On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    7

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Xhe Committee To Whom The Application To...

    A few words may be allowed as to the plan and details of this Bill . They are submitted with the greatest deference to the high authorities to whose arguments they may appear addressed , and are perhaps only rendered necessary by the haste with which the subject came before the House , and , th _^ probable want of time for weighing deliberately the details and operation of the measure

    (< ( < ( _' < it was unsafe Andfirst to it IS its the as what facilitate what it is _tl tine marriages / 5 On fully will at it appear , civil form andprecaution marriage . They were jealousy , ) with which a matter of so much difficult to define or coi controul , or , to persons such relief necessarily of the law , restraints ter entitlingthemto plan the would be confiding their plied plied the confiding of any civil function whatever , to persons not easily supposed object . careful any rate ofthe perusal a such preserved , is ! aware of the the Legislature civil importance for granting any whose bonft fide irregularities civil liabilitytocreate or ofthecharac possession to secure . They saw too , that difficult in execution , if . it imhard to and > clandes generallaw prevent , to _\ Committee desire , ) that of Bill , the anxious the trust every their in as was Church the just fullforceas in . admit a jealousy , and would regard a they ; for was the project entrusting extremely whomit topersons wholesome releasefrom

    brought within the superintendence of the law , or released the parties from any one safeguard which is imposed on marriages contracted in the accustomed forms . The Bill therefore imposes every form now required of a Church marriage , and adds others : the party who should avail themselves of it , would go

    through precisely the same ordeal , ( except being compelled to join in a religious service _;) and it is impossible to conceive , that a person , wishing to contract an irregular marriage , would resort to a course which would impose on him more expense , all ( and somewhat more , than ) the usual Church forms , and the further inconvenience and risk of publicity occasioned by his having also to attend at the Dissenting Meeting-house . So far from a Churchman adopting the character of a Dissenter for such a purpose , it is

    far more probable that the reverse would in practice be the case . Having preserved untouched all the civil requisites as to ; form and place , the operation of the Bill would prevent any risk from the _juisconjluct of the Dissenting _minister , because his a « cts under it would be of _, _aQ , more avail than . they , _jure at this moment . He has by it no new povy _^ r , no means ( _whatevelr _. _his _inclinations might be ) of doing any mischief , for every thing _necesstuny to the legal validity of the marriage is left where it was . ; / . , .

    it , A second objection is inttde to the _proposal _pf _al lowing theyb _§ uefit o _( _tljJp Act in _cases where only one of _$ he _parties is a _Dissentejr _., _Jf . thq TC _^ _$£ Jtf conceded where both parties dissent , there will probably , be , _litJle obj _^ t _^ jp _, $ 9 its being restricted to that case 5 but it may be observed that the reKe £ prov _>

    7

    7

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 12, 1823, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/smrp_12061823/page/7/