The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-26

,iage is the free will contracting of the male
and female sexes, where there is no civil law
on the subject, to live as husband and wife
and under such contract, fornication could
not exist Where there is civil law regulat-
ing the marriage contract, that contract must
be sanctioned by such law to constitute it
marriage, and the duration Of that marriage
only continues to the abrogation of it by the
provisions of the law which created it. This
is the principle upon which divorces are grant
ed in the several states of the Union. And
upon this same principle asepartion may take
place between slave husband and wife under
the laws Of slave States. Different States
have different methods of granting divorces.
In some States, the Legislature gr,nts di-
vorccs, in others the courts grant them.
Further, it docs not follow of necessity
that divorces or separations require new
sexual connections. as Mr.. Taunton says, but
it is left at the option of the p,rties, under
every case of separation or divorcement, to
form new marriage allegiances, or let them
alone, just as the parties choose. Therefore,
Mr.. Taunton's argument in regard to the
marriage relation must fall, or all the divorce
or separation laws of the various States as
well as the divine law granting separation,
must. We think that common sense as well
as long experience suggests of the two, let
Mr.. Taunton's q go by the board"
Again, What therefore God hath joined
togetherletn no man put asunder. ."-Math 10.
6. In this declaration of the Savior, he
doubtless had reference to separation OF
husband and wife by divorccment, where
alienation in the affections of the parties had
taken place. which is evidenced by his Ian
gnage in the same connection, Moses be-
cause Of the hardness of your hearts suffered
you to put awap your wivcs."--Math. 1913.
Which enforcement was simply writing OF
the husband himself, without the aid or in
huence of any outside party. Consequently
aseparation of the PARTIES by the MASTER in
removing either, would not be divorcement
Nor would the parties by such separation be
necessarily compelled to form new cohabita-
tons. IF Mr. Taunton and his adherers
really believe that a separation Of the hrs
band anil wife by any casualty whatever,
when it is not definitely known that they
will meet again, if necessity requires them to
form such new intercourse, we would advise
them to keep close homo; lest they be found
SHINING.
Again, Mr.. Taunton says: "The slave
holder draws down upon him that fearful an
thema:" Cursed is he that partcth man and
WIFE" This curse appears to MS to be very
far fetched scripture; and all not having suf.
ficient bible reading to finl the pronounce
ment of such curse, Mr.. Taunton would
have done well to have told his hearers and
readers where they might find it recorded Sc
that they might get its true meaning by its
associated connection with the subject in
which it might have been used, AMI by whom
the curse was pronounced The parting OF
man and wife in the sense the term. is gene.
rally used, is produced by some alienation il,
the affections of the parties. And in the
phrase here usei by Mr. Taunton, it presents
itself to. our, minds in the light that, some
fiend of a person has been thrusting himself
between the good understanding Of the hus.
band and wifi, an estrangcment in
the-approxi,nating sentiments of their love,
thereby rendering their union of marriage in
tolerable. This being the case. ap, anathema
from some source might well be sleserved.-
The sentence does not appear to have any
other meaning as it is given; therefore, i,
does not reach the case, though it should
prove to be Of divine origin e ,A's ' e fe.
Having shown. MFR. Taunton's total failure
to sustain himself in his argument, on what
he was pleased to term "a dilemma; and
it being his finality argument, all else having
failed TO establish his doctrine, ,-we propose
now, for the sake of argument, to admit that
the master has no right to sepemte the slave
husband and wife BY sale or otherwise. =
Then it would not affect the right of owner
ship in theJs'avc. property in any way what
ever. Tie may simply hold them or sell then
together, as is usually the custom in the slave
States.
And now, after all Mr.. Taunton's boastcd
triumph over his finality /" "dilemn1a" " arg,,.
ment; where, where is his strong arm, hi:
prop, that he relied on when all else NIGH
fail him afoGone, gone to, o,ths,fou winds,
where an his rotten AMI decaying theories
and doctrines are fastsalling, towither under
the blighting hand of dark oblivion. &, sss
BlakesburS, Iowa, May 9Th, 1859. '5 ..
serd 1890 TO BE CONTINUED.
The ide, that the prairies should be "bro
ken up'' asSl1oU, is swrong one. The prin.
cipal argument for it has been, that sod wo'd
rot better From expeficnce and observation
-. Al a =