No. 66. An Act To Define And Protect The Rights Of Married...

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representativos of the state of Michigan, That any estáte, real or personal, which may have been acquired by any female before her marriage,either by her own personal industry or by inheritance, gift, grant or devise, or to which she may at any time hcreafter be entitled by inhcritance, gift, grant or devise, and the rents, issues, profits and incorac thereof, shall be and continue the real and personal estáte of such female after marriage to the same extent as before marriage, and none of said property shall be liable for her husband's debts or engaments, but such property shall be liable for all the debts of the wife contracted prior to the marriage. Sec. 2. That no estáte of any feme covert of which she is possessed, or entitled to, in her own right, (excepting her contingent right of dower in the estáte of her husband,) shall henceforth pass by herdeed without a previous examination beforo a justice of the peace or notary public, in the county wherein she resides, and she shall have acknowledged on oath that she executed such deed freely and voluntarily, and of her own accord, without any fear, or compulsión of her husband or any other person. Sec. 3. On the demise of the wife during the life time of her husband, heshall be entitled to such portion of the property owned and possessed by his wife at the time of her demise, in like marmer and to the same extent as. by the laws of this state, and this act, the widow is entitled to have or possess in the state and property possessed by the husband at the time af his demise. Sec. 4. Any marriedwoman,may by wil!, jequeath or devise her property, or any part thereof, as iully and in like manner is if she were sole. Sec. 5. All laws or parts of laws conravening the provisions of this statute ire hereby repealed. Approved March 11, 1844.It ippears tó me that this act will prove rat her discouraging to the spendthrift fortune lumters, asit leaves the property of women whether girls or widows, in their own hands during life. It is intimated that the law was made to meet one or more individual cases, but it is certain that its application'will be very extensive. affectingthe interests and happiness of very numerous families. Should it be retained long enough for a fair trial, I think its operation will be found to be salutary, and it will then be fully sanctioned by public opinión. I know notwhat more our Legislature can do for the ladies, unless it be to give them the right to vote and hold office - a privilege that the one party would probably be as as far from desiring as the other would be from granting.