Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-07-01
that his children, borne under these circum.

that his children, borne under these circum.
stances are liable to commit
y gentleman said to me- little time ago,
"My vile is wOmans rights woman. She
talks of her rights, and allow it but she really
has none. am her husband, she is my pro-
perty, and ii do not like thing say so; and
l do not consider she has any right to diSputeit.
l do not hold any argument, for l consider my
will law. And ii l loved a woman, and was not
bound to her by the marriage ceremony,
should not think of disputing her will or wishes
for fear she would show me the door, and
should have no alternative but To 20 out of it.
Her viii is absolute, for have no claim upon
her, and she isjusttied in all she does, so it is
necessary to guard myself and movements in
order TO retain the love and respect of the
woman love" What pleasing prospect is
this for the wife, who is rearing her children in
her isolated household, and imagining the hus-
band immaculate in thought as well as action,
and respecting her in the sacred Office of wife
and mother.
WHAT IS MARRIAGE
Why should woman tame herself into cain
submission, md be the slave and toy and play.
thing Of man? What is marriageg Is it the
linking together of two loving hearts in holy,
sacred uuion2 Mo- this in seldom the case when
compared to the many thousands npon thous-
ands of marriages Of convenience, Women are
bought and paid for, as the negro slave is She
is estimated thing of barter, for man
counts the cost of his intended wife as deliber-
ately as if he thought of keeping COW, dog,
or pig.
Now, what are the rights and privileges of
woman in the marriage institution
1t gives us the privilege to become Hys
Brown instead of Niss Smith That is an hon.
or, no doubt, and it relieves woman from the
stigma of ell maid. 1t gives ms the privilege
of being supported and attending to domestic
duties-the privilege to see that the dinner is
served at the proper hour for hungry hus-
band-the privilege, oftentimeS, to sit up half
the night TO let the husband in from delight
full concert and oyster supper that he has en-
ijoyed with Mr.. Jones and his beautiful wife
Then we have right; and listen women of
the Nineteenth century! The marriage insti-
tuition gives you one right; one right that you
have not perhaps, hitherto valucd-it 9iyes
you the right to hear children.
1t is not privilege; it is not an inheritance
hat your nature Graves But it is the law Of
wise men, who knowver much better than You
do when you scrRt a child, dail tc1ea you ought
to become Il mother.
Now, say again. that resolution (referring
TO the one reported by the Comnittec) is in
comprehensive Love is not dependent on rcf.
son, Or judgment, or education, or mental ac-
quirements, or society, control Of any kind.
1t is an inspiration of the soul. 1t is holy,
sacred emanatlon from the most vital part of
our natures, and to say when or wherer 1t shall
be limited or restricted is violation of our indi-
vidual rights.
may have takenIan extreme side of the ones
ton, but only offer my views as ma oun, and
wish that the resolution may be put in more
definite form, stating what conjugal love is, and
to how few, or how many, an isolated household
may be limited TO. will read resolution that
think would bear more directly on the marriage
question::
ReSoleed, That the slavery and degradation of
woman proceeds from the institution of rnarri-
age; Inst by the marriage contract she loses the
control of her name, her person, her property,
her labor, and her affections her children and
he freedom.