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 in the United States, has been given by Mr. Justice Story, the best possible authority: "Nothing is more common in almost all the states of America than second marriages of this sort; and so far from being doubtful as to their moral tendency, they are among us deemed the very best sort of marriages. In my whole life I never heard the slightest suggestion against them founded on moral or domestic considerations."

In most Catholic countries they are formally prohibited, but dispensations are easily obtained, and no real difficulty is thrown in the way of persons desirous of contracting them. In France, they are of constant occurrence. The licence is granted by the Minister of Justice, who merely requires to be assured that no improper intercourse has taken place between the parties.

So far, therefore, everything is against the restrictive law or doctrine; and powerful indeed should be the reasons for maintaining it. But the only objection that still influences candid minds, is one that falls to the ground the moment we subject it to analysis.