New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-10
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN.

The following Is n petition 10 he presented I" bolh
Houses of Parliament, for which the signatures oil
women are requested:
80 the Honorable the House Of Commons IN Parliament as
sembed the petition OF the undersigned omen OF oreh
Hn,abIy Shercth, That the manifold evils oocisioned
BY the present law by which the property and earn
ngs Of The wife are thrown into the absolute power OF
Abe husband, become daily more apparent. That the
thtreupOn ensuing extend over all casses OF
society. That il might once have been doomed for
tLe middle and upper ranks comparatively thcorch-
eul question, but il is 80 longer, since married
women of education entering on every side the
fields of literature and art, in order to increase the
family income by such excrtions.
That il lie usual when daughter marries in these
ranks To make, if possible, some distinct pecuniary
provision for her and her children, and to the
money thus Get ABIDE by cumbrous machinery OF
trusteeshp, proving that few parents are willing en-
tirely to utrust the welfare OF their offspring to the
irresponsible power Of the husband to the chances Of
his character, his wisdom, and bis success IN pro-
fession.
That another device for the protection of women,
who afford 10 appeal, exists in the actions OF the
courts Of equity, which attempts within certain limits
60 redress the deficiencies OF the law; but that trustees
may prove dishonest uuwise in the management Of
Abe funds intstcd to- their care and courts of equity
may fail in adjusting differences which concern the
most intimate and delicate relation Of life that legal
devices, patched upon law which is radically unjust,
can OILY work cumsly and that here, well as in
many other departments OF justice, clearance OF the
ground the chief thing necessary. That since this is
regard 10 protective restrictions upon trade to titles Of
property in land, aud to the legal machinery for
veying such property from owner 10 another, &c
We would hope that before long it will also come 10 be
recognized in matrimonial legislation.
That 1t IL proved by we.knOwn cases Of hardship
suffered by women Of station, and also by professional
women earning large incomes by pursuit VI the arts,
how real il the injury inflicted.
That these laws often bear heavily upon women,
protected by the iorethough Of their relatives the
eal training ofther husbands, aud the refined customs
of the rank to which they belong, how much noge
nneQuiy oca II the injury sustained by women in the
lower classes for whom no such provision be made
By their parents, who possess moaus Of appeal to
expensive legal protection and in regard to whom the
education If the husband and the habits Of his
sates offer moral guarantee for tender consdera
Aon of q wife
That whereas il is customary in manufacturing dis
tricts to employ women largely in the processes of
trade, and women also engaged as scamsresees,
laundresses charwomen, and in other multarious
equations which cannot here be enumerated the queS-
hon must be recognized by ali ~ OF practical I'M
portance.
tai oppression; "wifc-beating being a COM
pound word lately introduced into the English Ian
gusge, and a crime against which English gentlemen
have lately enacted stringent regulations.
But that for the robbery by man of bis wifes hard
earnings there is redress aganst the sefshnes Of
drunken father, who wings from a mother her chill
drens daily bread there is NO appeal. She may work
nom morning al night TO see the produce Of her labor
ssch cases are within the knowledge OF every one.
That the law, In deprving the mother Of al pecl-
mary resources depives her of the power Of giving
ecboong TO her children, and in other WAYS proyidnS
Cor their moral and physical welfare il o6ges her in
short leave them to the temptations of the street 50
fruitful in Juvenile cTime.
That there are certain portions OF the law Of husband
and wife which bear upjusiy the husbands as for
Instance, that Of making him responsible for his wfe's
debts contracted before marriage, even although be
may have had no fortune with her. Her power also,
after marriage, Of contracting debs in the name of her
husband for which he is responsible is too unlimited
and ofien produces much injustice.
That IN rendering the husband responsible for tho
entire maintenance OF has family the law expresses the
seoessities Of an age when the man was the only
money getting agent but that the CT stom Of the
county has greatly changed in this respect the posi-
lion OF the female sex, the law Of maintenance no
longer meets the whole cese. That sinoo modern civ
2iz ston, IN indefinitely extending the sphere OF oeeu.
patton for women has in some measure broken aowa
their pecuDiary dependence nPon men, x - alns GOA
kGd potec,ieD Le thrown over the p-Vdsee o. t-e-.