The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-24

tl0D," was swept away. But Mr.. Blame
is the peer of any Jack-tar that
ever plOughed the water at ree6ng
and lacking or in spinning yarns.
He has already boarded his newly in
vented shallop. and we have examined it
carefully, both in its design and construction.
Our nautical opinion concerning it is that
it is too light in the poop. 1t might have
been fairly safe in a calm, but it will not
weather searching winds. UnHattering to
his manhood and honor as was the PIttsburg
marriage, it was a safer one to tie to than
this Kentucky one-because the Pittsburg
marriage did actually occur.
swS
or this secret marrisge claimed to have
taken place in Kentucky, the most charitable
view of it for Mir. Blaine is the view that it
never did take place. If, out of no other
reason than charity for him, we must say
that Mr.. Blaine affirmed falsely when affirm
ing that be and Harriet Stanwood were ever
married in Kentucky.
Who was James G. Blaine when in Ken
lucky in June of 1850?
He was professor in literary institution
there, and had resided two years at George
town, the county seat, within a stones throw
of the Clerks Office and surrounded by at
torneys thoroughly versed in the law of the
State. If Mr.. Blaine had come into Ken
lucky one day and been married the next
there might be some excuse for his youthful
ardor and ignorance; but under the facts
that he himself states, there can be no doubt
that the mock marriage which he pretends
/ to give an account OF, at Georgetown, Nv.
in 1850, if ii ever occurred at all, was delib
erately planned 10 betray his victim. He
must have known that such ceremony was
wholly void and Illegal and its only pur-
pose was 10 deceive the lady whom he pre-
tended to have espoused. No minister or
magistrate or other officer in Georgetown,
KY, would have dared to oficiste on such
an occasion without license issued accord
ing to law. And the absence of such license
or of any such officer or clergyman would
have thrown not only suspicion but utter
lawlessness upon such a proceeding In the
minds of any one except the lady, unac-
quainted with legal and necessary forms,
far away from her friends and protectors.
1t is certain that there was no clergyman,
y
riage. Mr.. Blaine used in his letter to MIR.
Phelps the stereotyped phrase, Married in
the sight of Cod" terms which have been
used by every seducer in civilized life, and
which are said to be kept standing in type
| by the publishers OF obscene literature as an
excuse fo- adultery. We have only pity for
the victim. No words of reproach for her.
She was not
1.-THE daughter OF hundred Earls,
The noble Clara We're de We're"
! She was not even a daughter of Kentucky;
Between the seducer and such spoil stood
the avenger, and death would have been the
/ penalty for the offense. She was poor, faith
erless, far from home and kindred, stranger
! in strange land, the easy prey OF one who
J had gained her womanly confidence fit OBJ
! ject for his purpose, deceived by false mar
rage and placed in dishonored position.
IS
/ We repeat that the most charitable view
of this Kentucky marriage story is to hold
that Blaine has only invented it for his pres
/ emit political purposes. But whether we
would so or not, we are compelled to the
conclusion that no such marriage ever &C.
Cured.
In the first place, under the laws of that
Commonwealth, there could have been none
such. The statutes of Kentucky provided
in 1850 aud have provided eyer since against
it. We quote from the laws upon marriages.
Section 1. Marriage is prohibited and de-
clared roid when not solemnized or contracted
in the presence OF an authorized person or
society.
Section MIL Marriages shall be soIemn-
lied by the following persons only:
l. Ministers of the Gospel or priests Of
any denomination in regular communion
with any religious society.
>. Judges of the County Court and such
Justices of the Peace as the County Court
may authorize.
Section IN. No minister or priest shall
solemnize marriage until he has obtaine
license therefor from the County Court of
the county where he resides, upon satisfying
the Court that he is man of good moral
character and in regular communion with
his religious society, and upon giving COW
enant to the Commonwealth with good
surety not to violate the law of the State con-
corning marriage. The parties to such COW
enant may for breach thereof be fined on
presentment of a Grand Jury, not exceeding
5000.
Section y. No marriage shall be soleDlai-ed
lcithOut license therefor, issued by the Clerk
of the County Court. 1t shall only issue
from the Clerk of the county where the fe.
male usually resides.
Section XIV. If any person shall solemn.
ize marriage without such license or with
out being authorized thereto by a County
Court, he shall be imprisoned not less than
one nor more than twelve months, and fined
not more than 81, 900.
Section XIV. If any person not authorized
shall solemnize marriage under pretense o.
having authority, he shall be confined in
the penitentiary not exceeding three years
80
Such were the laws of Kentucky when, in
June, 1850, Mr.. Blaine says he had what
know was in my native State of Pennsyl
vania perfectly legal form of marriage