The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-04
NO. 81.
.GELIBACY Is. vs., NJ MATR'IM0NY.

/ -f.~
rance Hall. The subject selected for the occasion
was hardly a debateable one The gentleman,
however, who delivered the following address,
| certainly did much TO " make the worse appear
| the better reason" His speech abounds in wit
| and playful satire, and was admirably delivered,
eiicting frequent and prolonged applause from a
| crowded auditory. ltis altogether the best jeu
| de esprit OF the kind we have ever seen. There
were several speakers on either side In closing
the debate, in the negative Mr. CHARLES H.
LAMMosp rose and said: ,,., LID .f....- ...g :. .
o Mr.. PRESIDENT: From the manner in which the
question for our this evening discussion is worded
lscaroely know how to approach it, (which is
the happiest the married or the unmarried states'
| n NOW thereiare but Two states named, and yet
the third or superlative degree of comparison is
used; and this, take it, is contrary to the rules
Oh grammar and language. Il will however sup
pose that three states or degrees were intended,
and in order to put the question in proper form
| for argument, word il thus: (which is the hap
piest state---'so state, the married state, the
unmarried stateY" Undoubtedly, to avery large
portion OF mankind, no state, or no existence
would be infinitely preferable to any state in this
world of sin and suffering. This vale of tears"
| this valley of the shadow Of DEATH which, too
many OF US will leave only 10, enter where there
will be eternal weeping and wailing and ghash.
| ing of teeth;"" but ........ .. .......
Mr.. President / will not advocate no state, for
/ have no desire to 20 into nonentity, and being
content with my bachelorhood, Il shall not es-
| pouse rnatrimony. will therefore adhere to my
| own-the unmarried state (which for it's many
high privileges and singular prerogatives, has been
well denominatcd, par eecelieacc, the state cf
single blessedness 1i.a gasa ssa. sa a... s.>E
Twill assert and maintain, sir that it is superior
| to every other state in the social condition OF
man, and notwithstanding all that has been or
may. be said regarding its moroseness its selfish.
hess, and its uDsocalabity 7 contend that il is the
only truly cheerful, most happy, and benevolent
position OF life 1t is the only condition that con.
iers on man the real sovereignty that properly
pertains to his nature. What says the immortal
"'De Declaration Of Independeiice9n That So all men
are born free, equal, and independent anil sir
that man can be no better than n craven who
would barter his freedom his equality, and his
independence-tho nesmabIe birthrights 10
become the willing slave to stack of dry goods,
even though 1t were composed Of the most costly
silks and laces that nun or worm ever wove,
though II were impregnable and guarded by hoops
ef reed, whalebone, or brass, and surmounted by
the prettiest face that ever smiled fxedy with all
the expression of French or Dutch doll of col
ored wax -'" "."f' .t ,.-. a. ..
Sir, before would submit to the petty tyranny
OF petticoats- before l would ensave myself "for
the love ofa Guinea hen, '' '- -H ''" 70. -.
81 would change my humanity with babboon."
Poor, frail humanity, know is subject at some
time or other TO be overcome by chimeras Of
its own imagination, az children by fancies of
ghosts and hobgoblins. We are all liable, in the
imbeciiity of own nature to fall into that state
OF halucination, that idiotisrn that fantastic in
sanity which We denominate kove; and this hur-
ries too many unfortunates through different de.
grees into the evortex Of engulphng natrimony
10 has been asserted that matrimony and love 60
hand in hand. Sir, | deny it, Matrimony is many
degrees removed from love. Madness begets
love, love begets folly, folly begets vice, vice be-
gets matrimony, and matrimony begets hate; such
SIR is the geheslOgy and offspring OF the g~eAtcst
OF 1" Ills that flesh is heir tor l7 ,
Let US contrast the married md The unmarried
state--let US take the Bachelor and the Benedict
or married man. The bachelor, sir, is emphat-
cally free and untrammelled, independent, pracely
in his independence, imperial in his sovereign dig
nifty. He can 90 when he lists to his club or his
avorite restaurant-smoke his cigars, take his
glass, Gf he should wish IT'D tell his tale Of wit and
humor, or listen TO similar tales from his boon
companions, he can eat drink, and be merry with
his cOnyivia friends, while he sets the table in a
roar and make the welkin ring with the chorus Of
their favorite song .a-.
... ..u, -......,. - -s -, -
s- riI, Nv moh "a r. noine u,
..,a., Wv '"' '' s"' '''" -" "pp''"'
a.g When nc does get home, Just as daylight i'
gsaqg the eastern horizon, ne hnds no one t"ere
Win uporMding tone ana snllen brow TO demand,
what IN the world Kept you out last nl9ht'
nnere marc you been; you've been dnnklngi
you're ooSzy. fshaW; you're breath smells aoom'-
naoie. , NO, SIR; nc hnds no Snky irau' VINO,
during MS ABSENCE has been
Cath ring her brow like gatll'ring storm,
g Nursing her wrath to keep il warnL"
and preparipv 10 greet hi, advent with torrsnt
ofinyectiyes: but In his gl ,rions ndene1dencc no
trims on eight fantastic toe os II carecrino o,y
through country DANCE or sn,iyhtIv rcnI t6 H.
cham6er. and tnmbles into hed Sitbont tbr G,r.
mality Of uptoileting, ont coated, booted. land
spurred, too If bc nleoses or Il NAV be sco,Hing
the eifeminacy Of couch, he stretches himself
upon 'ho n''i' ""cre nc WI" Jay ..a ...
..Eh Lake a warrior taking his rest
Win a martial cloak around him
and sonorously snorc away the few short hours
of morning in happy oblivion. But poor, unfor.
tuffte Benedict--thc married rnan--goes from his
enjoyment TO his home slowly and heavily: he i
loaded with more than he can we'll bear: his mind
is chaos Of bcwildering thoughts his gait is
IN Arm and unetpady ~ aansc of weigbtv nyil