The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-26
LUCY STONES MARRIAGE.
The Protest Signed at the Time by
Herself and DIR. Blackwell.
Boston Advertiser.

Among the innumerable events OF note In
the wonderful career OF Lucy Stone, not
the least memorable was her marriage TO
Mr.. Blackwell land the protest against
existing marriage laws, which was drawn :
up and signed by them both The cere-
mony was performed by Colonel Higginson,
of Cambridge, then less widely known and
spoken of as Rev. Thomas Wentworth Hig-
ginson.
sent the protest TO the Worcester Spy, that
the world OF 1896 might know the bold stand
that had been taken. Following is Mr.. Hig-
ginson's letter to the Spy:
1t was my privilege TO celebrate May day
by officiating at a wedding in j farmhouse
among the Mills of West Brookfed. The
bridegroom was n man of tired worth
leader in the Western anti-slavery move
ment, and the bride is one whose fair name
is known throughout the Nation: one whose
rare intellectual qualities are excelled by
the private beauty Of her heart and life.
Il never perform the marriage ceremony
without q renewed sense of the iniquity OF
our present system of laws in respect to
marriage, system by which man and wife
are one, and that one Is the husband. 1t
was with my hearty concurrence, therefore,
that the following protest was read and
signed as a part OF the nuptial ceremony;
and l send it 70 you. that others may be
induced to do likewise"
Here is the protest as drawn Jointly by
Lucy Stone and II. p. Blackwell. and SUBJ
scribed TO once more by the bereaved hus-
band last evening:
while acknowledging our mutual affec-
ton by publicly assuming the relationship
and a great principle, we deem IL our duty
TO declare that this act on our part implies
no sanction of nor promise OF voluntary
obedience to such of the present laws or
marriage refuse TO recognize fhe wife az
an independent rational being, while they
confer upon the husband an injurious ana
unnatural superiority, investing him with
legal powers which no honorable man would
exercise and which no man should possess.
We protest especially against the laws
which give to the husband:
i. THE custody Of the wife's person.
2. 1.-The exclusive control and guardian
3 arhe sole ownership OF her personal
and use of her real estate. unless previously
settled upon her or placed in the hands OF
trustees as i'm the case OF minors, idiots and
/. 'The absolute right to the product OF
her industry.
widower so much larger and more perma-
nent an Interest IN the property OF ms de,
ceased wife than they give TO the widow In
that of her deceased husband.
g. FINALLY, against the whole system by
which the legal existence OF the wife -
most States, she neither has a legal part IN
the choice Of her residence, nor can shs
make q will nor sue or be sued In her own
I'VE believe that personal Independence
and equal human rights can never be Tor
feited. except for crime; that marrllgs
should be an equal and permanent partner
ship. and so recognized by law; that until
ii is so recognized married partners should
provide against the rancal INJUSTICE "
present laws by every means in their power.
I'VE believe that where domestic oif1cul-
ties arise no appeal should be made 10 legal
tribunals under existing laws, but that al
difficulties should be submitted 10 the equita-
BILE adjustment of arbitrators mutually
chosen.
test against rules and customs which ara
unworthy of the name, since they violate
Justice the essence OF law.
CSlgned) HENRY b. BLACKWELL
LUCY STONE.
"Of course" said Mr. Blackwell last
evening ssthet protest was worded 10 apply
70 laws that have been repealed, replaced,
or greatly modified. We drew Il ~. to-
gether. Colonel Higginson-Rev. Mr.. Hig-
Spy. and IL later appeared Ia the Boston
paners and was widely copied and deridec.
NEWSPAPERS deal with the equality cause
much different now from the way they did
then"