Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-12


and civilized societyp why should not
law conform t. equity2 The civil law
which grew up aud was m.Jured under
the high civil Zation of Rome in the zeuith
OF her power aad sublime Intellect always
treated ths wife as partaer, aud not as
a slave. Hence, we see woman In due
course OF time elevated from the humble
position of tile rude SABINE captive to tue
high and splendid place of the noble
Mother of tn heroic Gracchi-to those
graBd, elevated, and true positions GOD
Intended her to Occupy-tle queen of
thrones the angel of mercy. and the de-
voted wife and peer in social relations of
the truest husband among natures noble
men. The doctrines OF Rome, as promnl-
gated by the Justiuiau code I'm SINE re-
spects mod frd and imprOved) OBJ ain at
The present day in all Christendom. Such
is the law of the Code of Napoleon, the
grandest digest of the civil law that has
been made since the time of Justinian.
Any law is wrong that does not fully
Protect woman 10 her estate simply be-
cause she, in obedience to natures law,
agrees to enter into the marriage relation.
1t being a mere civil ordinance under
hich the teaching Of the divine c'de are
carried out. But Gays Judge TreadWay:
s.Sucn a law can only b. eed domestic brOils
and connub Il discord." And he argues
TO prove that the frequency OF divorces In
the Northern States results from the ex-
Istence IF such laws therein.
The experience here IN Virginia. Mary
| land, Kentucky, and all OF the Southern
States is conclusive proof against the
charge that such laws breed domestic
troubles.
TIE luoseness Of marriage laws in the
North and West existed more than d CEN
fury before Those States enacted statutes
to protect women In their property-rights
Hence the frequency of divorces there, is
not lraceable 10 the last-Damed laws, but
TO other aid widely different causes. (See
Bishop ON the Law of Marriage and Di-
vo,c+). Oiher able writers have clearly
dem lstia'ed the truth of history, that
~, MATS right" free lovsism," and
| such like, in tile Nnreh and elsew where over
| Ibe globe, al e tie results Of impure edu-
cation and lnse parable causes peculiar to
| mixed c!eJes, mOngrei peoples. and
derst populations.
The proof Of this can be readily st ated.
| Nuue Of tie Northern S-atts passed such
laws before 1874 and maJ 'rlty Of them
| did SO Wlihlu tie last twenty or thirty
wears, Willie .'ffee-l0velsm y the ba,etul
| exotic trans planted from the hotbrds OF
social corruption IN lie East, has existed
in the North for nearly century On tie
| OF her hand, such protective laws as l atn
| al vocatine have existed IN some OF tn
| Southern States for more than SIX years.
and flee loveism" has no organic .Lion
| and receives 20 couutenauce in any OF
| hem.
The first of the United States to ADOPT
| such protective laws were some OF tn
Southern States, in 1889. These laws arr
now a fixture in Virglnia. They will br
| so I'D T fsI mil nvIG lAf
| the rule aud not the exception. Security
to the unit is security to every unit CON-
| posing the whole number Of persons who
| constitute the mass. Therefore, for the
| many unfortunate victims among the
| better class of womtn, such laws are a
| pin cely armor, while for thousands OF
our laborif fenla les they are shield, Or
namental in d. nestle peace and impere-
trable in time Of home troubles. Such
| laws are founded in honesty, tempered
with justice, and 90 arm the weaker
vessel with the great power and influence
| of her natural rights, which she so much
| deserves to enable her to cultivate her
mind, improve the social graces, and ele
vate herself to the highest standard of
morality and virtue. WOman's mission
OH earth is specially and prominently a
social and moral one; and the true and
gallant husband will in law, as he does in
his personal bearing, throw the mantle of
protection about her. Show me noble
and illustrious people, and 1 will point
you o their noble and illustrious mothers
| Therefore. let us panoply woman in the
just MEASURE Of her proparty-rights, that
she may the better enhances AMI embellsh
society. purify our religion, and continue
to elevaee our people. The disabilities OF
married Women-the last remnant of ante
feudal barbar ism-have almost disappear
ed before the civilization Of the age, just
as trial by combat and by Ordeal'' has
ne; Just as the idea that bond or CLAIM
against another person could not be as
signed to third party; just as the inabll
ity to sell lands for debts; and all those
old notions which the necessities of mod
ern life and higher order Of socialism
and materialism have forced England and
this country to clear out OF the Way OF
the grand progress Of the age and the
rapid strides of reformation in all avnca-
tions of life and enterprise. l doubt no,
that our present progressive Legislature
will substantially adopt the act suggested
by the revisers Of the Code, and thereby
improve the la VS. alluded to. which en-
courage the humble women of Virginia t.
work and produce values; to place fol
themselves and their children the fruits
of personal labor beyond the reach 1T th'
husbands prof gacy and his credi ors
who at least have not acquired perpetual
lien upon the ''sweat of the wife's face;
TO elevate the refined as we'll as the uncul
tivated wife from the position of mei'
10Y, a poneniity. plavthing and pet, tt
the higher biblical plane Of 4 helpmaet fnl
him: to utilize all the moral, intellectual
and physical forces, not of a few, but Of
all the people OF the State, for the produc
ion of property and to secure income ant
inheritances and the means of subsistence
to ttose who most need the broad, protect