Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-02
Letter from Montpelier.

MONlPELIEH, Oct ~, 1901.
!, Mr.. EDITOR The bill introduced into
e the Legislature few days since by Mr.
r Field from Newfane, which elicits more de.
bate than anything yet appearing in the
2 Heuse, is in the following words, to wit
An act in addition to chapter sixty-seven OF
} the compiled statutes, relating to divorce.
Il IS hereby enacted By tie General .Assen,.
6ty Of The State Of permont, as tol7o,rs
SEC. l. A divorce from the bonds OF
matrimony may be granted when either
of the parties is an habitual drunkard: or
shall have joined any religious sect or soci-
ETY. which profess 10 believe the relation of
husband and wife to be unlawful: or re-
fuses to cohabit with each other for the
space of three years.
think there is some merit in the hill
and am not certain but the Legislature
are prepared TO pass it with some amend
ment, still | entertain considerable doubt.
1t calls out the best talent in the House
The Rev. Sirs that have participated in the
discussion thus far have raised their protest
long and loud against ii, (you know Wind
ham County is well thus represented por-
traying in vivid colors the solemn rite Of
marriage, the sacredness of the Institution.
an edict from the court of Heaven and
that no earthly law should interpose except
In cases of the most fragrant character,
which were not embodied in the present bill
But Mr.. Field supports the bill with all his
mastery skill in tact and ingenuity, calling
forth much sympathy for that kind and du-
titul wife that is compelled to sleep for years
and years by the side of that drunken hus-
band, indissolubly bound through life, not
withstanding the most brutal abuses she
must necessarily otherwise receive from him.
But there is strong opposition against it
seeming disposition to kill it by amendments.
MIR. Colby from Hartland, the Leqislatire
6'aGe-not break down, but to diminish
speed, to counteract hasty legislation, for
which he serves noble purpose, brake
though long in use, still none the less ever
safe to depend upon, is one of its ardent
friends. One amendment proposed was,
that no divorce should be granted TO the /
guilty party which was carried; another
was to strike out that part making the re-
tusal to cohabit for three years cause for
divorce, which was Withdrawn; another was
without justiliable cause after the word
refuses, so it would read without iustifi-
able cause to cohabit for the space of three
years. &c, which was adopted. Amid this
storm OF amendments, its author stood ike
colossal statue, undaunted, until Saturday
afternoon when il again came up. when the
question was Shall it be engrossed and
read third time 2" upon which the pentle-
man from Newfane, in the felt emergency
as to the result, moved that it be recon-
mitted to the judiciary committee (of which !,
he is chairman,) that they might amend the
bill TO meet the minds of the House. Said
he, There is merit in it. and | believe il
can so be brought before the House that II |
will meet their wishes; it is a cab Of mine $
and believe ! can whip it into shane. let
us have il aud we will bring it out as clean il
as a new shirt" 1t seems TO me that Mr. t
Field, discovering the Intellectual WORKINGS v
u our Prohibitory Law in doing away ii
drunkenness, and in removing this awful tt
i'm from society and from the land. has d.
brought forward this bill of high merit and 81
consideration, and the House so cors;d-
r il or they would not have held If there IN
lay after day; some one would have putthe m
est question to 1t ere this but no, il is com tr
ng again in the same body but in different
pparel; and | tell ye, who now and then Y
axe DRINK yes, ye tpplers, ye habitual "
the day is soon to dawn ypo, >;
gu when it will be written upon the stat .,
ties OF Vermont, that the temperate bus- =,
and or wife shall not be compelled indisso-
loly Tor life TO inhale the efiluyia from that
ltoxleated stomach, no longer to be uue-
lally yoked with an inebriate, or with one -
no IN theory and practice annuIs the L. "
atty of the marriage covenant. Soon Won, pr
i'll hear the result.
of