradoxlcsl az this may seem, unjust and
unscripurs as IL mly be, TO dnaliias one party IN
crime where both equal perticipanfs-yet such IL
the fact No aesthetic decree has reversed dccson
founded the arrogant assumption of superior mental
or physical endownents in the masculine portion OF the
rsce-snd Women must therefore submit to the stern
edct Of public opinion-athough the law OF God IL
wholly impartial in the imputation OF sln-reseving no
rights TO Man sexual organization or exemptng him
from the punishment due to transgresson by virtue OF
that organization.
THIS being the admitted condition of Woman we can
see no possible objection to multiplying the facilities for
contracting engagement truly honorable in its ap
pcaon to those who suffer the "loss Of al things" BY
a plience with ts requirements
s OF no relevancy whatever TO the whether the
term ofwedded life be longer shorter wheherit expire
by statutory Limitations. ia torn asunder by those
tsgonistic elements which admit OF no possible assmi
laton, The goal Is passed, and Woman Is made hon.
orebe" by the association 1t becomes duty then in
the present crganz alton Of society TO inquire earnestly
into the which induce so many OF our young men
TO lead lives Of selfish enjoyment Is il the nlmitsble
nature OF the enjoyment the dread of consortng with
those whore tempers and dispositions may be dismetri-
csy opposed 10 their own, which prevents them from
assuming the indssoube bondi Ii in either case, why
may not the State provide with perfect propriety for
those contingencies arising from "incompanbility Of
temper disposition, &C. and thus relieve them from the
ustspprehenson oiodous companionship with those who
have neither the power nor inclination to please their
husbands & Certsinly Woman would be no ssierer by
this arrangement. On the contrary, che would proba
by be greatly benefited By the extension Of the dis
solving power Il would offer stronger inducements
for the assumption of the legal bond by those who
reject altogether ard thus facilitate her introduction
into the corjugs relation The possibility Of divorces
becoming more frequent, by sackenng the marriage
bend we do not believe, nasmuch a., under the present
arrangement affection Is lacking ways and means
wanting dissolve the hateful connection even at
the expense OF the reputation Of the parties concerned
But suppose that Divorces were multiplied tenold by
the latitude gwen 10 Woman, whom 10 conferred the
greatest honor in the marriage covenant would no: su
fer by being transferred from husband to husband u
that incudes the transfer Of the legal FORM and thus the
sentiment Of chastity prevented from becoming ride
ulcusr
The legal recognition of chastity in women is al that
" essential 10 establish her claims purity Of heart and
It matters net therefore, whether abe Is the honored
partner IN Q limited unlimited contract The finger
Of scorn viii fail 10 make any impression where the Law
recognizes the woman TO be the welded wife of ons
man. although she may have welded seven husbands
previously.
One thing Il certain: The pulpit the press and ev
cry other avenuets the public mind should be open 10
the discussion Of Marragesnd Divorce, leaving no pos
sibihfy or mistake subject Of such vital importance
to the interests Of Humanity
T. The only comment we care to make on
the foregoing, is point-blank contradiction of
its fundamental assertion. II is not true that A
man may lead hbertine life without suffering
in his reputation among msa-our correspond
ent, being woman, may speak for her own
sex but We believe she does not represent them
truly. If her assertion rsrs true, Illicit rela-
tons wouldnot be carefully shrouded in secrecy
as they now almost uniformly are 1t is true
that lnrODfin auea in mar. Ia treata1 u,npa L..