Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-04

at the present convention to amend the con
stitution of the state, an innovation was pro-
posed there to change them, and it was
numerically largely put down. Considering
our population, (some four millions,) d.
vorces are not very frequent. DEGREES are not
often revoked. Our laws decidedly prevent
immense injustice, perjury. and immortality.
The more absolute we have made them the
better. With the vast majority of the rcli-
gious, moral, and virtuous of our state, our
divorce laws are highly valued, and defended
against any alterations. L repeat, thus far
in our state history, all attempts to widen
them-if | may the term-have been
unsuccessful. 1t is a common circumstance
IN this state for parties, who find it impossible
to be dissolved from the uincuio nlatrin,orii
to 90 to Ohio, or some other state, and easily
and wickedly secure what our Just laws never
would grant
| would here remark, that during Il resi-
dence Of eight years in the state of New
York, | hardly heard of divorce, but on
returning to Vermont, [ was appalled, at their
frequency. There is a law on our statute
book making it penal to defame our courts.
newspaper that [ viii not name, may have
done in article that lately appeared, in
which it was stated that the Supreme Court
was making its annual tour through the
State, granting divorces and that eleven
were granted in single county.
The Christian Church never has allowed
divorce except for the one cause allowed by
her Divine Founder. The Roman Catholics
have always been stringent on this subject
and when the idea of marriage being a sac
rament was repudiated in England, on its
passing from the Catholic TO the Protestant
regime, the stringency of the law in regard
to marriage was retained and To this day
1iaVrcp caD hn ahtaippI in EDulapI Dnt bI-
the courts, but only by Parliment. and that
for the sole cause of adultery. The senti-
ments of Protestant denominations do not
widely differ from those of the Catholics.
ProtcstantS, however, are measurably Y respon-
sible for the laxitv of marriage laws in Prot
cstant countries.
The Vermont Conference, at it's annual
session held in April last, appointed a special
committee on - The Divine law of Marriage
and Divorce" report Of such committee,
adopted by the Conference, holds the follow
ing language:
WHEREAS, the practice of granting III
vorces by the Vermont courts, Is becoming
painfully common: and,
WHEREAS the tendency of this action of
our courts is to destroy IN the public mind,
4 sense of the sacrcdncss Of the coniugal re
Iation, we, the members of the Vermont
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, feel called upon, in the interests of
religion and public virtue, to give expression
t. our estimate of the Divine law of Mar
riage and Divorce
After dwelling on the subject at some
length. they close their report with this rcso-
luton
RosoIred, that. in our opinion. there IS
only one cause that can justify divorce, name
". the violation OF the seventh command
Incn1.
Other denominations in the State doubtless
hold the same sentiments. And, it is be-
lievei, modification Of our laws such as this
bill contemplates. would be approved very
generally in the State Other views, show
in- the propriety of passing this bill, might
be urged. bat ! viii not further trcspass on
the patience OF the House.