The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-18
MARRIAGE LAWS.
Strange Incongruitics and Absurdities

just before tho adjournment OF the recent sea.
sion of the British House Of Commons-which
was very much ovcrworked body, according
to all accounts-a number Of important sub
jects were postponed; among them that of the
marriage laws introduced by Sir Roundell Pal
mer. An intelligent writor to the New York
Times makos tho following notice OF this
matter
The principle of religious equality, now prac-
turtles after the Reformation, seems to require
some sort OF equality, and, il possible, unifor-
mity, In the laws relating to marriage. The
laMs, & as they now exist, Sir Roundell may well
RED BY bans. or dispensed from them by
licenso. In church marriages no registrar il
required TO be present: among non-conformists
his attendance m is requisite The ouakers have
where tho marriage is celebrated has not boon
properly consccratcd, the marriage is invalid.
IL cau only DO performed within certain hours
never later than II A. N. In Scotland there
marriages according to three or iour different
laws, ard irregular marriages, which make
people liable to fine; but tho payment OF tho
nue. iega,lzes tho marriage, and this is q COM
ono law Tor Protestant churchmen, another for
Prosbyterians, and no law ut all for Catholics.
except law Of pains and penalties in certain
cases Ii Roman Catholic priest should pre-
sumo TO celebrate mnrriags between n Roman
Catholic and Protestant, or even between u Ro-
man Catholic aud a person who had been
PROTESTANT within year of the marriage, till
c0mpiratIyely recent time, that was a capital
onence, ana oven now it is criminal offence of
very high order, and tho marriage. Is abso-
lutoiy void. Or tho Irregular Scottish mar
rlagcs, SIR Rouudell has the horror that might
bo expected in an EOglish lawyer and church,
n. nf fI,nr 10 knoI,
and droll. Ho says:
The system OF irregular marriages in Scot
land 10 very startling thing to those whose
m'nas "a ~ & are not thorouGhly accustomed to it.
pose any gentleman in this house visited q
house in Scotland where young lady happcus
10 DO staying, and that ho and the young lady
took u walk together, and in the course of the
walk he took piece OF paper out OF his DOCKET.
on which they wrote down a mutual promise 10
marry; though the piece of paper mght be
simply put back again into his p6ckot; though
nothing might be said to anybody about the
writing; and though nobody else might be
there at the time. II the persons afterwards
hved IN certain way together, that would be
valid marriage, although nobody might
know OF tho fact OF tho marriage for years
afterwards. No nero promise will constitute a
marriage unless it be in writing, and unless
saose9uente coptta. a promise 10 given and
80 Ioilowea constitutes good marriage. how
enn,,,og ever iong 1t may be Kept secret. There is
which no writing at all il necessary; and that
is where tho promise is made not de .fu,wo,
put de pr'senh -whnre the woman says Il take
yon, John, for my husband and whero tho
man Gays, i take you. Mary, for my wife, be-
fore witnesses. promise OF that kind being
brought up at any future pcrio !, oven although
tho people have novor lived together, will hold
good, and will bo sufficient to oyerlurn any
perfectly honorable and reputable marriage
lR94th el1her OF the parties may have subsequent.
tho celebrated Dnlrymplo case. ""