Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-07

The recently issued report on the vital
statistics of Rhode Island. f0r lSd), contains
novel feature in a table showing the num-
berof divorces. ard their proportion to the
marriages .ar the year. From rhis it ap-
pears that during 1860 there were lj2 di-
vorces, or one divorce 70 every fourteen mar
riages This grave exhibit suggests to the
Providence Journal whether, taking the
view that a divorce is the correction Of
mistake, which the Law practically assumes
it to bet is wise for the encouragement Of
good moral, 20 he constantly correcting
such mistakes. instead of obliyinc the par
ues who have deliberately made them to
a. idc by them, as in other and less import
am contracts. and bear the consequences
The facility of divorce Is Jhc coroilary of the
greater facility Of marriage. If it were a
/ little harder to be married, it would not be
necessary so often 20 be divorced. Once the
intention Of marriage was required to be
made public. and that long enough before
hand to arrest a premature OF unsuitable
wedding. But now it may be the most Sc
cret transaction possible 1t may he an al
together sudden and unconsidered thing
the freal, or the passion OF an excited hour
And absolutely nothing stands in the way of
the couple. They only need dollar bin and
tie courage 10 march into a strange clergy /
mans study. Quite naturally it follows that /
the same persons arc subsequently, found in
the law courts seeking the annulment of |
their hastily assumed obligations. In refer
ence to a remedy for this undesirable state Of
affairs, the Journal expresses views which are
daily finding favor among thoughtful people
ltsays
Society has q sacred moral interest at stake in
every marriage. It is not purely private trans
sction. Ii is under law And why should it
not be under wise, efficient, sslu:ary law The
question We raise is why not prevent hssty aud
private marrisge. Why rot hedge it up little,
so Ina, IT may he little harder 10 Jump in, as
well as not So easy TO jump out? Why not re-
quire previous publication Or il the impetu-
0Us haste for the married state cannot brock
;hst delay or publicity, al least Jet it run the
aLA4A-tA N4 hA--t Registration OF NlleI NrtllUll
naries, before rushing into the presence Of the
clergyman. Il it il TOO despotic to require peo-
pie 10 be married in the place where they belong,
a by not require them 20 declare their intention
here, and leave a record behind them, We are Z
'ersuadel that many cle-gymeu would be glad /
4 some protection Of this kind. They arc fire. d
luenuy called to marry entire strangers, who
eaiiy answer the few questions required by
aw, and disappear; leaving the conscientious f
minister in great trouble Of mind, whether he M
as not given the most sacrei God-spead be can
ronounce. to az III assorted couple. perhaps
minors, who are soon 70 run through a vretched P
Mon, repent of their unconsidered folly. aud if 81
hey can, resort to The Supreme Court TO coz
ect their mistake, 10 which their clergyman.
Unprotected, has been az innocent party. We Oh
xpress the conviction Of many thoughtful peo- v
lie, that the hoops OF our marriage laws might
e frightened a little with good result, and es-
ecially for the prevention Of some Of the nu- :
lorous mistakes which oblige our courts to re- .,
erse one in fourteen Of our marriages after IN I'll
peakable mischief and misery have been pro- nj
uced l,