Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-24
THE DIVORCE LAW.
what 1t Is and its Effects I'm Va
riOus States.
From IN. charleston s. s. q e1ourisr.l

From the Charleston Is. c) courier.l
The history Of every country in which
divorces have been granted, is adverse 20
its exercise and disastrous to the general
welfare. The tone OF general society is
thus lowered. The sources or puoiic
morality are corrupted. The very ties
of secial life are dissolved.
The facility with which divorces are
granted in many of the States has de-
stroyed the sanctity of the marriage re-
latiOns, until, in many instances, the
proportion of divorces to marriages has
assumed an alarming extent. Thus, IN
Maine. divorce q ViaelGLG may be granted
by any Justice Of the supreme court,
tfwhenever, in the exercise OF souno
discretion, he deems it reasonable ana
proper, conducive to domestic harmony
and consistent with the peace and NOR
aIity OF society" In North Carolina tne
statute, after providing for certain cases,
adds that il "any other Just cause OF a.
vprce sxists,U the injured party may OBJ
tain divorce UiSacatG or q naenSd q 1so-
ro, at the Courts discretion, or decree
Of aiimoRy only, If no more pc aeman- an :
ded. The law OF Indiana provides that
divorces may be decreed by Circuit
Courts for certain causes, ana then ADDS,
Giand for Ony other cause for WhIch the
Court shall deem it proper that divorce
shall be granted In Iowa the statute
authorizes a divorce when the fact Rp-
pears " that the parties. cannot live TO-
gether in peace and harmony, and that
their welfare requires separation" In
Illinois formerly, and we believe at pres
ent, certain judges are authorized to de-
cree divorces for causes not specially as
signed, H.f they should be satisfied OF the
expediency of making sucb,a decree" In
Rhode Island divorce may be decreed for
sundry specisI causes, and for any other
gross behavior and wickednesH in either
Of the parties, repugnant to and in viola
ton of the marriage covenant" A SINH
Isr law was passed in Connecticut IN the
year 1S4O.
What is dissolved easily is always
held loosely. Ali veBeration for the
marriage relation ceases, and the Dest
interests Of society are placed in peril.
The law in Connecticut is that divorces
are authorized "fOr any such misconduct
as permanently destroys the happiness
OF the petitioner and defeats the purpose
OF the cOBjugal relation"
The result is, that the ratio OF annual
divorces TO annual marriages Is as Iol-
lows:
In Massachusetts, as one to forty-four.
In Ohio, about one TO twenty hve.
In Vermont, about one to tWenty-one.
In Connecticut, about one to esepefG:
We need scarcely cite further TO snow
ths impolicy Of these laws, and tnat
where they exist there cannot preVaii
either q pure system of morals, the Well
being of society, or any Observance OF
the sacred laws of the family relation.
The question is now engaging the az
teption of the various churches, Of all
who are interested in the future OF the
country.
In South Carolina no case of divorce
bss ever been allowed by the courts, snd
no divorce has ever been granted by the
General Assembly. Following the ex-
anorIa of The Northern States, the . Re.
construction Legislature has placed
the right Of divorce upon the statute
book.
The Northern States themselves are
satisfied Of their error. They are expe'
rieneing every day the evil ELECTS ol
their unwige attempts to distrust tht
most intimate relations OF life. Tney
are anxious to retrsce their steps.
The Legislature here in power since
tbe war have acted unwisely. They
hEve followed what President Woolsey
terms a ~ serious danger and q "perni
oiors systen.n The sooner the presen
law IS abolished us Letter. 1t Is q
nTssent q brtstanl ftsBBleJe. Ithas nsltDel
been accepted or endorsed by the people
| The cause OF morality, religion and pup
/ lie welfare demand its repeal,