Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-05-12
NOVEL MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT

A marriage was s0lemniZed at O farmhouse
in West Bloomfield, in Massachusetts, on the
first Of this month, which presented some
features without precedent, we believe, in
this or any other country.
The bride was Miss Lucy Stone, distin-
guished champion of the disputed rights oi
negroes and women. The groom was Henry
b. Blackwell, Esq, who is likewise an active
apostle of the same sect. Sympathy of opin-
ions begat sympathy of sentiment, and finally,
from being twain they would become one
flesh. But how to do this without betraying
the great principles of freedom to which both
stood pledged before the public, was the ques-
ton. To get the laws altered so as to equal
ize their rights and duties in the married re-
lation was difficult, ifnot impossible, and would
| involve delay, 10 which the fervency OF their
,ion could not be reconciled. They finally
| hit upon all expedient which they concluded
would secure their rights and their anticipated
matrimonial bliss at the same time. What
| that expedient was is thus described by the
Rev. T. w. Higginson, of Worcester, Mas
sachusetts, who officiated on the occasion, in
a communication to the Worcester Spy:
at was my privilege to celebrate May Day
by officiating at wedding, in farmhouse
among the hills of West Brookfeld. The
bridegroom was man of tried worth. leader
in the western anti-sluvery movement; and
throughout the nation--one whose rare in
tellectual qualities are excelled blythe private
beauty of her heart and life.
Il never performed the marriage ceremony
without renewed sense of the iniquty of our
present system OF laws, in respect to marriage
IA system by which man and wife are one,
and that one is the husband 1t was with
my hearty occurrence, therefore, that the fol-
lowing protest was read and signed as q part
OF the nuptial ceremony, and l send it to you,
that others may be induced to do likewise.
t. W. H.
PROTEST.
While we acknowledge our mutual affec-
tion, by publicly assuming hesacred relation
ship of husband and wife, yet in justice to
ourselves and great principle we deem 1t a
duty to declare that this act on our part i'm
plies no sanction of, nor promise Of voluntary
obedience TO, such of the present laws of mar
riage, as refuse to recognize the wife as an
independent rational being, while they confer
upon the husband an injurious and unnatural
superiority, 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 the husband
l. The custody of his wife's person.
2. The exclusive control and guardianship
Of their children.
3. The sole ownership of her personal, and
use of her real estate, unless previously set
tied upon her, or placed in the hands of trus-
tees, as in the case of minors, lunatics aud
idcts.
4. The absolute right to the product OF her
industry.
5. Also against laws which give to the
widower so much larger and more permanent
an interest in the property Of his deceased
wife. 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 sus-
pended during marriage" SO that in most
States she neither has legal part in the
choice of her residence, nor can she make a
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 forfeited,
except for crime that marriage should be an
equal and permanent partnership, and SO re-
cognised by law; that until iti so recognised,
married partners should provide against the
radical injustice Of present laws, by every
means in their power.
We believe that where domestic di(licul- |
ties arise, 10 appeal should be made to legal |
tribunals under existing laws, but that all I
difficulties should be submitted to the equita- |
BILE adjustment of arbitrators mutually |
chosen.
Thus, reverencing law, We enter our ear
nest protest against rules aud customs which |
are unworthy Of the name, since they violate |
justice, the essence OF all law.
(Signed,) HENRY 3. BLACKWELL. |
LUCY STONE.