Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-04
l Charges street, May 10.
RvCoNsrRUCrIoN AND DIVORCES.

tits a curious and instructive fact that
South Carolina never had divorce suit
in her borders until since the war. The
structure of society was so peculiar and
the people were so wicked, the laws were
80 rigid and the State so far from Boston,
that divorces were unknown except
through the columns Of Northern news
papers. How uncivilized those heartless
fire. eaters must have been, and what a
field for missionary effert AID Sharp's
rifles. The missionaries went there in
the wake of Shermsn's army, and the
rifles were used with terrible effect. The
people we're slain like the Philistines OF
old, and their goods we're divided out as
a spoil among those who sought to pos
sess and redeem the land-not that they
wanted the goods, but as a warning to all
future offenders. The Freedmen's Bu-
reau was established and the seed of Bos-
ton civilization was planted on the dis
loyal soil.
The harvest already begins to ripen,
for it was some time ago Published that
over sixty school marms had gone
home from the Sea Islands to wait for
something to turn up, and left behind
them several discopsolate colored gentle
men. The best and most positive proof
thai the work Of reconstruction has not
been in vain, lies in the fact of three re-
cent divorce cases. Make way for South
Carolina. She has brought forth fruits
meet for repentance and can boast of
her three divorce suits. This is a small
beginning, it is true, but too much should
not be required of the wayward sister at
once, now that she is on the high road to
civilization. As these are the first cases
ever known in the State We will give the
particulars, from q late number Of the
Greouville Enterprise, as follows:
Three petitions for divorce came up
for hearing before Judge Orr on Friday
last Two of the applications were from
the wives of wicked husbands. one from
the husband against the wife. The nfst
case was from lady, Mrs. Mary E. Cam
eron, residing in Charleston, for divorce
from her husband. Robert Cameron, in
Philadelphia, from whom she was by his
cruelty compelled to part several years
ago he having also since the sepasation
unlawfully married another woman in
Pennsylvania, with whom he is now liv-
ing. The unlawful wife on application
furnished an affidavit stating that the
husband represented himself as wild
over; and so she married him in igno-
rance of the existence of the lawful wife.
Judge Orr. after hearing the petition and
evidence, readily granted the order of
divorce In this case, on motion of Perry
& Perry, solicitors for the petitioner.
The other parties all reside in this
county. The applicants were repre-
sented By Messrs. Sullivan 4 Stokes.
Judge Orr granted the order of divorce
in the case of Mrs. Amanda G Lende-
man from the husband, Francis NJ. Lem
deman, who, it was proved, had cruelty
treated her and had married or taken up
with another woman. In the case of the
petition of John W. Walker for divorce
from his wife, Mary ]. Walker, on the
allegation of her desertion some six or
eight years ago, and her violent temper
and abuse which ooeasioaed It, end the
hopelessness of q reunion, the Judge vas
not satisfied that he ought to grant the
husband divorce, but intimated to the
counsel thai be would further consider
the case,
While the lamp holds out to burn,
IheEiiest sinner may return"
South Carolina may yet range herself
alongside of her New England sisters in
the great race of progress and ideas.
The day of jubilee is at hand, when the
lion and the lamb, the jackass and the
freedmen's bureau, the American eagle
and the gyascutis, shall all eat out Of one
dish.