Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-10-16

Our readers may remember that we have
spoken plainly upon the unholy facility of
divorce in Vermont. With the legislature
again in session comes another suitable
lime to speak, though it be only to repeat
what has been said.
And portion of Governor Proctor's
every way admirable message makes US a
good text. He says;
call your attention TO the statutes regu-
laing divorce. The family relation is an |
political well-being of people, and should
he stable and permanent in its character.
Under the present statutes, a party who
claims to have suffered breach of the
marriage covenant in another government
or in distant states, may come into This
state and, after brief sojourn, sue for Il
divorce; and often causes for divorce are
alleged which would be unavailing in the
jurisdiction where they occurred.
| commend this subject to your careful
consi Iteration, and submit 10 your judg-
ment whether the interests of the people
would not be subserved by making the
marriage covenant indissoubo ex-
cept for those grave and fragrant
crimes which necessarily put an end to the
sanclily and purity of the marriage rela-
lion. Whether degree of separation
should not be granted for sufficient causes,
which should regulate the custody of chill
dren and the apportionment of property;
and whether longer residence should not
be required, and greater safeguards provi-
,Io1 ,,,r,,inct frandn1apt diu,,roao
1t is good sign of the times" that this
subject has such notice. 1t is well that the
state of Vermont thus hears from her
governor. Due respect to Gov. Proctor
will secure legislative consideration of the
subject. And when a great and growing
evil attracts public attention it is likely to
be checked. at least.
Several years ago Rev. Ward Billiard,
then Il representative, proposed legislation
such as Gov. Proctor now advises. Good
men have for long time been concerned
for the public veal on account of our easy
divorce laws. Here and there a minister
has come to be principled against solem-
nizing any marriage between parties one
of whom has companion living. unless
n divorce for scriptural cause has been
obtained. Within few years the highes,
ecclesiastical authority of the Protestant
Episcopal Church has pronounced against
the marriage of any person divorced but
not for adultery. And at its last annual
session the Vermont Conference of the M
E. Church adopted the following paper:
Whereas, we have for years witnessed
with pain Il growing laxity in social rela
tons and have seen the marriage bond
rashly and wickedly dissolved therefore
we, the preachers of the Vermont Confer
ence of the M. E. Church, do hereby ente
our serious protest against the continuance
of that legislation and those judicial act
which help to propagate this shame, an,
pledge ourselves not to solemnize matri
mony in cases where either of the partie
has living companion unless they hav
been divorced for scriptural reasons"
|, The tide of Christian sentiment is risin,
and taking direction against this evil q
> divorce for several causes. We shall We
get back to the sure scriptural foundations
1t may yet be made criminal to solem
nize II marriage in which one party ha
= already u living husband Or wife and nc
, divorced for the one justliable cause.
t At least the good name of the stat
= should be protected from the shame {
giving divorces to men and women VII
c come here to stay just long enough an
e expressly for divorce. A man forsake
t his wife in Canada or New York and CONT
Il to Vermont. After n little he sues in I'll
courts of Vermont for divorce. VIII
should Vermont laws punish her for NJ
coming with him to Vermont? Our opil
ion is that no state should for any eau!
= divorce any parties whose married life h;
never been in that state. Unless bot
~ parties have been resident in the sta,
d neither of them should be allowed to brin
J suit for divorce. All this foreign divor,
IL business should be excluded from the coul
IL of Vermont.
y The objections to divorce for vario,
IL causes are many and weighty.
Ie So easy divorce laws react upon Il
III views commonly entertained upon ma
It riage. Easy divorce leads to hasty and i
Is consderatc marriages. In many a ca
Ie divorce is sought and secured where it b,
never been thought Of except for its fac
IN ity. There is much reason for the opini,
81 that many are marrying with the idea
il reservation that if the married life be II
e pleasant the knot can be united with
IL little trouble and expense. The E.cili
u and frequency of divorces are destructi
IL of homes, and at war with all right Idle
u of the family relation. This holy RELATE
u is losing its one place in public esteem.
" must be held in all honor or it will fail
Z hold society in order.
IL Probably many divorces are obtain
- for other causes ostensibly when adulte
~ might be justly charged. This is oft
=. Az difficult and always unpleasant to bril-
IL out in proof. Many a person divorced (
U. other causes may be rightfully marie
J for aught we see--provided this scriptuI
reason existed. But the public good {
u mands That if this cause exist it only sh
III be brought forward, and if it does not e
III list then no cause should be pleaded. 1t
10 not good in morals or religion, it is r
IL safe for the public or home that civ
~ law allow what the law of God forbids.
30 One difficulty in the way of bringi
~ our divorce laws into harmony with I
Nv law of God is the personal interest"
~ some who will condem themselves
10 moving for any change. The census
u those divorced and afterwards married
Ut but mot as Gods word doth allow" wo,
~ surprise and perhaps appall us-the ca
y logue of such would well nigh confou
Z" us. This reform will not be easily CT
~ summated.