, 1869-01-29
The Mothers Legal Rights.

TO the Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
1heEcts bill before The Illinois Legislature
caiiire for the lccsl recognition OF the maternal
rights Of married women. The pros.s1ous OF thIa
bill grant to the mothet the came legal protection
Of her msseznsl rights, In Law, which the eIllcht-
ened pnh1ie sentiment OF the present. .sc grants
her in her social position in society. We would
mott eheertully admit that 4 married ~omau's
SOCIAL poeltion under tho American aeg IL the
test IN the world and If her legal positlen could
but be made to correspond With II, ours would
be tho model government for 1omcn.
Bg this bill the mother becomes joint partner,
legally, with the father, 1 the guardian
of TIC children, and IL equally entitled With
hin 10 the custody. control and earnings Of the
children. go long they shall continue to be hus
bard and vic. But IN case OF separation The
nt
iern whom ench party make shet, c!alE1.
As the law now Is. all tho EAtesnal r!ghta Of
principle Of tho legal non-extstcnc, Of the wife.
on which marriage IL based; thus leaving all
her rights wholly subject % the will OF her has
band. And as the right OF the mother to rear her
own children Is one OF married woman's natural
rights which the common law Of marriage entirely
Ignores, the rnanl1net = OF tic esttlasoss OF ne
this unjust principle j. % recognize II maIticd
wumaa a legal 1ight to he the guardian Of hes
Ano1hst provision ol the bill is thai. s the
mother has. right to rear her oFn
Offspring, thc has, therefore,. I right to
hume 10 rear them In; and A.
ehc astumet equal responsibilities With the
fathet In the training Of the children. she must,
thcrctoze. hc1oue . Joint owner with him To
er's meals for dIectaTrtng her responsibilities
| equal to that OF TIC father.
| But tome ob}ec. that womtn II not pro-
! pared 10 Meumc these important trusts and
! responsibilities. But how Is enc to bscomc PFC
pared! By pcrpctuAttng her dependence, Vi hr
lifting her mp upon this plane Of responsibility,
| and thU& Educating her Tor her binh
vas once argued That the negro sla7c must hsst
be trusted With it; nnt the moro enliehtc1ed
claimed thst tho beet way to IL him for freedom
was 10 elevate him to the position Of a ire m1n
Responsibility does elevate. and. therefore, the
most ture and c1ectpAl method Of capActsat!ne
| married women for those trusts Is TO iii
| ttcrn ont oil their dependent condition. and
cn.rust them With those high ahd NOBLE
the uothcr'e ueavcn-4sstRnca fpherc. Only ouc4
LET our Legislators try tho cxpc'im ent and teit q
| by cndowtnR married woman with he1 nafafa
! r1Ehn, "a Il wonln, they iced oDt be kHfpf1se<
| II her cianor for the rights OF men should Cease
hut 70 long As the law. mixers will ntiaa her CT,
10 them for the projection Of this. the dfst rig
of woman's nature, they must oxpcc, to hess tnA
mott unweleomc cry for '1he Hghs TO b. shcs
| own protectors T. ...
Mothers Of Illinotst let III suspend our con
I dcmnsuon Of our manly 1cRislatort until NC &c
what sctsou theJ take upon this bill. whesetn v
make our Appta. 10 them for the legal ,pfotecup
OF our material rights, ttu.uog that thor may 3e
be iEdueed 10 Riye to mtI71td woms1 ~ sure
guaratteo Of protection Of her rights, ~ nothel
u they provide for theMselves. ~ fathofs.
! OH1oA0o, Jan. ". a FsxAL1 PA118r,