The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-10
THE DIVORCE QUESTION.
The Convention Decides Against Di
vOrccs in this State for Any Cause

The Convention Decides Against Di-
vorccs in this State for Any Cause
The debate in regard to granting di.
vorces in South Carolina is one of the
most interesting and perhaps the
ablest of all in the constitutional CON
vention. The amendment olfcred by
MIR. Henderson, of Aiken, was under
consideration, which proposed to
grant divorces on the ground of adul-
terry alone. and this amendment was
strongly urged.
Mr.. Henderson in speaking on the
subject said that we ought to bear in
mind that the marriage ceremony is
! simple, the benediction pronounced
upon the contract by the man of God.
When the contract is broken the limo
cent party should be allowed to nave
redress. When thore is u wrong the
law should furnish remedy. No man
can gainsay the fact that adultery is
wrong. We should have the manhood
to put in the fundamental law RENE =
dy for such wrong as that. The
remedy here suggested is hedged
around by all restrictions to prevent
its abuse. AS to the opening the flood
gates of abuse, the only way to change
this provision, If 1T should be placed in
tho constitution, is to have it changed
q
convention and this is guarantee
enough that abuses will not come in
If you don't grant divorces for this
ground, | believe, he said, you place u
premium on adultery. We can't shut
our eyes to the fact that in every
county of the State there arc good
women who should be relieved from
tho bands uniting them to adultcr-
GUS men and 1t was in their behalf he
appealed.
Senator b. r Watson then took
the floor and proceeded to make one of
the most feeling and forcibie spec chcs
that was delivered during the day
against the granting Of a divorce in
any manner. He wanted the constitu-
tlon to stamp out the possibility even
OF divorce ever being granted
i'll the State. Some OF his references
to the agony caused in homes by pa
rading OF family troubles in courts
heart bled for what the women had to
bear in somc cases, but it was better
for them to bear such things for tn,
sake of their children. Hc held up a
Bible and said this Scripture was clear
as it could be. The majority of the
people Of South Carolina were be-
levers in the Bible. He read what
the Bible said. Do this and you will
shock the sensibilitios of hundreds of
Christians all over the State.
DR.. Zimmerman asked II the thco-
logians were not divided on the mean
ing OF the passages in the Bible.
Senator Watson replied that they
were as to what Matthew meant, but
Mark and Luke made it clear.
Mr.. Jervey on behalf OF the commit.
too explained that the section as re-
ported by the committee neither pre-
srribcs or prohibits divorces, but sim
ply left 1t to the Legislature. Several
resolutions were presented to the COM
mittee on cither side. The committee
rejected all and 1T was recommended
! that the law stand as it is. We advo-
cate that the Legislature shall be put
in the position to keep up with tho
progress OF tho age. Lot them meet
the cxigencies Of the occasion. 1t is a
matter Of pride that although tho con-
stitution permits the Legislature to
provide for divorces it has mover ~ d
occasion to do 80. As to the morris of