, 1873-02-23

to eome extent the stability of the once hon
oced institution Of marriage, and free this Stat
from the reproach of being m asylum Of me-
and romen who take superficial views OF th
obligations Of matrimony. A careful examina
ton of the statutes of the various States OF til
Union discloses astonishing progress alread
made in the way Of breaking down the sanctit,
OF the marriage obligations, and in reducing tn
most sacred OF human relations even below th'
grade Of an ordinary contract for merchandise
| Tbe family relation il the bond which hold
society together The faith Of husband Eni
wife, ard the relative obligations Of pa
rent and child, constitute tLe beBt par
Of the happiness OF mankind. Without thest
relations, sanetifed, protected, and enforced By
the statute as well as the moral Law, the condi
| tion Of man would soon assimilate to that oi
the lower animals. As the preservation Of society
| depends on the maintenance OF the family, sc
any law which provides Tor or permits any
breaking up Of that relation, or the dissolution
OF it's bonds, for light and transient causes, is q
law to overturn and destroy the very founda-
! tions OF social order.
| We do not propose to discuss tEs question OF
the religious obligations Of marriage. There are
large religious bodies who do not admit that a
lawful marriage, contracted between competent
persons, can ever be dissolved. except by the
death OF one Of tile parties. Others allow divorce
only on tie ground OF adultery. But the Law OF
! the country does not respect the doctrines
! Of any Church. It allows any tvo persons, and
| frequently my one person, no matter what may
have been the terms OF the original contract, to
| hsve the bond dissolved, and the parties en-
powered to contract other marriages, and to re-
peat the operation indefinitely. Tho LAWS Of the
States have brought this matter OF divorce to
! such free and easy condition, that substan-
TALLY all that is needed is the desire on the part
Of either husband or wife to get rid OF tho con-
juga1 partner, and tha divorce can be obtained,
those OF another. Amid the multiplicity OF
specific causes prescribed BY statute for divorces,
many OF the States hare added general clause.
Thus in Connecticut, "any such conduct Of the
other party as permanently destroys the happi-
mesa of the petitioner; !" Indiann, "any other
cause for which the Court shall deem it proper
that q divorce be granted :" North Carolina, ''or
when any other just cause exists" Rhode ISL
and, land for any other gross misbehavior and
wickedness, repugnant to, and in violation OF,
the marriage contract"
Divorces are Of two kinds. Those which die
solve the bonds Of matrimony absolutely, and
divorces from bed and board, where the par
ties are legally separated, but are not at
liberty to marry again. In some Of the States
this distinction is not recognized, all divorces
being absolute. In other States, Massachusetts
for instance, the distinction is maintained
Has not this freedom in the way Of getting
divorces weakened the bonds Of society enough
already, and do not prudence, and proper regard
for safety and decency, demand that the abuses
OF this system should be arrested? IL it not
time to return to the long established doctrine,
tia: marriage is q contract for life, and that
those engaging in that contract must be pre-
pared to accept all it's consequences, aad abide
With its results for "better or for worse ~ The
Ian in every age recognizes certain wel1~defned
causes for which the fornalities Of the marriage
may be set aside. Thus, marriages between
relatives within tile prohibited degrees, are
void; contracts between persons mentally and
incapable OF contracting, may be set
aside, and, when adultery is established, !
the marriage bond may rightfully be de- |
clared at an end. Ought the marriage
bond be dissolved for any other cause ? Take
up the long list OF causes for divorce contained
in the statutes Of tho various States, and do they
furnish any justiiable reason for any other pro-
ceeding than ajudicial separation? The man or |
wife who seeks & divorce for the purpose of !
marrying again, by that act shows that in making
the first contract for life there was no intention
tomalntaln it. If divorce is sought, it should
only be sought, IN sorrow and not in anger, and 1.
only as means Of escaping I'll intolerable evil, ::
the person seeking it will find au-sufficient legal
protection and eecur;ty in divorce from bed !
and board. The very freedom which the law |
cause and Incentive for such divorces, !
and, were this freedom not allowed. !
and men and women compelled to bear
their own infrmities, and to maintain, as well as
they maj, ,.the contract which they have assumed,
there would be much less s'cause for dirorce'
than is now furnished. Armed with IN appeal
to the Courts for separation and maintenance,
the wife and mother, who does not Tant TO bo |
else, has all that any decent or con-
sistent regard for the marriage obligation will
5emand. The Legislature, therefore, would |
greatly promote public order and decency BY
amending the law 50 as to confiae divorces from
lie bonds OF matrimony to natural canses. and
% such causes as render the marriage void ao
milo, and to adultery; and let al married peo-
pie who hive minor grievances, and who cannot
ive together, find in DEGREES OF separation that
'ellef and security which they may need. At all
events, let those who take different view OF !