Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-23
The Marriage Law.

frequently violated, and no effort INSIDE 10
enforce the penalty. that It is time public
attention was directed TO the subject
We refer 20 the law which requires par
ties designing to be married to procure
the publication Of their intention. This
law is one Of long standing and was for
merly well observed; but Of late years,
the spirit Of disregard for law which has
been and is such great and growing
evil in our country, has led 10 an almost
universaf neglect Of IL. This is not so
much, however. the fault OF the people |
AT large, as il is Of those whose peculiar /
duty il is, or at least, is supposed to BE-,
10 obey all laws with strictness themselves |
and to snjoin obedience upon Others
We refer to ministers and magistrates
The former are not slow 10 preach the
duty Of obedience to law, in the pulpit
and on the platform. They insist thar
men shall stop getting drunk because the
law forbid, it, and stop selling rum be-
cause the law lorJids that. Yet not one
IN halt a dozen Of ttrm can stand the
temptation Of a dollar bill offered them
by man who wishes to be married in
violation Of law. Magistrates are EQUALLY
lax in this respect, as might be expected
for '' like priest, like people" How
minister or a magistrate, with the wages
Of disobedience il his own pocket, can
have the face to rrbuke any one else for
infraction Of the law, passes our feeble
comprehension.
We recolIect that In a discussion on
this bject which took place some months
ago, it was claimed thar the law, by long
abuse, had become dad letter, and so
was not entitled 20 be observed. But if
is the very looscst morality, perhaps we
ought TO say very gross immortality, which,
makes long continued disobedirnce 10 law
an excuse for continuing to break it,
Rather, It such contempt has been bru'r
upon the law, is il time that good citizen
should make efforts to reinstate the law
IN the respect and obedience formerly
shown to il. That apology, however,
poor as il was, has been taken away
The law on that subject has received
such an endorsement as is almost eouiva.
lent TO a re-enactmenL During the last
session Of the ci-Iature an attempt wa,
made to repeal the law. a bill to that
effect was introduced in the Senate and
another in the House. The same reason.
were urged for the repeal OF the law
which have been offered a. excuses for
is ylOlation-viz: the negligence Of min
listers to insist upon ohcdirnce 10 II an,
the consequent shckuess on the part o
people in obeyiug it. These and othe
reasons were urged, but without avail
Both branches OF the legislature refuse,
by very decided msjorities to repeal IN
law, and they declared that the law
good, exPedien,, necessary, and worth
to be oJeyed. This new approval o! III
Law puts the people under new obis;
lions to obey it, and tha, ignorance Of til
law may no longer be made an excuse +,
violating it, we will recapitulate its sui
stantial provisions.
The intention OF marriage is REQUIRE
10 be published at some public meetin
in the respective towns where the pa
ties reside, by II minister or the tow
clerk Of the towns, or it may be pu
hshed by posting at some public pla.
10 such towns, in writing, signed by
minister, town clerk, or justice Of Il
peace, eight days before the intends
marriage. The person publishing Il
intention shall deliver to one Of the "a
ties . certificate that the publication b
been made according to law, which c,
tidca,e shall be delivered to the mag
trate or minister in whose presence I
marriage Is to be contracted, before
shall proceed to solpmnize the same z"
any minister or magistrate joins perso
IN marriage without such certificate.
Is liable to forfeiture Of not less th
ten or more than seventy dollars. II
law is plain and explicit it ia D.
which the legislature had an uuquesti,
able right TO make, and which being ma
It is the unquestionable duty Of the p
pie TO obey. Til" penalty By which IL
enforced is sufficiently stri gent, and
the law cannot otherwise be obpyed.
penalty ought 20 be rxacted Of those "
violate IL. Tia frw ministers and ma.
traies were subjected to the disgrace q
conviction and the loss Of "a fine. It mi
have ssluisry EFFECT not only upon
immediate sufferer, bu, upon all otheri
like cases. Tn- forfeiture is given
" the next friend" Of the parties MARI