National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-05-27
LOose DietCs Of Naryia0e.


Independent expressed his position
on the marriage question a while
since, as follows:
The great, indifferent public have
no night to say. either on the basis
OF any popular sentiment or on the
still deeper basis of any Suppo.r d
religious tenet, that any two indi-
vldualS, man and woman. shall live
together as husband and wife IA gainst
the protest Of their own individual
souls. Derived from whatever
source, based on whatever founda-
ton, sanctioned by whatever tradi-
ton, such a lrgai2cd tyranny is
unworthy Of Christian civilization.
Mrs. Stanton, il an elaborate adj
dress before the New York Soro>is,
last week, took substantially the
same ground, only a little more
boldly expressed. Thus:
These on, sided. degrading stat
ute; on marriage aud divorce, which
AT tlIS hour OuI sons are reading in
tier law schools. are daily educat
! ing them INTO low, gross IDEAS of
! their iuotlrrS. sisters, future wives,
| preparing them to contemplate with
StolId indifference the bidrouS ipl-
: lures OF our marriage institution,
and 10 call that sacred that every
pure woman feels to be Unnatural and
infamous. Another demand that
The women of this State should
make of oar Legislature Is an entire
revision OF our laws on marriage
and divorce, making man and wo-
man III all rest cctS equal partners.
and when hy the cold, indifferent,
or base conduct of either party the
contract is practically annulled the
! State should declare it 50.
Thus far we have had the
man Flea of marriage now the time
has come for woman to give the
world the other side Of this Ques
ton.
! think divorce 1t the WW Of the
parties is not only right, but that IT
Is Il sin against nature, the family
the State, for man or woman to
1--we together i'll the marriage rcIa-
tlon ~ continual antagOni,m, iudif-
ference. disgust.
With WOmen'S education. clcva.
ton, and cniranchiSrmeut. comes the
new llea of our social lie, marriage
OF spirit and intellect, which will
galNanize the world with new
thoughts and ideas ogether-chil~
dren OF the hraln.-WhlcI are more
needed for uShcrlng IN higher q.
viIlzation than those of the flesh
alone.
A Miss or Mrs. Ellen Storgc has
developed this idea a little farther,
aud III communication to the lI0
mda's Idrocatc. proposes the follow.
ing social platform:
!. Let the marriage contrac be
limited To- from one TO three Years.
at the option of the contracting
parties.
: >. Discard the erroneous idea that
TINS contract is divine; admit that
THIS l. but IA human transaction, in
tended TO pcIpctuatc tie species and
produce human happiness.
}. Make both PARTIES equal; do
not exact special promises or terms
from one sex To its disadvantage
and the advantage Of the Other
ENHct pledges Of mutual fidelity and
GO operation dunGg Tie continuance
OF the marital contract; but let love
alUlc. Love is u sensitive, Sponta-
ncouS OutgrOWth Of the heart, sub
icct to the control of treatment and
circumstances rather than formal
promises; ii is too tender, too 81
cred, tor The public gaze.
|. Let the marriage contract cm
brace the contingency of issue, with
full II Il UncquN0cal provision
therefor If one child, let its custo
dN deceive 10y written and recorded
"Sr'""'""t. void during covcItuIr :;
II two or more children, rjic CUM,
or division 10y such agreement, pro.
Nidcd that the party refusing to ic.
new the expired contract at ihc III.
stance of the other party, or the OF.
fender III case of premature annul
mcnt, Shall be compelled To main.
tain the offspring and b" the cuSto
dian thereof, at the option of the
opposite party.
.. Enact just laws for the deter.
mination OF all contingencies rs
might arise under this new order of
things: make them applicable only
to those now unmarried; let there
he no &c poSt .tdcio faint about the
matter. Dmlng c0Neturr, Is also
IN the event OF nOureurWal of the
canuart, let each party control lis
own finances; Of that they Shall
have together amassed, let there bc
an equal division.
What the next step in this drec.
ton is to be We wait to see.
The latest dispatches to Gen.
, l.. A.. a