The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-28
The Paterson R,uaparte Case Again.
We find the following letter in tn" newspa-
pers 1t is addressed t6prnce NAPOLEON
paris, Rue Neuve. st. Aagpstin. Is,

pers. 1t is addressed t6prince NAPOLEON
paris, Rue Neuve, st. Augpstin. Is,
January 2sth, 1851.
'MoSsRIdSHrR If take The liberty to address
myself to your Imperial Highness il Is because
h9ps my motive will be my excuse. n reading
the report Of the action brought by N Paterson
Bouaparte, have observed that importance was
attached to the presumption that the marriage
took place according the ter i and that the act
being valid in the country whore it took place,
was valid everywhere. | myself was d law stu
mt in America and nv father WAS Judge Of
one OF the supreme Courts. His reputation as a
iurist was very high. and his judgments are 70
his day cited in all the courts OF the United
States. His opinion was asked at the time OF the
marriage, and he said, without any hesiatlon!
'Tha; such a marriage might satisfy 1ndividHat
that it, legal validity was doubtful, since the nus
ba nd was foreigner. not even domicl! led, minor
not appear to have cuutoTIned to any Que 81 the
regulations required by French law TO Vaildate d
marriage The opinion Of my father and that 81
several other Americans was, that # the marriage
was not legal in France. neither Miss Paterson
hsr children would have any iesitlmate
rights. Moreover, it was notorious in the united
states that Miss Paterson had knowingly run the
risk of being only a morganatic VIE, 10 the hope
Of sharing the nigh position to when she lnish'
aspire as the legitimate spouse Of Bonaparte.-
This statement is notorious In America lnat
Miss Paterson has no sympathy as a young sir I
say in America that she played a desperate game
and lost it ! cannot dare 10 hope that can be Of
the least use to your Highness. Bull have thought
it almost duty to make the above statement: i
beg. in conclusion, IL pat myself altogether al
your Highueas disposition in case on "oua 40 no
me the honor to see me- or to make use IL an!
way whatever of my RESPECTFUL desire 10 renuel
you service. beg your HlSnneIs 10 receive ny
homage ROBERT HOWE "pthp'
Mr. ROBERT HOWE GoULD's sense of duty
must be very strong 1t leads him TO yolun-
teer his testimony in case in which he mad
not been summoned, against his own country
woman and in favor of a foreigner and a
Prince Il is fortunate for Il man so consci-
entious that duty for once lies on the same
side with convenience. Prince NAPOLEON, be-
sides the Emperor and the Imperial family,
has on his side Mr. ROBERT HOWE doULD.--
His "Reminiscences of what his ia Their said III
seven wears ago must of course be exact, for
| was not the said father Judge of one OF the
| Supreme Courts Being such, of course 1t
| was impossible that he could err, or that his
! son could have bad memory. Admirable
evidence this. What sort of a Court can this
| French Court be, when such testimony Is ad-
| mitted, in a case of so much importance p
| Here il would be necessary, at least, to take
| the mans affidavit; but there his evidence
with regard TO fact happening fifty-seven
| years ago seems to be admitted without even
being sworn TO.
Mr. ROBERT HOWE GOULD S father may have
been i Judge of lone of the Supreme Courts,
| and his opinions may sill be cited in all the
| Courts, for aught we know. But if he meant
to say, that if 4 foreigner, being q minor,
! comes TO this country, anywhere, and here
contracts a marriage, the law here will not
| hold him 10 his bargain, he was no lawyer
| There is principle lying at the bottom of all
/ law which no law will ever gainsay. That
| principle is, that no person can be allowed tc
take advantage of his own wrong. This Is
exactly what a man would do, if he were &c
marry a woman and then plead his own dis
| ability to contract, as JRRoAE did.
With regard TO the power OF JEROME to con-
tract marriage, Mr. ROBERT HOWE GoULD'f
| father was equally mistaken, if what we
have seen in the papers with regard 10 the
/ French law be true. That law makes a man
incapable of contracting marriage, without
the consent OF his parents or guardians, until
! he reaches the age of eighteen. JEROME was
| already nineteen when he contracted thi.
marriage. I is true, his mother objected K
il, being doubtless instigated by NAPOLEON
who was already meditating royal marriage
| for his brothers. But she had no authority I,
restrain him. The refusal Of the Pope TO pro
nounee the marriage invalid is stronger thai
Il thousand such pieces of testimony as TIL
letter of Mr. Il. II. GoULD.