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Marriage And Divorce In State And Church, Benjamin Brewster

Michigan Law Review

When, in 1831, the French philosopher De Tocqueville visited America, he was impressed with the stability of the marriage relation. In his great work, "Democracy in America," he thus sums up the results of his observations: "There is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is so much respected as in America, or where conjugal happiness is more highly or worthily appreciated." And this acute and discerning reasoner makes a further reflection, from his stand-point as one interested in the maintenance of order and stability in the state: "Agitated by the tumultuous passions which frequently disturb …