grave, and the
widow left without a husband to cherish, then comes the law more
cruel than death, and decrees that poverty shall be added to
desolation!

Say, delegates of the people of Indiana, answer and say whether
you, whether those who sent you here are guiltless in this thing?
Have you done justice? Have you loved mercy?

But let us turn to the question more immediately before us. Let
us pass from the case of the widow and look to that of the wife:
First, the husband becomes entitled, from the instant of
marriage, to all the goods and chattels of his wife. His right is
absolute, unconditional. Secondly, the husband acquires, in
virtue of the marriage, the rents and profits (in all cases
during her life) of his wife's real estate. The flagrant
injustice of this has been somewhat modified by a statute barring
the marital right to the rent of lands, but this protection does
not extend to personal property. Is this as it should be? Are we
meting out fair and equal justice?... There is a species of very
silly sentimentalism which it is the fashion to put forth in
after-dinner toasts and other equally veracious forms, about
woman being the only tyrant in a free republic; about the chains
she imposes on her willing slaves, etc.; it would be much more to
our credit, if we would administer a little less flattery and a
little more justice.

From pages upon pages of eloquence delivered in reply, I cull the
following extracts, which are a sample of the spirit of the
opposition:

"I am of opinion that to adopt the proposition of the gentleman
from Posey (Mr. Owen), will not ameliorate the condition of
married women."

"I can not see the propriety of establishing for women a distinct
and separate interest, the consideration of which would, of
necessity, withdraw their attention from that sacred duty which
nature has, in its wisdom, assigned to their peculiar care. I
think the law which unites in one common bond the pecuniary
interests of husband and wife should remain. The sacred ordinance
of marriage, and the relations growing out of it, should not be
disturbed. The common law does seem to me to afford sufficient
protection."

"If the law is changed, I believe that a most essential injury
would result to the endearing relations of marri