, 1875-11-28
l. MATRIMONIAL CONTRACT.
How tho Daughter OF a M ichigan Ex.
Congressman Joined Hands with q

How The Daughter OF q III 2ichtgan Ex-
Congressman joined Hands with q
Free:Lover.
Detroit Fre~ Press, .yop. q.
Randolph Strickland OF st. Johns. ex-mem-
ber OF Congress from Michigan, has for several
Woman's Su1rsae Association. To such he
introduced hts daughter referred to below
at the woman suffrage meetings, AMI
took measures to secure her proninen:
recognition as q speaker at such asssmblages.
Miss Matte Strickland ia = young woman uf
about 20 years, OF pleasing personal appearance,
Wel1-formed, fair and rosy complexion, beautiful
hair, uau8lly worn ia ringlets, xnd . pezBon OF
considerable conversational ability. Her recent
copiugal contract has excited much comment p
grief-st1icken at her untowsrd conduct. In ref
erence to It ahe writes as follows from White
wafer, Wis, Nov. l6, to the editor Of the St.
Johns Republican:
Juugtng By your past kndness, Jon VIII allow me to
nse Your column. - N .ane Of s:*t.ns to NJ home
ton.
incose you copy OF contract hars recently
iettes. I tate this position .ster month.
tvo ys.1s / hsve Eesltzsa tsat, however
upon myself the legal bonds of mar'1sge; for BE-
Neve them to be foundsd upon the principle OF msster
and alaye 1t matters not that as W hare progressed
Of It's bzutA featuresit Still ssaads the altar
upon which are constantly being laid the highest nost
Living only few yBarB, and those in ouF quiet VII
age, havs yet Seen around me surh ghas1y specttes
Of buried hopes and lost ambitions n to make me
hollow sounds Bright girl friends, who few yea1s
ago laughed and d.need in Joyonsnese now drag their
weary bodies just this Btde Of ths grave, duly
and 70 do you iii. The excessive demands
Of husbands thev sre not a5s2ted to: tho constant
hlighting fer Of m.teEny when tha! should b. The
jo:tlon OF individual to auothsr tbs Indifference
aud dzgast spring from enforced familiarity. are sap
rtng the strength Of body. mind. and soul. Of tbs
wo non OF our little town and what IL true Of st.
johns is t1ue Of the whole country.
C4se after case has como to my knowledge, until
have burned to sdse hefors you and tell tho truth
Tho hopes Of my dearest friends have held s pack;
and confess to 5uu that more than year ago was
persuaded to drop from my su1rage-1ecture the
words most langed to utter. This for money and
popularity B1hI repent In sevare suffering tue
weakness that caused me to yield and now, rising
prson-bolts ahau causs me- to sell my soul again
Hereafter, to the extent Of my whole strength,
Hoaestiy, MATTE STRICKLAND.
uS1oN-CIyn AND CoN1C1AL-
Ths undersigned, this I'd day OF Noveuber l. D.
n.ns of Milier Strickland On the following eondi-
ttons, to-wit: That a earnings and profits arizng
from individual and joint labors. whether tn de-
Or trade, snan b. shared md held equally"
Believing that the divine prnctpfe of love. drawing
together two kindred sous L. the only binding Law in
fhe contu9al union ofthe sexes, aud the only law max
ing right such intAte relations also happy to
confess each other to God and dis angels, and to
al the world, the existence of 4 mutual affection
Known by that naue; and ws deliberately join heart
md hand In this most sacred ct al uniona, hoping
aud psagtng that the ue that binds last through
Life, and survive the grave,
Should this union b blessed b. odapr1ng jointly
and seYeraliy pledge ourselves. our asstgns and ad-
.1iniatratots foster and support them during the
dependent years. Of infancy md youth supplying their
phicai wzns, and rearing them In the principles Of
virtue and knowledRc, to the best OF our ability and
Judgment
Tits simple form Of contuaal union con-
strained to adopt FROM the deepest conscientious con-
vctioua Of right and duty; and We sncere1y regret
that condition of society which, wa would be srue
ourselves makes 1t necessary for us to oppose the
opinions Of majority Of felow-c1eaturas-dia
Rardtng tbs lawn sud customs which they assume to
aka for tbs control Of affection between the se1es
which, bensve IL, and 1 divine right ought to be,
free- LEO MILLER.
MATTH STRICKLAND.
CHICAGO, Ill, Nov. 2, 1875.
miller ia 3 well-knowu Spiritua1et. OF Buffalo.
The publication Of the xbove called forth lha
following from the parents OF Miss StdcklAnd:l
4 CARD.
We aak the sympathy Of cur tr1ends In cur sorrow
for tho course pursued BY cur poor. deluded. mis-
guided, end insane daughter. And We extend our
thanks to Kind friends that have lAbored With IA
during thu last year earnestly to save her. We bow
cur haad1 IN g1iaf. r. STRICKLAND.
MARY E. STRICKLAND.