Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-07-16

stituted by wronged husband to recover
damages for the invasion of his marital
rights. At least it is the first case of any
prominence we can recall. In England it
is the common mode of settling this mat
ter. And there the practice has grown
up of promptly granting the injured hus-
band the very highest damages he may de-
mand, and which the estate of the defen-
dant will admit of. This is eminently
wise, not because money can be any COM
pensation for so great wrong as the in
vasion of the family hearth. Nevertheless,
as by the civil law the injury is only mea-
surable in money, it is the duty of the
jury to do all they can to make this COM
pensation equal to the injury sustained,
and they can only do this by giving the
highestpossible damages-public example
standing in the way of showing any favor
to the defendant by reducing them in the
slightest. BY adopting this course and
carrying out this correct legal theory the
English people are spared the witnessing
of such scenes of the daily violation of the
law as we have among us.
In this country different law regulates
these things. 1t is the law of the revolver
and the bowie knife. The wronged hus-
band here takes the law into his own
hand, and becomes accuser, judge, jury
and executioner. Public opinion sustains
and applauds him for his violation of the
law in the pursuit of his bloody Vengeance,
a forsworns jury and sympathetic judge
declare him mot guilty" when he has
boastingly paradsd his guilt before them.
Now it may not be very sentimental,
but on the contrary very old fogyish in us
to say so, but we must confess the English
plan meets with our unqualified approval.
whilst ours provokes utter disapprobation.
In the one case the civil law is invoked
to punish the offender; in the other all
laws, human and divine, are violated to
accomplish the same end. In the one case
society is benefited, in the other great
wrong is dono to it by the taking of hu-
man life and the subsequent acquittal of
the husband by the facile but patent per-
jury of the jury.
This case of Tilton's was the first one
between parties of any prominence, where
the husband has sought to punish. under
form of law, the spoiler of his domestic
happiness, and from the experience of the
plaintiff in the case we think it very like
ly it will be the last. If Tilton had taken
in his hand silver mounted revolver and
murdered Beecher in Plymouth pulpit,
whilst arrayed in priestly garments, the
avenger would have been applauded to
the echo, and doubtless before this time
elected to Congress or perhaps made re-
preventative of United States morals and
manners at some foreign court, as was done
with Sickles under similar circumstances.
But as it is to-day he is an outcast from
home and society, a bankrupt in fame and
fortune, with an Indictment for criminal
libel hanging over him and the prospect
ola periurer's cell before him. And all
this because he dared appeal to the law
for the vindication of his wrongs instead
of the revolver. Whilst he is thus made
to suffer, his rich opponent is made more
rich and powerful than ever. His gushing
congregation slop over TO the extent of an
hundred thousand dollars. as reward
for adultery. But it is the old story and
it makes the heart sicken when one reads
it as told by the great reader of poor trail
humanity.
- Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furrd gowns hide all, Plate sin with
gold
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks.
Arm 1t i'll rags pigmy straw doth pierce it,"