Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-09
Woman's Legal Status in Vermont.

cent W oman nights convention IN thlS plCti W
favor Of giving them the right Of suffrage was the
asserted fact that the laws Of Vermont now afford
no adequate protection 10 womans domestic
rights, or her rights Of property. Mrs. Black
we'll nee Stone stated what the laws Of Vermont
were in supporter this proposition, and with much
lppant rhetoric enlarged upon their barbarous
characteristics which placed woman in social
and domestic relation little less degrading than n
slave, and urged that tho only relief from their
present degraded state was to be found in giving
her voice in making and administering the
laws Then her rights Of property would find
protection under the law, the sphere Of her inlu-
encc be enlarged, and its benign and eevating cl-
fleets Ia felt wheovcr the sun doth shine or the
stars arc seen.
Now ~o are not disposed 10 argue IN general
with any one in respect 10 the eoyating moral
influence Of this gcntler sex upon the affairs of the
world, when operating within their own proper
and peculiar sphere, and while exercising the Of
fees Of gentleness, kindness, love and kindred
virtues. But as the weight Of the whole argu-
ment depends upon the question whether the pres
ont laws are inadequate to give this protection,
it may be material to inquire what these laws are,
notwithstanding the high authority Of so distin.
guished a juri-t as Mrs. Blackwell herself,
TWAS reserved for this legal lumnary from for
eign State to inform our good people last week
that married woman in Vermont had substan.
tally no rights Of property at all that her do
nestle rights were altogether at the mercy Of her
husband, and that ina social, political and legal
aspect she was but his shadow, and the hand
maiden Of his wishes, and servant of his merest
whims and caprices.
The facts of tho case are simple these fla wo-
man in Vermont is assaulted or abused by her
husband she can find ample protection IN a COM
plant to the proper authorities, the same as
though the assault had been committed by some
other person.
In regard to property Any woman who has
property when married can and most women do
under our laws, retain the possession and con-
troll Of this property and Gifts income and proceeds
Personal property and rights of action which
is given to a woman after marriage, or which
comes to her by descent from her ancestors, is ex
pressly provided for by statute, and the husband
has no more control over it., or the income do.
rived from it, than any stranger. In either case,
she may dispose Of the same by will, precisely the
same as an unmarried man. She may retain the
entire control Of this property in either case, and
draw her income from it, no matter how large ii
may be; and, letting il accumulate, without
spending farthing of it, may call upon her hus-
band for support in a manner suitable to her con-
dition in life, and may pledge his credit to any
tradesman for it, even while not obliged to con-
tribute one cent to his support-so much as to
keep him from the poor-house. None of the rents
or proceeds Of this property can be taken for the
debts Of the husband. And if she owes debts at
the time Of her marriage, her property is exempt
from attachment to pay these debts, while the
husband is legally responsible for the same, in
case both the husband and wife have property
when married If he dies without issue she takes
one thousand dollars and half the residue of his
estate in addition to her own. If she dies without
issue her property goes, not to her husband, but
Immediately to her relations. If he dies having
children she takes ethird of his estate in addi-
ton to her own as before If she dies having
children, he has the use only of her estate (and
this only because he has the support Of the chill
dren), which upon his deceaso desccnds to the
children
If husband improves his wiCe's land by build
ing upon it OF otherwise, without any agreement.
that such expenditure of his money or labor shall
vest in him any interest in the land or entite him
to II claim upon her property for CONDENSATION for
services, he gets not even an equitable claim upon
the estate, and has no legal right even to claim
compensation for services 50 rendered. ANY bet
ternents made by him do not during his life giyo
him any interest therein that can be reached even
for his debts, neither can the rents nor profits
thereof be so taken.
In case neither had property when married, and
the husband dies, the widow is entitled to a life
use of one-third of his real estate after his de-
cease, and proper share of his personal estate,
and this she cannot be deprived of by any will
that may be made by him The remainder of the
estate goes to their children, in case they have