, 1860-11-13

Legal lDlsabillties Of Married Women.
Editors Ehicago Tribune: - -. -
For some time past the attention of the
Legislatures Of various staye have been called
to the legal disabilities of married women,
most, or all Of them, heirlooua Of the Mother
Country, and dating back toa period 30 remote
'"that tho memory. Of man rpnneth not there
to-" These. disabilities do NOT exist to the
samf 9 extent In those states deriving their COM
I mon hr from the old. Civil Codes Of France.
and Spain. i.
From;various causes, chiefly the recognition
that suGh rights would contribute to essential
y to the public veal, women haye, In SONG ul
the saatts, been SLOWED to acquire. and hold
property during eoes,turs thesam rs though
to!e TIE Legislature Of New Fork, at:its last
session, mot simply from motives of policy, but
!fom'an: enlarged sense Of Justice, granted the
right to: acquire and hold. rs well us to alien
aad dc! rise property. subject to jndiclous
guards, intended to secure the mutual good OF
those united in the tamily relation. To this
was adde id the right to protect person and ro-
putation, and joint right ofguardlanship over
children.
One Of her able jugists declared that no Stste,.
had ever: taken so'bola 4 step at once; yet 1t
Wis demanded by. the necessities Of the times,
and the public sentiment Of the age- While
gambling and drunkenness 20 almost unrc.
bnked bI Law, every father who has daughtese,
feels that they need fuller protection in the en-.
.Ioymcnt Of the. obvious right Of life, liberty.
and happiness. Tho good husband and wifi
Will never inquire in regard TO their legal re-
latt,Rs; their mutual love will raise them
above theirle7eE But the untaithfnl and de-,
bauched man will find q salutary check in the 1
restoration Of personal rights to his wife, ind
the wife; who is now often beaten and half
starved By husband who may legally rob her
Of her earnings, will be able to secure for her:
SELF and her babes comforts long denied.
The Legislature of this State will be CALLED
upon to consider this question in our own
State thia coming winter. Petitions are being
circulated extensively, and the voice Of the 4
people speaks loudly for the measure. Our
ablest jnEsts, our most profound thinkers, o1n
most eminent theoloslans, arc bidding the
WORK most hearty God speed, believing II
onlYamdstneccss.ry step in bringing ont laws
up TO the-standard Of Christian morality
taught in all our public lecture rooms, mud in
al the pulpits Of the land. - TT
-:u The, following is the petition: Let every
nanrand woman who feels an interest in this
subject circulate it, and forward the names oh:
talntT 70; some member Of the Legislature,
Urging prompt action in behalf Of the woman.
hood 'gf,onr glorious state:.' -
II s.'.'t -. PETITION
.To the Senate and ouseof Representatives Of tbs
State of ILLINOIS,: ., -
NC, the Undersigned, inhabitants Of the State Of
ltiHoiH,. most earnestly petition yonr honorable
hodys thai such laws may be- cnacted that thep.-
TsMt5 ot children may have rights Of guardianship
aa1 4At ad difference be made on account Ut sex
We also further petition, that lnnrried women |
have granted them the right to oacqui1e ard hold |
property tn theif' own name, and to transfer and |
devise the dame. A. well .2s to protect their oxn
caaractgf b law and Recover III their own name Tor
pcta91ia1 Injuries.