Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-04-13
CAUSES OF DIVORCE IN;THE SEW
AL STATES.

More then thirty causes of divorce are
recognized by the statutes Of the different
States. In South Carolina not one has
ever been obtained. In Virginia there
are three causes, namely: natural and
incurable impotency al the time Of mar
riage, idiccy and bigamy. In Alabama,
adultery, or two years abandonment
In Rhode Island, impOtency, adultery,
extreme cruelty, wilful desertion for the
srace of five years, continued drunken
ness; neglect of the husband 10 provide
necessaries for the subsistence of the
wife, gross misbehavior and wickedne>s
repugnant to the marriage contract. In
New Jersey divorce is granted for prior
existing marriage, adultery, and wilful
absence for five years. In Vermont,
for homage, mental incapacity, impoten-
cy, force or fraud, adultery, confinement
in the State Prison for three years or
more, intolerabie severity, wilful deser-
ton for three years, absence for seven
years unheard of, and where The husband,
being of ability, grossly and wantonly
negleois TO provide for his wife. In
Maine, for adultry, impotency, desertion
for five years, joining the Shakers for
five years, confinement in the States
Prism of any of the United States for
five years, fraud in obtaining The con-
sent OF the other party, habitual drunk
enness for three years; a marriage
with an Indian or Mulatto is void; and
Imprisonment for felony in the State,
works divorce without any judicial
proceeding. In Kentucky, for habitual
drunkenness, condemnation for felony,
cruelty of the husband, and for several
other causes which we forbear to men,
tion. In Illinois, for impotency, adui-
terry, wilful deseriion for two years, ex-
treme cruelty, habnual drunkenness for
two years.
In Missouri, for adultery, wilful deser-
ton for two years, conviction of an in-
famous crime, habitual drunkenness for
two years, cruel treatment endsngering
life, intolerable indignities, vagrancy of
the husband. In Iowa The same causes
exist as in Missouri, to which is super
added, "when the parties cannot live in
peace and happiness, and their welfare
requires separation" The law in
Arkansas is the same as in Missouri, ex-
oept that one years absence is sufficient
10 free the abandoned party from the
bonds of marriage. In Tennessee and
Mississippi the law is similar; while in
Florida, 10 like enacimen,s are added
haLitual indulgence Of violent and ungov
ernab.e temper for one year, or drunken
ness or desertion for one year. In North
Carolina, impOtency, adultery, abandon
msnt, turning the wife out of doors, cru
city or indigniiy on ths part of the hus
band, or any 0shsrjuSt cause. In Texas,
impotency, excess, or cruel treatment,
or outrages. or desertion for three years;
the husband may have divorce for
the adultry of the wife, and the
wife when the husband abandoned her
and lives in adultery. In Maryland the
law is The same as in New York,
except the abandonment; and three
years absence from the State is a cause
of divorce. In Georgia, The old English
ecclesiastical law governs. In New
Hampshire and Ohio similar laws TO
those OF Vermont prevail. Extreme cru
city and absence for three years are
causes fer divorce in Delaware, 10 which
Pennsylvania has added intolerance and
indignties. Congress has never confer
red the power to grant divorce upon the
Courts in the District of Columbus
Tribune, Feb. %.