The New York herald., 1871-01-08
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY JANUARY g. ls7l-TRPLE SHEET

relics OF narbarc ages allude particularly to those
laws ancc:ing the rights % OF properly. :. ,,o,,
separate personal estate. while she, under like CIR
cuinstances Will inherit only one tird OF his; The
husband can dispose Of all his personal estate ~
viii. but she can devIe no more than ore half or
hcr separate estate without ms consent; ahusbards
suDjeCt only TO dover and homestead, with
out her consent, but her deed conveying her
ab Outely vod. lhe vile cannot convey hei shares
III corporation, neither she lease her separate
real estste Tor more than one year, without her hus
bands consent. No such restriction attaches TO the
husbands stock IN CORPORATIONS, leases OF real
estate, and while wife within speclled time may
waive the prUvisl0ns OF her husbaud's wi II u ul-
justly dcprIves her or her proper shalc hls pro-
perty yel II she II insane dur ny that period OF time
no such waiver can ue maze. ana the unjust viii
must stand: SO that II the death OF her husband
causes her to lese her reason she WILL with H. lose
her Just share o hs property also. There are laws
asO affecting the rights oil woman IN regard 10
children which bear severely upOn her In inc ten
derest relations. Tnc courts have often shielded
her oI late years IN tesc matters, reallzng doubt
less that precedent and the usual srlct terp eta.
tiun oi laws often bring great injustice to many
worhv and suller!ty motrers ard lasting injury 70
children. All such Injustice and hardship should be
eliminated RON cur laws anu this is larry your
function. Tue Laws Of STATE ought to express the
sentiments and apnions or Inc people. Dut our
statutes now la 10 do thus In many particulars
deeply affecting the rlghls vi woman.
TuE Labor QUESTION.
AS the guardians OF the puollc welfare you are
call d upO do every niny tnat lr0tyiatiOn can
properly effect 10 Improve tile physical, mental and
moral condition Or your constituents esrccIally or
tnosc whose daily ton contributes 50 largely 10 the
prosperity OF oar vest manufacturing tntert Sis. 10
promote tins end the Board Of Hcnlta actively
pursuing neir Investigations INTO The sanitary con-
diton VI Haulaciorles and the dwellings connected
with them la The last twenty years legislation mas
beca W Sc ana ellcienC in benaf ol his mpor ant
interest Dut there - still, loom or advance, anu the
time has now come TO inquire whether The hours or
labor In manufactures Established by llT, may not
be limited with great advantage to both eln loyers
and employed. OI course this does not directly
affect the question cf wages, which cannot properly
THE DECLINE OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
Representing section OF the Union deeply con-
cerned III everything affecting national interests,
yo1 annOl overlook the present oppressed ,naion
OF American commerce. We were grutilcd last
year with the prospect OF i'm mediate and efficient
action ny the general government IN ITS LIhah but
although u very able committee has examined The
sui. cc,, ana reported recommending that steps be
TAKEN 10 THIS end, yet nothing pracu ~ has been
done, anu we are apparently farther rom sallsfac-
tory result than we were o ear siGcc. Although
this department 0i industry Is conducted by maj.
vidual enterprise, which sIoald le aiwa s cncour-
aged, IT ~ peculiarly of national Importance and
essential TO u successful competition with other
nations IN time ., peace. and 10 our own safety III
time 0. war. II there should occur any occasion IN
which you may lcs;imaely act IN this matter Il will,
doubt not meet your prompt attention.