The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-21
FER, SMITHE'S BILL.

The committee of the House of Delegates
has SO dressed up the bill Of the Senator from
Nelson that he will hardly recognize it when
it gets back to the Senate. This being the
fact, we do not care ut present to argue
against passing bill which no Que proposes
to pass. We will add, however, that we do
not distrust our ability to overturn all Mr..
SMITHS arguments whenever it shall become
necessary so to do. The bill now before the
House is not worth opposing. so harmless Is
it as compared with the bill which Mr.. SMITH
wishes to have passed.
Women's Property Rights.
VIEWS OF Mr.. C. T. SMITH. SENATOR FROM NRL-
son, IN SUPPORT OF Hi5 BILL ON THE SUD
JECT .. ,---
RICHMOND, Va, April 6, 1874. :
| Editors Of the Dispatch: L thank you for the
ss me Of
property acquired by them before o. after mar
vented my so doing more promptly: Upon Sa nas
th.ne discussion must, OF course. 20 cniVaironS,
geon Of virginia, whose appreciation must be our
S and sneraSp REGIS RISs' B onli be-
iss slang meaning Of such Phrase liable
to cause Injustice to be done to both you ana INC
anu 70 Iesns e TO- the issue you make with the Wg
nothing to say S as . 5. spn dpec If the
position on mi 5s we're UI ee Simply in the language Of
| Win. for the protection OF wives whose husband
as ss9 you
the experience Of ny ren1 s .saS,
ny p % be 81 N
he chooses to sQuauder the wifeS property despite
eIisting laws and institutions. Such Is human na
lure or rather maa-nhueucc and NOMENCLATURE
The law proposed protects the right against misfor
tune, improvidence, and folly, Us well 80 asans
"uickedness." .
! fully, Mr. Editor, that you seem not to under
stand the scope. bearing. and detail of tn
It" thoroughly comprehended by the Genera ats
Assembly and the pubic. The bill ito which In al
Which, Git It passed a the the senate by vote Of g 10
was compromise of diverse and conflicting opin
ions DOES not In any way affect rights OF propeos
solcmnizcd AS the tree has fallen SO Is must lie
The bill deals only with the future. aud In sub
Isl ist fhss the property Of any female vho ma
u hereafter marry, and which she shall own az tn
Of n her n ar se a an s ,nI
empt from all debts of or disposal by her husband
a with the right on her part 10 contract In relation
thereto or Tor the disposal thereof aud she may su
e ant be sued provided that her husband shall jo
with her In any such contract, and shall be joine
4 h s prnn or e a y OF
l. devise, or by her personal labor sk after
riagc, shall be In like manner her separate propert
nt and subject to like conditions and Limitations.
at 80. That all married women In respect to thci
w separate estates shall have lawful power 10 max
re Wills requests, aud deylSes and In the event OF til
:. husbands refusal or iuconpetencT 10 comply Wit
the terms Of the bill in relation 10 the wifc's sepa
rate property, then she shall have the privilege
appeal TO the courts for protection OF such into rest
and rights In tho premises us are ordinarily Incl
| dent 10 property.
= 4th That the properly OF husband or wife shall
not be liable for the ante-nupa debts Of the other
You ssy that In 1870 there were In Virginia, IL
round numbers, $4,000 married meE. Surel,
there must have been the same number OF married
women
Are not these last entitled to legislative consider
alton and prstectlon2 Especially so when . very
large majority OF them are poor comparatively, and
ure struggling for the comforts OF life. 1t 10 true
they do not and should not under any circumstances
vote But they have rights which the married men
aud legislators should ieel bound to respect. Laws
IRE designed 10 protect masses or people by sccur-
| log remedies 10 individuals regardless OF sex or
condition Security TO the unit Is security to every
uuit composing the number or persons who consli-
lutte the mass II may be, aud hope will he, true
that only four lunared wives (from your shoYlng)