The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-28
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rHURsDAY.........-AUGUsT 28, 1873.
A SPECIMEN OF UNJUST LAW.

A SPECIMEN OF UNJUST Law.
A woman, we'll known in Portland,
some time ago brought suit in the
Circuit Court to recover from the father
Of her illegitlmate child means for its
support and maintenance. The suit
was brought because the child's father
had violated an express contract with
her. AS a matter Of course, the woman,
who, in her glrlhood, was so protected
and cared for by her seducer, lost the
case. The generous Lawmakers had so
provided for women" in such case
of infamy as this, that the father should
escape all pecuniary as well as moral
obligation. The woman appealed the
case to the Supreme Court, hoping that
that august tribunal would not condemn
a woman TO the entire maintenance of a
child because its father was so unprin-
cipled as not to help support it. The
betrayed and abandoned outcast hoped
that-the misery, degradation and suf-
fering all being hers-the father would
be punished for his crime even so lightly
as to be responsible for the food and
clothes Of his offspring. She knew
that, after the child was born, when she
tried to obtain work, no one would give
her a chance to earn penny by labor,
aud she was forced into a life Of dis
honor; but she did not suppose the in
justice was so deep in the hearts OF men
that it was carried into their statute
books. She is wiser now. In looking
over the proceedings Of the Supreme
Court Of the State Of Oregon under date
Of August Is, 1879, she finds that, al
though the putative father Of her lille
gitimate child solemnly agreed with her
that he would pay her for boarding aud
clothing their child, such contract is
"without consideration, and cannot be
legally enforced" She also learned, ac-
cording to the laws Of men, made by
themselves for their own benefit and
protection, and to shield them in the
commission Of the greatest possible
crime against woman, that the "motheT
Of an illegitimate child is its guardian,
and bound to maintain it.n She also
learned, according to the laws Of men,
framed in such a manner as to allow
those without moral responsibility Ia
escape pecuniary accountability, that 8
"moral obligation, unsupported by only
pre-existing obligation, is not a sufli-
cient consideration to support an ex-
press contract that can be enforced al
law" She has found that she cannot
depend on the child's father, wealthy
though he is, for one cent toward feed
ing the child, above the paltry sum
awarded her for her loss of honor.
Such cases as the above are all toe
common, although comparatively few
ever receive the attention Of the public
How the fathers and brothers Of girls
can allow such shameful laws to dis,
grace the statute books, is a mystery
passing ths understanding Of all moth
ers. The mother is made by law to bC
the guardian OF a child begotten with,
out marriage bonds, and alone response
ble for its maintenance and support
How unjust! how cruel how inhu,
man how barbarousi That the mother
should have the care Of the child, is vel
enough; but, il she has the care anC
anxiety of raising the infant, as little al
could be exacted is that the father fur
nish its support. This much is Of righ
expected Of men. \ man who betray,
apure and confding girl is dangerous al
large; if he does not atone for his crime
by honorable marriage, the manner in
which society allows a wronged woman
to regain her standing although his po-
sition is seldom or never shected), then
the only place for him is behind prison
bars. Marriage is a weak redress, but
society regards it as an atonement.
Women appreciate the enormity Of the
crime, and in their just judgment the
proper punishment for seduction is i'm
prisonment for life.