The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-01
AM HOUR WITH CORRESPONDENTS.

A9AAf HAAAGN ~ hDOn a. w
statistics on the Woman Suffrage ques-
tion which we could forward to that
place, as they have debating society
wherein the question is soon TO be up
for discussion. We should be glad in
deed to oblige our correspondent, but we
have sent out documents of this charac-
ter to meet like demand so often that
our supply is for the present exhausted.
Everything Of Importance bearing upon
the question is published regularly In
these columns, and our readers need no
better statistics. We would recommend
an annual subscription to the NEW
NORTHWEST.
Our friend Mr.. Barnes, the Olympia
banker, sends us description Of Jesse
Shepherds private seances in his house,
which has been inadvertently mislaid.
He informs us that such marvellous oc-
currences as were described in recent
issue Of the OregonidH have taken place
in his own home during Jesse's visit.
One person has developed into an opera
singer, with four different voices. The
piano is moved by invisible power,
voices are heard i'm the air, lights float
about the room, etc, etc, all proving
the presence of an invisible force, as
subtle as mysterious. When Mr.. Shep-
herd returns to Portland, we will try to
attend one of these seances in person,
and shall be pleased to report it as best
we can, for the pleasure of inquiring
minds. "Never condemn till We have
investigated" is our motto, now and
always.
a correspondent from the interior
grows indignant over our last lawyers
letter, and effervesces after this fashion,:
at is hard to tell which is the more
admirable, your magnanimity in giving
space to the adverse criticism of every
body who may choose to censure you, or
your severity in retorting whenever
you are thus assailed. If | were that
lawyer, / would stick to my brief and
tape, and quit trying to run a suffrage
newspaper while you are at the helm.
The anonymous opinion which called
out his indignant protest contains a
great deal too much truth; for, while
IL is true that men have framed laws
from time to time for the purpose Of Sc
curing a larger liberty for woman in
property matters, it is ALSO true that
while woman is a manacled serf she is
not in position to grasp and utilize
that liberty. To my certain knowledge
there are women in Oregon whose hus-
bands regularly collect and use and
squander the rentals and other income
from their wives own property; and
those same wives, being in bondage, do
not dare to oppose them, for fear either
of personal violence, or a separation
which will wrest their children from
them. There is no law upon any stat
ute book to compel any man to respect
and honor the financial will of his wife;
nor can there be till woman is emanci-
pated from political thralldom. OF what
avail is dead letter law upon a statute
book? OF the dozen women | know
who have dared to take advantage OF
the special property laws made by men
in their behalf, and of which your
censor boasts, ten are divorced, or desir-
ing to be. They cannot use these stat.
utes until they break their chains, I'M
less their husbands are honorable
enough to be above law, aud such meu
are scarce, Mrs. Duniway's declaration
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
now call to mind case wherein a young
wife received a bequest Of farm from
her parents, decided to her aud her sol,
heirs or assignees forever. II turned
out that the husband was in debt before
marriage, though his wife was moi
aware Of the fact. The husband was moi
much of a manager, and the wife anC
children in course of time became al
most destitute. The husband then pre-
vailed upon the wife to sell the farm
that he might use the money to engag,
in business more to his taste, which
gave prospects Of a fair profit. Tn,
money received for the farm was PLACED
in the husbands hands, to put in a saf,
in the village store for keeping, til
ready for investment. The husband de.
posted il in his own name; the affail
leaked out, the certificate of deposit wa.
garnisheed by his creditors, aud, there
being no law to punish a man for de.
frauding a woman of her money, il thai
woman has the misfortune to be the de.
faulter's wife, it is true, despite your
censor's declaration to the contrary, that
her husband may become indebted, and
his creditors may take the proceeds OF
her home, and use them for their own
benefit, and the wife and children may
be turned out of her home, against her
will. We who have tested the law, and
have felt its iron in our own souls, can
better judge of its effects upon US than
can any legal theorist living"
We are glad this "Hour with Core
spOnJents" has awakened these revela-
tiOns aud comments from all sides. II
we are not mistaken, our legal friend
above alluded to will learn that the vast
majority Of women are not occupied in
reading Bonner's Ledger, to the exclu-
sion Of law and ethics. Other letters
under this head will be noticed next
week.
The February number of the West
Shore is at hand, bearing aloft a bran
new head dress, and filed to the brim
with valuabIe illustrations and read