Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-06
CAUSES OF DIVORCE.

More than thirty causes of divorce are re-
cognized by the statutes of the different States.
In South Carolina not one has ever been OBJ
tanned. In Virginia there are three causes,
namely: natural and incurable impotency at
the time of the marriage, idiocy and bigamy.
In Alabama, adultery, or two years abandon
ment. In Rhode Island impotency, adultery,
extreme cruelty, willful deSertion for the
space of five years, continued drunkenness,
neglect of the husband to provide necessares
for the subsistence of the wife, gross misbe-
havior and wickeduess repugnant to the mar
riage contract. In New Jersey divorce is
granted for prior existing marriage, adultery,
and willful absence for five years. In Yer
mont for homage, mental incapability, impo-
tency, force or fraud, adultery, confinement
in the State Prison for three years or more,
intolerable severity, willful desertion for three
years, absence for seven years unheard of, and
where the husband, being of ability, grossly
and wantobly neglects to provide for his wife.
In Maine, for adultery, impotency, desertion
for five years, joining the Shakers for hve
years, confinement in the State Prison of any
one of the United States for five years, fraud
in obtaining the consent of the other party
habitual drunkenness for three years; mar
riage with an Indian or mulatto is void and
Imprisonment for felony in the State, works a
divorce without any judicial proceeding. In
Kentucky for habitual drunkenness, condem-
nation for felony, cruelty of the husband, and
fOr several other causes which we fOrOear To
mention. In Illinois, for impotence, adultery
willful desertion for two years, extreme cruel
ty, habitual drunkenness for two years. In
Missouri, for adultery, willful desertion for
two years, conviction OF an Infamous crime,
habitual drunkenness for two years, cruel
treatment endangering life, intolerable indig
mites, uagrancy Of the husband. In Iowa the
same canses exist as in Missouri, to which is
super added, s.when the parties cannot live in
peace and happiness, and their welfare re-
quireS separation"
The law of Arkansas is the same as in Mis-
souri,, except that one years absence is suffi-
cient to free the abandoned party from the
bonds of marriage. In Tennessee and Missis-
sippi the law is nearly similar; while in Flori-
da, to like enactments added habitua |
indulgence of violent and unguvernable tenn
per for one year, or drunkenness or desertion
for one year.
In North Carolina, impotency, adultery,
abandonment, turning the wife out of doors,
cruelty or indignity on the part of the hus-
band, any other just cause. In Texas impo-
tency, excess, or cruel treatment, or outrages,
have a divorce for the adultery of his wife,
and the wife when the husband abandons her
and lives in adultery. In Maryland the law is
the same as in New York, except that aban-
donment and three years absence from the
State is cause for divorce. In Georgia the
old English ecclesiastical law governs. In
New Hampshire and Ohio similar laws to those
those of Vermont prevail. Extreme cruelty
and absence for three years are causes of di-
vorce in Delaware, to which Pennsylvania has
added intoerable indignities. Congress has
never conferred the power to grant divorce
upou the courts in the District of Columbia.