New-York tribune., 1874-09-19
Y I
VIEWS ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.

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Mr.. Beecher after giving his lifetime (ac-
cording to his sister, Hooke to the study OF the
freelove philosophy after having surreptously prac-
ticed freeove In my own house, In the corruption OF
Christian wife and mother; after having confessed to
Mr. Moulton and aduerous alliances than that
one; after all this Mr. Beecher goes back In his hcti'
tous defense the closing Of my connection with
The Independent, and speaks Of me In the following
terms:
His tMr. Tton'D loose notions Of marriage and
divorce begin 10 be shadowed editoriaiy.
To this I make two replles-one general, tho
other specific. In general I say that have
never entertained loose notions OF marriage. Ny
notions of marriage are those which are common
throughout Chrstendom. But rejoice to say THAT my
notions Of divorce at variance with the laws OF my
State aud expressed in the statutes OF Wscon-
sin. 1 have strenuously urged the abrogaton OF to
NewYork code of divorce (which Is for one cause aone
and asked for the substitution Of the more liberal
legislation OF New England and the West
Next reply In particular that the first article which
wrote In The Independent that elected any criticism
for what Mr.. Beecher calls my loose notions OF
marriage and divorce" o defense Of Mrs. Richard
son Ia the Mcfarland trial But II was wrong in my
estimate of case Mr. Beecher was far more wrong
than for he went the Astor House and at Richard
sons dying bed, performed a marriage ceremony be-
tween that bleeding sufferer and lady who was then
the divorced or undivorced) wfo OF the assassin Mr.
Beecher cannot condemn me for anything that said
growing out OF tnat case WlInout sim horo
condemninq himself In proof Of this statement cite
the testimony Of Mr. william Bartlett, now one OF Mr.
Beechers lawyers defending MI Beecher for far more
uupardonabe seduction than that whereof Mr.. Richard
son was accused Mr.. Bartlett published IN The Neu-
York SUM- on the day after Mr. Beechers performance
of the Asor House marriage the following bitter char
ac,erization OF Mr. Beechers conduct that occasion
WHAT Mr. BEECUERs CHIEF ATTORNEY THINKS on
HIM.
From The Nete. York sun, December 2, 1869
The Astor House In this city was the scene ON Tuesday
Of ceremony which seems to Us to set at de-
dance all sentiments respecting the relation OF
marriage which regard anything intriDsicay supe-
rior TO prostitution. The high priest OF TINS occasion
was Henry Ward Beecher. As the great and
eIoouent John Whipple said: " He who enters the
dwelling friend. and under the protection OF rlend-
ship and hospitality corrups the integrity OF his wife or
be oonsigned t0 aa immediate galows" Con.
slider married OF NewYork husbands and fathers
nv what frail aud bitter tenure your homes are yours
m you fail busness-and t Is said that ninetynve OUT
of hundred business men fail-then your neien-
bor may charm away ycur wife. and the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecier stands ready 10 marry her 10 the nrst
libertine who will paynOt In affection. but 10 gold or
areepbacks-the price OF her frail charms Yes,
II s the pous. the popular the admired the reYered
Henry Ward Beecher. VINO comes boldly aud even
proudly forward holding by the hand ana leading Lust
10 her triumph RelgOnl Who can read the mar
ratiye and not wish that Plymouth Church we're noe
sunk into the ground until the peak OF It's gaDe shouo
be beneath the surface Of the earth
The above was the Judgment OF MI Beechers present
chief counsellor touching Mr.. Beechers action In the
celebrated case concerning which for some OF
nina ,n The Independent Mr.. Beecher has now the
eront ntery TO accuse Of having, In 1869. shadowed
u my editorials "lOose notions OF marriage and dvorce