Litchfield enquirer., 1870-07-21

He remarked in the course of his speech, that it had been charged, and not contra dicted, that the bill was shown to many men here before it went to the committee.
 MT. Eaton said it had been contradicted on the floor. He read authorities and ln-y sisted that the act would not be unconsti- tutional.
 MT. Latham, of Groton, said he was very sorry that the Legislature had no better business than to bring up this perplexing subject, which was begotten in sin and is now endeavored to be brought forth Tn in iquity. Laughter. He said he knew the history of this matter. The women came into this town and said that they had able counsel and wanted the members to open their mouths and vote for the bill.
 This bill is like the beast which John saw coming up from the river Euphrates with seven heads and ten horns. Laugh ter This bill is to enable a certain wo- man to get back. her property which she gave to her husband twenty one years ago. He hoped that all of us would man the ship and start from port and sink this bill as deep as Jonah was when he was in the whales belly. Laughter. He exclaim- ed: Let every man on both sides of the House, man the braces; helms a-lee; fore sheet; fore tack; fore de poland; jib and staysail sheets let go, and haul; ships about; now, boys, check in the braces; ships now ranging ahead into deep water, and there we will sink this bill where it will never be resurrected. [Great cheering and laughter.
 MT. Converse, of Franklin, said we have had enough of women rights, spiritual rappings, etc., and he hoped the vote would not be reconsidered.
 Mir. Eaton said MT. Latham had forgot ten that Jonah got out of the whales belly.
 MT. Latham-We don't want to let this bill get out.
 MT. Eaton-Women have been in that whales belly long enough. We now pro- pose to let them out. Man the braces!' aye, to steal your wife's property. Where is the man that dares stand up here and say the principle of this bill is not right Such man must have been born by the Cesarian operation. As to the case in Bishop and the New York case, he would refer to those if this amendment was re- considered. He had over and over again declared that the bill was not the bill of one woman alone. The question was started in 184S, and had been up year after year. He hoped that the members would "man the braces" in manly way, and do justice to the wives and mothers of Connecticut. As sure as God liveth, such law will be passed. A member, "Amen. "l
 The motion to reconsider was passed. The question then being on the amend ment formerly adopted by the House, 9 vote was taken, and the amendment re- stricting the law to women married in the future, was passed; ayes 76, nays 59.
 MT. Eaton, of Hartford, moved the in- definite pOstponement of the bill. If the Legislature will refuse to do justice to the women of this State, let the matter go over to another Legislature. He did not wish the bill to pass as it now is.
 MT. Morris, of New Haven, said he sec. ondod tho IIUtfon.- With 4ho freGlant di vorces which we now have, we have legis- lated upon this matter quite enough.
 MT. Eaton said he had heard of but one case in thirty years, of divorce on ac- count of quarrel about the wife's prop. erty.
 The bill was indefinitely postponed.