Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-02-20
bort QobQrro Gin1es
PORT BACCO:
Friday Morning, February 30, 1874.
MRrriaxe,


MI. Blake, Senator from Baltimore city
has introduced a bin to facilitate marri
age, which goes long way ahead of the
cheap matrimony scheme of our friends
from this county. Itprovides that parties
consenting. may be married by simply
making declaration to that effect in the
presence OF witnesses; thus doing away
with ministers and licenses entirely. WHY
not do away also with witnesses, where
the parties wish to be particularly private
and thus spare the bride from their rude
stares We are opposed utterly to all such
1nnovations-we will not call them re-
1orms-for many reasons. We are one OF
those who believe that the solemn rite OF
matrimony should be administered accord
ing to Gods holy ordinance, and with all
the solemnity possible to so serious mat
ter. We do not look upon it-and God
forbid that the people should be educated
to look upon it-as mere convenience, q
partnership entered into for pecuniary OF
other purely personal considerations
Whilst we are utterly opposed to any
mingling of Church and State, we are as
much opposed to the State dominating
the Church as we are to the Church domi-
mating the State. Each has its own sphere
to move in, but duty to either does not in
volve disloyalty to the other. On the con-
trary, the man who conscientiously prac-
tises his religion must necessarily be law
abiding citizen. Hence, we always object
to anything which looks like the DONNA
ton of either one over the other, or the
mingling of the two.
This bill of Mr. Blake strikes us as be-
ing an insidious movement towards the
mingling of Church and State, and tend
ing ultimately to the establishment of the
domination of the latter. 1t has the true
Bismarckian ring about it, though not so
open and bold as the measures Of that dis
tinguished statesman. He boldly pro-
claims that hereafter no marriage shall be
valid unless performed by civil magis-
trate, and that the offspring of any other
shall be declared illegitimate. Whilst our
distinguished Senator from the Fell's Point
district only provides that marriage may
be performed by the parties themselves, in
the presence of witnesses, per rer6a de pre-
senti, without the interposition of any min
lister or the blessing of any church.
We fear this is but the entering of the
sharp point of the wedge which is to be
driven up to the full Bismarckian thick
ness, until the State, ignoring the Church,
assumes entire control of the matter as has
been done in Prussia. Thus the State, by
ignoring, would dominate over the Church
in matter which has been since the ex-
istance of man, until the arrival of these
new lights, a matter peculiarly within the
province of the Church. If all the religi-
ous solemnities and all the holier assocla-
tions which cluster around the marriage
ceremony are to be rudely discovered, and
we are to be taught that it is only civil
contract-then let US have a civil contract,
at least full, harmonious and complete in
all its parts, so that the law of contracts
shall apply to its entirety. To do this, if
consent in the presence of witnesses is to
constitute marriage, then consent in like
manner should constitute divorce. This
at least would be consistent and in ac-
eordance with the law of contracts. If
marriage is to have no higher attribute
than that Of an agreement made in pursu-
ance of law, then clearly an agreement to
dissolve the relation, partnership, associa-
ton, affinity, or whatever it might be call
ed, would be not only consistent but har-
monious with the law of contracts. And
courts woud probably so decide without
special legislation, especially if composed
of men who belong to the class of new
lights of which Mr.. Blake seems ambitious
of becoming shining member
What is the occasion which calls for this
revolution in the well-settled law of this
and every other civilized nation of the
world we are not informed. The courts o
this country and England certainly hav,
gone for enough on this subject. Wher'
parties have cohabited and otherwise sus
tanned the relation of husband and wifi
the courts have uniformly held that thes,
facts were evidence from which they woul,
presume marriage ceremony had beer
performed. Thus recognizing that becaus'
of the shadow cast behind the substano
did exist. But this is not going far e
nough for Mr.. Blake. Courts, laws, civil
ization, religion-nay, the Almighty him
self-are all wrong in the estimation o
this shining light of the new school. Whel
He ordained the holy rite Of matrimon.
and condescended to be the august minis
ter who presided, when first it was cele
brated in the garden of Eden, with sub
Unity and grandeur unknown since, &C
cording to Mr.. Blake, He was doing tina
which could have been better done by the
consent of Adam and Eve in the presence
Of Satan and his imps We recommend
Mr.. Blake and men of his capacity not te
venture out of their depths or imagine
themselves giants when they are but pig
mics from Fell's Point.
The President has ordered that th'
: following officers compose the Court o