The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-01-31
Chr Cssopist.
For The Cecil Wing T.,
f;ai.is:seny.

submitted to the Legislature If that State,
MN act to promote and encourage matrimony.
The means provided in this act for the en-
couragemcnt of that great institution are, tie
authorizing and empowering lawyers to per-
fo,m the momento,,s ceremony of Uniting the
seekers of connubal bliss III the holy bands
of wedlock, in addition to the present exist
ing Observation-Disclosures OF the Gospel
and Magistrates authorised to perform that
truly interesting ceremony.
How this accession to the numbers already
existing, empowered to lceallzc the marriage
contract, is to promote and encourage matll-
mony," as the proposed law hathit, is sop'e'
what difficult to conceive. unless the officials
already existing are inadequate to Dispatch
with the requisite prompness, the, perhaps
large amount of that kind of business which
may be accommodating OH their hands.
1t seems rather singular at this epoch OF
the nineteenth century, and in Republican,
America, too, that any plan should be sub
mt,cd to Legislature, the object of which
is to encourage and promote matrmony by
legal enactment. There can be no law, OF
laws passed that We can conceive Of, that
will in any way make that institution more
popular, while there are numerous acts exist
ing Oh the statute books throughout the
country, which. if repealed, might have
tendency to advance that object. All special
privileges and legislation, discriminating
against one portion Of the community while
it favors another, may be casscd under the
head Of anti matrimonial laws.
But whether protective system, the
object Of which was to encourage the bed,d'-
hful Institution would rebound to the ultimate
advantage Of the human race, is question
that will admit of an argument. There j.
unc marked feature in tbs history of civiliza
lion, which stands out very prominently to
view. 1t is this the more civilized and in
t,llis,nt people become, the less are they
disposed to commit matrimony: or at least
that portion Of community which is til,
more ,nterprising and intelligent, who arr
the admitted leaders and advancerS Of evil
cation and refinement to whom the masses
look up for their employment and daily bread
tlat portion is the most cautious and r,luc
tnnt TO enter into the bands Of matiimony.
As TO this state Of things being false or true
state sound or unhealthy state. of ciyiliZa
ton, every one will maintain his particular
views on the subject, accordingly as lie agree
or disagrecs with the spirit Of the age.
The most natural question, it would seem
for candidates Cor matrimony to suggest to
themselves, is What prospects have we il
the future for providing for and rearing up "a
family in proper manner and tlic convcn
tionallSrns Of Society of the present day
doubtless make this II consideration Of mo
mcnous importance to the inqurirg and re-
hcctins mind. Among what are termed tn,
lower classes Of society, marriage Is much
more universal, than among What arc fashion
ably and not without reason styled The
higher orders Of mankind.
Those persons in whose minds the mora
sentiments are in great measure left dor.
mant aud who are, in consequence, influenced
in a greater degree by the lower animal pro
pcnsities, arc incapable OF looking forward
into fulni,y, or Of tracing effects which ap-
pear around them, to latent causes, are tn,
persons who most universally and uncon
,liuonaly enter the marriage state. if, there
fore, mAtrmony be a blessing, as it has long
hecn stercotyped, those Of the humble walks
Of life /; those who give no thought to tn,
morrow, are necessarily the blessed of tn,
~,
lair at the door, and want takes up his abod,
in the house. it docs seem TINT that social and
connubal felicity which is said to he the
handmade Of the beautiful institution, wh,lr
sought, too often proves an isnm ,tMuus, and
lures 10 d, cciye.
On the other hand, those who "look before
they leap" OF are endowed with cultivated
minds and qualifications eminently fitting
them for the government and proper manage
mcnt of family and domestic affairs are III
numberlcss instances deferred from entering
% into the bands of .double blesscdness," las
the state matrimonial is too often msnamed, y
by the spirit Of the age, or the manners and
customs Of the day. The present era III the
civilization Of the world, is marked by OK
travagance and vain show. An exactng
Fashion is the srvercst and most despotic
taskmistress that was ever placed over the
human race and the more advanced that
race becomes, in social and moral position
at least in An intellectual position, the more
cxactng in her demands is that al bitrcss of
life and fortune
That portion Of the social world whose
mental culture, moral elevation, and refined
tastes, point them out MS specially the class
fitted by their peculiar tastes and habits, TO
enjoy connubiaI felicity in its widest range,
and to give cast and tone to the actors, who
are to appear on this worlds stage when the
present occupants have retired behind the
curtain of the grave are the very ones who
take upon them the marriage bonds with
most reluctance, while tire common herd are
drawn into the vortex, as the mountain
stream. influenced by grasitation, finds it's
way to the level Of the plain. That the res
ponsi blites Inherent to the petnt,W INSTITUTE