New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-06-11

men, modern ounces civil lawyers ana common,
wers called in 70 assist Ut the battle on the ons
Ode or the other. But tho force Of ancient, or
rather of modern, prejudices prevailed. and their
Lordsbips rejected the bin by a vote of 43 TO "a
~ is not likely however, that this will be final
eItiDguisber to the matter, and common sense aud
growing popular feeling the subject mast, sooner
or later, carry even this last stronghold OF con-
seryatin.
Tie Yankees are said to be full Of EMOTIONS" y;
bur If so. they inheri. their taste fox them from
their English ancestry This resolute adherence
to a prohibition for which, as Lord Grey justly
said. even the bench Of Bishops could not pretend
to bling any divine authority and which Is secuted
At by the common sense of the rest of the world,
Is as no,ionaI proceeding as any the Universal
YANKEE Nation could furnish to match it. We be-
leye the Presbyterian Church 10 some paris OF this
country has proposed adopting this prohibition
into its creed but We have yet TO learn that ITS
thunders have had any general effect in lettering
even il. members fiOm entering into alliances
which the law of the land recognizes and no law OF
nature forbids The frequency Of such marriages
in this country the universal recognition OF their
propriety and of their happy results were cited in
favor of the law. So was the fact that such
matches are allowed and are common in every
country of Europe, even in Russia in certain Cases.
In France. marriage is civil contract, entered
into before magistrate, and no objection was ever
made to these connections. But the doggednsss OF
John Bull was not thus to be overcome and the
attempt failed
One of the strongest arguments in favor of this
change is to be found in the fact that the prohibit
ton does not prevent these marriages from being
contracted, nor their being regarded BY society as
le cal and moral. Lord Grey said that il parties
in the higher ranks wish to make a match of this
description they cross the CHANNEL and are married
in country where the law allows it, and in the
lower classes the connections are made without
scrupIe only the legal loop hole made use of for
the escape Of unprncipled persons from the oblga-
tons of a contract which the law by its penalties,
does not sanction Lord Albemarle related case of
peer Of the realm who had had his marriage with
bis deceased wiies sister egalized by act of Pars-
ment: while, about the same time, commOner, OF
means inadequate TO such luxury, was prosecuted
in the Ecclesiastical Courts to the tune OF tl,ooo
to GO, goo, and his domestic happiness broken up. |
A further proof hat no naturally moral repugnance
is felt against such marriages may be inferred from
the fact that bill introduced by Lord Lyndhurst |
to relieve parties and officiating clergymen from |.
the per sltes Of breach of this law in time past,
pass. the House of Lords by unanimous vote.
The opposition to the repeal Of this prohibition
comes from the women themselves They seem to
be afraid of being left to form matches they esteem
immoral, if the legal obstacles be removed. But
there is, nevertheless an eXtsnslye change OF opn
ion among the intelligent women OF England-asis
shown by the number Of petitions sent up to that
efitct-whO feel that this is matter the Proprieties
of which they are perfectly competentto decide for
themselves, without the aid of Parliament or the
Bishops. The opposition, headed Is 1t is By the
ORE lates of the established Church, is almost en-
trel, confined to the clergy and members of the Es-
tablishment; but even among them there must be
O owing modification Of views judging from the
number of petitions presented from Church clergy
men and members of their parishes, asking for the
change; and of its chief advocates is the first
man in the Anglican Church, in weight of chsrac-
ter and in fame, if not in raIk-ArchbIshOp Whate
ley of Dublin This learned and liberal prelate is
not member of Parliament at present because Of
TIE rotation which divides the privilege of Imperi
al legislation among the Irish Bishops; but he has
taken bis side, and most clearly earnedly ar6 lOgi
cay given bis reasons for the faith that is in him.
We trust that the House of Lords Will soon learn
how futile it is to attempt to maintain law which
legslates against human aature, and the only effect
OF which is to diminish the reverence in which the
legal sanctions of marriage should be held.
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