The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-12
Parton's s Marriage.

Mr.. James Parton has filed the fol-
lowing petition for special act legaliz-
ing his marriage with his step-daugh-
ter, Ellen Willis Eldredge, which GER
tainly goes to show that his new rela-
tion was taken not only with the warm
approval of friends, but in the conf
dence that it was strictly legal. Aud
with it is filed supplementary petit
ton" by Newburyport citizens:
'The petition of James Parton and Ellen Ell
| dredge Parton to the honorable Senate and
| House of Representatives of the common
wealth OF Massachusetts
''The attention of your honorable bod
les is most respectfully solicited to the
following statement of facts:
"On the Sd of February, 1876, at New
buryport, in Massachusetts, a marriage
was celebrated between James Parton
and Ellen Willis Eldredge, both resi-
dents of Newburyport. All the re-
quirements of law, so far as known to
either of them, or to the witnesses of
the ceremony, were complied with.
That is to say, license was produced;
the ceremony was performed by ascler-
gyman resident in the town, several
witnesses were present, and the usual
notice was inserted in the Newburyport
Herald of the next morning. All was
done openly, and, so far as we then
knew, or have since ascertained, with
the warm approval of all who are ac-
quainted with the circumstances of our
case. We lived together in our new re-
lation for two days. Toward the close
of the second day, our attention was
called to an ancient statute of the State
lOfM MoccoobnSafto nrOhihitinOr rrio
between a man and his wife's daughter,
which was the relation subsisting be-
tween us. Neither of US had the least
knowledge or suspicion of the existence
of such bar to our union. Such mar
Tiages, we now learn, are lawful in
eighteen States of the Union, one of
which is New York, where both of US,
until recently, have lived from child
hood. If any one, not a lawyer, had
suggested to US the possibility of our
marriage being unlawful, we should
have scarcely deemed the matter worthy
of investigation, so completely were we
possessed of the idea that all prohobi-
! tions of that nature were unknown to
the laws of the United States. It ap-
pears to be the essential principle of
American institutions, that.where there
! is no natural right there shall be no le-
gal IiEIby anu WuGlS lIlCiC 10 uO hdO-
ural wrong there shall be no legal
wrong, and, where there is no natural
impediment there shall be no legal i'm
l pediment. In our former relation,
there has been no SAVIOR of parental or
filial feeling. United for some years
past in an Interesting and sacred
= charge, our fortunes not unequal, the
disparity in our ages neither extreme
: nor unusual, members of the same
r household, our marriage did but COM
plete and sanctify a tie which was
already strong and confidential in an
: unusual degree.
, "Stunned by the discovery of the il
legality of our marriage, we immedi-
ately resumed our former relation, and
2 no longer lived under the same roof.
After due inquiry and deliberation, re-
viewing all accessible decisions and
t legislation bearing upon the subject,
acting upon the advice of eminent cOun-
+ sci, both of Massachusetts and New
l York, and being exceedingly desirous
of obtaining sanction of law for a
marriage which could not be annulled,
8 we repaired to the State of New York,
, where we were married a second time
l on the 10Th of February, with all the
I forms required by the laws of that
State. We did not leave the State
e of Massachusetts for the purpose of
t evading any law of Massachusetts, but
e to comply with the most necessary and
: fundamental of all laws, which is that
q marriage shall have legal sanction.
We are are assured by learned counsel
t that we are now lawfully married
1 everywhere in the world except, per-
i haps, in the State of Massachusetts
e The doubt concerning our legal condi'
); tion is here, where it is of vital i'm.
y portance to US, where we live, and es-
: TEEN it privilege to live. The weight
: of opinion, as we are advised, is thai
y our marriage is valid in this State also
a and that we may live here in peace
d and honor. But, if it please your hon
y orable bodies, it is necessary for the
d dignity and comfort of our lives, as wei
e as for the interest of virtue and gooC
e order, that this doubt shall be removed
3 We therefore most respectfully ask the
l. passage of special act legaliZing the
d marriage contracted in Newburyport
e as above mentioned, on the Sd of Febru
d ary, 1876.
q awe are aware of the manifold evil
= and Inconvenience that result from
l. special legislation, and one of US in
y Weighed against it, both publicly ant
e privately, with all the force of which
e he is capable. And, if we were asking
1f the Legislature of Massachusetts, to pas
;; an act enabling us to marry, we woulC
rs stand condemned by the utterance'
n here referred to, and still more b!
II public opinion, which is justly adverse
y to legislation designed for the exclusive
IT benefit of individuals. But here is
IL marriage most innOcently contracted il
2, violation of an unknown law, which
n marriage is now so complete that moth
ing can undo it. We feel, and are ad
vised, that only special act of the gen
eral court can completely set us righ
g with a commonwealth held by us boil
e, in love and veneration.
le "All of which is most respectful.
e submitted.
le "JANES PARTON.
n "ELLEN ELDREDGE PARTON.
le "Newburyport, February IA, 1876"
70 A Detroit young woman tried to b
i 81 4,