The New York herald., 1870-05-19
COLUMBIA COLLEGE LAW SCHOOL.

The Anniversary NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in Poll.
tics-CrOwded Assemblase at the Academy
Of Music-The Rights Of Women Defined.
Last evening the Academy OF Music was filled
from pit to dome with fine an audience as ever
crossed IT'S portals, the occasion being the eleventh
anpua! anniversary OF the Law school OF Columbia
College. After aver by the Rev. G. A. Dune, ID. d.
Professor Theo. W. DIV ght addressed the graduating
class in an eloquent and appropriate manner. The
great feature, however, OF the evenings entertain.
ment was the alumni Grafton upon the subject OF
"fhe Legal status OF woman Having re-
viewed lae condition Of women In England
aud her European coun RES sbowInr N
to be cepi0rabie indeed, the speaker said that
under the constitution o. the State OF New York OF
1s48 married women were st,lI governed by the
common law as borrowed from England. The Re-
vied Statutes eDactsl that every ma .rsOn o the
uge OF eisht en- and upwards AID every female. not
and upwards OF sound mind and memory. and no
others. may give and bequeath Ms or her p rsonal
estate by VIII In writing q II. s., co. g2l. Prior to
the pas sate OF the act of iS4g, though great
liDarhes were accorded 10 women under The act
OF fs4s. they were incepacita. ed fiom Opposing
of their separate personal estate even by all in.
suument IN the nature OF a will; for TIE com
mon law sui held lis clutches their personal lro-
pertv and chooses action, b. the rght IL left IN the
husba III to reduce these to his private posse sson
DUNG her lifetime. The act OF l54s declared tlat
the TOpefty OF any female who miIht thereafter
marry. and wnici she snail own A. the time oi her
marriage, and the tents, &C., We're not be subject
to the disposal OF her husband, nor II ble for h
that any married female might take from any per.
son other than her husband. and hold 10 hef 500
and separate use and convey and ,devi,e real and
personal property, ana any interest or estate therein
as Ii she were unnar BY the Laws oil 1850 her
deposits in the savings banks were protected. In
1858 the law We her the power TO ii,su her lnls
band's ne for her benelt; on nis de tn the nsur.
ance be ONES due and payable 10 her, free OF the
claims Of her husbands repres natives and credit
tors. In 1860 and 1867 the law crowned the humane
efforts OF previous lepi ldtors by investing mar
ne woman WI ab olnte control over her pro-
perty as II she were unmarried. IL gave her pow +
to trade alone, to make contracts one, he right to
sue and the privilege II being sae6 ana 10 use her
money as she deemed III, whether TO crafty her
fancy Tor speculation by investing Ia railway
shares and doubt ul securities, or to enhance her
goods 0y judi iOus ventures In real estate and
merc.al transactions. II the tongue OF false report
smears ier iair name with base SANDER, she nav
seize her uaducer and meet him single nan ted lace
to faee in court OF justice without being compelled
aid Of her husbands name. She may buy
property WIN aud where she pleases, and
may receive egaci3s, and-haying viii u her
own--beqaeatl them; earn ler wages and spend
,heni anu Whenever she leols that her sevlcea are
NJ requted sh; may, Initiating the stern lords OF
creaioD, don the aggressive arInor Of reDeious war
aul ST. Ike for htyter wages In Iact there are nov
sw aIs s KY s @ i sSsssss s4s .sa " ws nss
OF which even NJ is deprived. she may dispose OF
her property without his consent but he can rot sell
his re II estate without her concurrence. She may
wnl away her properly aud leave her husband n
beggar. He cannot contro or Interfere with her
ng,t Of dover II the parties shoaId. upnappiy,.
sever The marriage rela ions by divorce. he II, n
in fnnlt. by law bound % support her; bat she may
throw her hasbaId upon the cold charity OF he
world and leave nn prey to misery and starvation.
In proceedings at law woneh are privileged from
arrest except for wi rl Injury tJ person ch rncicr
or property. The husbani on the otner ind, en-.
JOYS the cld comlo Of knowing that for The same
0if2n, ,es le may have 10 ex, hang comIortable
home for the bars OF PRISON cell. She may commit
fauds aud still roam AT large Un Ter The Tree AIR of
heaven. wh le har poor husband IL mad
Liable for her t0Ts and trespas'es. A man
mt thinks what legal liabilities he takes
upon h,lnSeif when getting mArr!ci. lie may q ly
himself to TIL: most atttactiNe OF women, love
h.r " dsttae ;lon and ieel that he enjoys eernaI