Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-05
EVENING STAR.
Prom the Boston Traveller Of wednesday.
AMARRIAaE UNDER PROTEST.

AMARRIAaE UNDER PROTEST.
Miss Lucy Stone, the young lady who
has frequently made her appearance upon
the anti-slavery rostrums in this city,
was married on May-day, at ca farm
house among the hills OF West Brook
field" to Henry B. Blackwell, q leader
In the western anti-slavery movement.
The marriage ceremony was performed
by Mr.. T. W. Higginson, of Worcester,
the parties to the nuptials formally pro-
testing against the laws of the Common
wealth, concerning marriage. Mr.. Hig.
ginsOn communicates the protest to the
Worcester Spy, as follows
II never perform the marriage cere-
mony without renewed sense of the in
EQUITY of our present system of laws, in
respect to MARRIAGE system by which
man and wife are made one, and that one
is the husband 1t was with my hearty
concurrence, therefore, that the following
protest was read and signed as part of
the nuptial ceremony, and l send it to
you, that others may be induced to do
likewise. r.w.H."
While we acknowledge our mutual af.
fiction, by publicly assuming the sacred
relationship Of husband and wife, yet in
justice to ourselves and great principle,
we deem it a duty to declare that this
act on our part impliesro sanction of nor
voluntary obedience to, such Of the pre-
sent laws of marriage, as refuse to re.
cognize the wifeas an independent rati n
al being, while they confer upontte hus-
band an injurious and unnatural superb
ority, investing him with legal powers
which no honorable man would exercise,
and which no man should possess.
We protest especially against the laws
(Which give to one husband
/. The custody of his wife's person.
2. The exclusive control and guard
isnship Of their children.
8. The sole ownership of her personal,
anduse of her real estate, unless previous
ly settled upon her, or placed in the
hands Of trustees, as in the case of mi
nors, lunatics and idiots.
4. The absolute right to the product
of her industry.
5. Also against laws which give to tae
widower so much larger and more per.
manent an interest in the property of bis
deceased wife than they give to the wi
dow in that of her deceased husband.
6. Finally, against the whole system
by which the illegal existence of the wife
IS suspended during marriage" so that
In most States she neither has a legal
part in the choice Of her residence, nor
can she make will, nor sue or be sued
IN her own name, nor inherit property.
Webelieve that personal independence
and equal human rights can never be for
feited, except for crime; that marriage
should be an equal and permanent part
nership, and so recognized by law: that
until it is so recognized, married partners
should provide against the radical inius.
tice Of the present laws, by every means
In their power.
We believe that where domestic diff
culties arise, no appeal should be made
to legal tribunals under existing laws,
but that all difficulties should be sub
united to the equitable adjustment of az
bitrators mutually chosen.
Thus reyerencing the law, we enter
our earnest protest against rules and
customs which are unworthy ofthe name,
since they violate justice, the essence Of
all law.
(s;onsdN HENRY B. BLACKWELL,
'''sneu'' LUCY STONE.