Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-05-10

(Ffom the Boston Trareller.)

a MARRIAGE UNpIR, PRorEsr-Miss
Lucy .Stons, ,hc young lady Who has fire.
queD'iy made frr appearances Wpon the snti
slavery rostrums in this city, was married
on May Day, st - farm house among the
bills OF West BTsDhheld," to Henry a
Blackwell, leader in tho Western anti
slavery movement. The marriage cere-
mony was performed by Mr.. F. w. Hip.
ginson, Of Worcester, the parties to the
nuptials formally protesting against the
laws Of the Commonwealth concerning
marriage. Mr.. Hgginson ,omm unicates
the protest to the Worcester Spy, as. fol-
lows :
"a never performs tbs marriage ceremony
without renewed sense OF the iniauity of
our present system Of hws, in respect to
marriage "a system BY which man and
wife are one, and that one is the husband
Il was with my hearty concurrence, there.
fore, that the following protest was read and
signed, asa part Of the nuptial ceremony,
and send it to you, that others may be in
duced to do likewise.
ct. W. NJ"
PROTEST.
While we acknowledge our mutual af-
fection, by publicly assuming the sncred
relationship Of husband and wife, yet in
justice to ourselves and a great principle,
we deem it duty to declare that this act
OH our part implies no sanction of nor
promise Of voluntary obedience to, such Of
the present laws of marriage, as refuse to
recognise the wifo as an Independent ration
al being, while they confer, upon the hus.
band an injurious and unnatural superiority.
investing him with legal powers wkich no
honorable man would exercise, and which
no man should possess.
We protest especially against tho laws
which give TO one husband
1. The custody OF his vife's person.
2. The exclusive control and guardian
ship OF their children.
8. The sole ownership of her personal,
and use of her real estate, unless previous
ly settled up on her, or placed in the hands
OF trustees, as in the case OF minors, luna
tics and idiots.
4..The absolute right to the product of
her industry.
4. Also against laws which give to the
widowcr 70 much larger and more perma-
nent an interest in the property Of his de-
ceased vie than they give to the widow,
in that OF her deceased husband.
6. Finally, against the whole system
by which "the LEGAL existence Of the wife
is suspended dusing marriage" so that in
most states she neither has 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.
We believe that personal independence
and equal human rights can never be for
feited, except for crime that marriage
should be an equal and permanent Partner-.
ship, and so recognised by law that until
ii is $. recognized, married partners Should
provide against the radical injustice OF
present laws, by every means in their pow
or.
We believe that where domestic Difficult
ties arise, no appeal should be made to 10.
gal tribunals under existing laws, but that
all difficulties should be submitted to the
equitable adjustment of arbitrAtors mutually
chosen.
Thrs, revercncing Law. we enter our
earnest pr test against rules and customs
which are unworthy Of the name, since they
violate justice, the essence of all Law.
(Signed), HssxY b. BLACKWELL,
LUCY STONE.