The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-23
massachusetts .llos..:.oal.s:n.

The Republican party, through the
Chicago convention in 1850 declared .
that one Of its purposes was the des- I
-ruction Of those twin relics of barbar-
ism. Slavery and Mormonism. The
late civil war disposed Of tie first
named Of these institutions, while the
other continues to flourish, in the cho-
scu seat Of its stronghold, in aIl its
original strength and yigor Nor is
this to be wondered at, since its benign
has crossed the limits OF [ Utah
and spread itself among the unmarried
women OF moral and loyal Massachu-
sets. In Lowell, the great shoe cen
tire Of that godIy commonwealth,
has been inaugurated by
body Of spinsters, who are
deeply impressed with holy horror
for the mum beTless ills Of old maidhoOd,
which has for its object tie passage OF
2 law by the Legislature legalZing
pilUdI marriages. They propose that
in view Of the great numerical prepon-
derauce Of females over males IN that
State, it may lie declared lawful for a
married man to invest in another wife
in cases where the first wife does not
object" If the law which these enter
prising and lusiness-ikc women de-
mand should pass, then a married man
in Lowell would be thrice justified i'll
committing suicide rather than suffer
q lingering death from the unccasing
wooirgs of regiment Of aspiring dam
sells in the pursuit Of Inatrim0ny under
difficulties This IS not fancy, but
stubborn fact, for these Lowell women
boldly declare, in their petition 10 the
LEGISLATURE setting forth their griev-
anccs, that they are willing 70 he the
first to engage III the work Of reform,
or, in plain English, that they will 90
for married women's husbands and cap
tUre them if they can. All this is =
fresh outcroppingo the peculiar morals
ofthc Bay State, and it will be interest
ING to learn what the solons Of that
state, " hen they meet, viii do about Il.
The following is copy of the pcti-
tion prepared for submission to the
Legislature by the unmarried women
Of Lowell:
Lowell, April -, 1S13.-To the hon
orablc, the senate aud house Of represent
tativcs of the commonwealth of NassachU-
sctts: Tie undersigned. citizens of the
state, respectfully set forth the grievances
under which they suffer as women who &re
not permitted to vote, hold any and all Of
fees. aud engage in the occupations open
to men, and are otherwise restricted in The
opportunity Of earning living, and here
with beg yoUr permission II suggest .
remedy for those evils, upon which they
pray your honorable body to act.
The law which now governs society
says. practically, that women should lie
married, should engage i'll work at their
own homes. and should look to their hus-
bands for support. On the other hand the
census shows that it is impossible to carry
out this uuwritteu but recognized law, for
the reason that there is
IARGEI; EXCESS or WOMEN
III the common wealth, and many of the
men q lawful aye are idle, vicious, incom-
nctcnt, or otherwise unfit to be the heads
81 households. Yet ycur petitioners hold
that ihe matter is net Without remedy.
Prejudice and custom have decided in IA
vor Of restricting the husband 10 single
wife. yet without justice and authority, IS
we believe. Ii the book which lies al the
foundation Of nj law recognized III this
country there is no Injunction against .
plurality Of wives, while there are many
examples therein recorded in its favor.
Mems wives appear to have increased IN
number in proportion with their tlocks and
riches. Such rule even now holds III tIC
land from which the Christian nations re-
ceiye their religion.
Your petitioners have no desire to IN
I terfere with the regulations Of any existing
household, bat simply TO present then
claims TO the marriage state for your -
/ spectCul consideration. They dCemit theil
privilege and their duty to suggest tht
. abolition 0f-the law against the marriage
/ Of a man TO more than one wife, in eases
/ where the first wife d0oS not object, aHC
where it is made evident that the man i
. able 10 support Che additional burden laiC
: upon his resources. They are aware tha'
il may take years to remove pTeiUdicCs
and that those who take a second OF thiIC
place in the household may he looked uPor
. with dsfayor; but confident that thei
! proposed action VIII ultimately do ava,
with much Of the social evil that
, AFELICTs AND BEsTREssES ALL COMNUNI
TIES,
! they are willing to be the first to engage
in tlle work of this eform. Society, whic!
now insists that woman shall be married
/ and look to her husband for support, viii
/ after mature reflection, countenanCc this
effort 60 carry out its law practically.
sit is far from the design of your peti
tionerS to ask lcgisl3 ton in behalf of free
love or any loosening Of the marriage bond
( We ask that the marriage OF the scconC
wife shall be male as binding and pcrma
nent as that Of the first, and that all tht
/ children of the household shall have equa
honor And in asking this, we believt
that we have taken a long step toward do
ing away with founding asylUms, prevent
ing autenatal murders, and lcsseniRg th
vagabond child population of our large
cities.
''For the reasons enumerated, your pc
titioners respectfully ask the passage Of
law permitting plural marriages iii tn,
cases above enumerated, and under sucl
other conditions as to your Judgment shal
be wise and proper"
TIE Daily Graphic reminds it
readers that the Radical Senate Com
mitteepronounced the Kellogg govern
ment a usUrpation, and thinks if tn