Jones v. Jones

95 Ala. 443

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: December 15, 1891
• Status: Published

Opinion

WALKEH, J.-

This is a suit by the Avife against her husband for a divorce from the bonds of matrimony, and for alimony. It is contended for the appellant that all claim to such relief was barred by the act of the General Assembly of Alabama releasing him from the bonds of matrimony theretofore existing betAveen him and the appellee. — Acts of Ala. 1888 89, p. 361. If that act was valid, no divorce could be decreed in this ease, as the bonds of matrimony had already been dissolved Avhen the bill was filed. The proviso in the act only covered a contingency which the enactment itself rendered impossible; for, if the act operated to divorce the parties, the wife could not thereafter maintain any proceedings for a divorce from her former husband, and the proviso does not purport to save her rights to alimony, except in proceedings by her for a divorce. If the act had “the same effect as a divorce granted by a court of chancery,” an end Avas thereby put to the relation of marriage, and, as a consequence, so far as the husband was concerned, the divorce having been granted in his favor, all duties and obligations necessarily dependent upon the continuance of that relation immediately ceased. — Harrison v. Harrison, 20 Ala. 449; Boykin v. Rains, 28 Ala. 343.

Before the poAver of granting divorces from the bonds of matrimony Avas confided to the courts in England, Parliament assumed and exercised the right of passing special acts dissolving the bonds of marriage. Many of the State legislatures in this country have passed special acts of divorce, the validity of Avhicli has been sustained when not rendered invalid by the operation of constitutional prohibitions.' The courts have generally recognized the right of the State legislatures, when not restrained by the constitutional limitations, to exercise the same poAver over the subject as was possessed by the English Parliament. And the enactment of general laws conferring upon the courts also authority to grant divorces in certain enumerated cases has not usually been, regarded as having the effect of abridging the plenary poAver of the legislature to dissolve the bonds of matrimony by special acts, either in the same, or in other classes of cases. — 1 Bishop on Marriage and Divorce, 6th ed., §§ 660 to 695; Cooley on Constitutional Limitations, 6th ed., 128 to 132; 5 Amer. & Eng. Encyc. of Law, 747; Maynard v. Hill, 125 U. S. 190 ; Starr v. Pease, 8 Conn. 541; Wright v. Wright, 2 Md. 429.

The power to grant divorces by special acts is somewhat anomalous as a legislative function. It has been conceded, rather because it had been too long assumed and acted on to be denied, than because on principle it could be regarded as properly within the legitimate sphere of legislative action. Kent says : “The question of divorce involves investigations which are properly of a judicial nature, and the jurisdiction over divorces ought to be confined exclusively to the judicial tribunals, under limitations to be prescribed by law.” — 2 Kent’s Con. 106. Cooley says : “But it is safe to say, that the general sentiment in the legal profession is against the rightfulness of special legislative divorces ; and it is believed that, if the question couid originally have been considered by the courts, unembarrassed by any considerations of long acquiescence, and of the serioxis consequences which must result from affirming their unlawfulness, after so many had been granted and new relations formed, it is highly probable that these enactments would have been held to be usurpations of judicial authority, and we should have been spared the necessity for the special constitutional provisions which have since been introduced.” — Cooley on Con. Lim., 6th ed., 132.

In each of the former Constitutions of this State there was a provision prohibiting the granting of divorces except in cases provided for by law, by suit in chancery. The Constitution of 1819 further provided, that “no decree for such divorce shall have effect, until the same shall be sanctioned by two thirds of both houses of the General Assembly.” Constitution of 1819, Art. YI, § 13. The corresponding section of the Constitution of 1861 was in these words : “Divorces from the bonds of matrimony shall not be granted, but in cases provided for by law, by suit in chancery. But decrees for divorce shall be final, unless appealed from within three- months from the date of the enrollment thereof.” Constitution of 1861, Art. YI, § 13. The substance of this provision was carried forward into the Constitutions of 1865 and 1868 respectively. - Constitution of 1865, Art. IY, § 30 ; Constitution of 1868, Art. IY, § 30. The existence of these éxpress constitutional restraints may be regarded as implying a recognition of the power of the legislature to grant divorces in special cases, unless the exercise of such power is prohibited by the Constitution.

The present Constitution of the State contains no express provision on tbe subject of divorce. It, however, prescribes general restraints upon tbe power of tbe legislature wbicb were not found in tbe former Constitutions. 'Tbe question to be considered is, whether tbe omission of a special provision against granting divorces except in judicial proceedings left tbe legislature free to exercise an original plenary power over tbe subject, and to grant divorces by enactments for special cases. It is clear that such special legislation for individual cases , is not in harmony with tbe policy of preserving an equality of all persons before tbe law, without favors to some and discriminations against others under similar circumstances. Tbe subjects of marriage and divorce aré regulated by tbe general laws of tbe State, statutory and common. These general laws fixed tbe rights, duties and obligations of the parties to tbe marriage relation. They also provide for tbe dissolution of that relation in certain contingencies, and prescribe tbe causes wbicb authorize such dissolution, tbe kind and measure of relief to be granted, and tbe mode of proceeding to secure it. If a husband or a wife, who is not entitled under tbe general law to be relieved of tbe duties and obligations of the marriage relation, may be freed threfrom by a special act of tbe legislature for bis or her relief, tbe result is to dispense with tbe general law for tbe benefit of an individual. Even if tbe circumstances are such that tbe same relief could be assured by proceedings under tbe general law, tbe granting of tbe relief by a special act of the legislature is equally an exemption from tbe operation of a general law, as tbe necessity of having recourse to tbe remedies wbicb others in similar circumstances must pursue is dispensed with. Such legislation singles out an individual for special indulgence, and exempts him from obedience to tbe general rules.which others must confront to. Several provisions of tbe present Constitution of tbe State indicate a purpose to confine tbe legislature, as far as practicable, to tbe enactment of general laws applicable alike to all persons under similar circumstances. It is made tbe duty of tbe General Assembly to “pass general laws, under wbicb local and private interests shall be provided for and protected.” — Constitution of Ala., Art. IV, § 25. It is also provided, that “no special or local law shall be enacted for the benefit of individuals or corporations, in cases wbicb are or can be provided for by a general law, or where tbe relief sought can be ^iven by any court of this State; nor shall tbe operation of any general law be suspended by tbe General Assembly for tbe benefit of any individual, corporation, or association.” — lb. Art. IV. § 23. The legislature owes equal obedience to each, of the clauses of this section of the Constitution; but such obedience can not be effectually enforced by the courts in the one case as in the other. There is a marked difference between the two clauses. This court has held that, under the first clause, a discretion is necessarily left to the legislature to determine whether the particular object or want “can be provided for by a general lawand that the exercise of such discretion can not be revised by the courts. — Clarke v. Jack, 60 Ala. 271. No such construction can be put upon the language of the second clause of the section. That is a positive, unconditional limitation of the power of the General Assembly. It can not suspend the operation of any general law, for the benefit of any individual, corporation or association. Within the range of this prohibition there is no room for the exercise of any discretion by the legislature, or by the courts. It is not necessary for the purposes of this case to define the scope of'this provision. Clearly, it has the effect of leaving the legislature without the power to pass a special act relieving an individual of any liability or obligation which a general law imposes upon him in favor of another, or exempting him from the operation of the remedies afforded by the general law for the enforcement of such liability or obligation, or giving him a right or remedy against another to which he is not entitled under the general law. We need not decide whether this provision would render invalid an act merely conferring upon an individual, corporation or association a privilege involving no interference with the rights of others under the general law, or removing disabilities, or granting such relief as could not operate as an infringement of any rights or remedies to which others are entitled under the general law. — McKenzie v. Gorman, 68 Ala. 442. It is sufficient for the purposes of this case to hold that the provision is effectual to render invalid a special act of the legislature for the relief of an individual, which would necessarily operate to absolve him from the duties and obligations which the general law imposes, upon him as a husband, to suspend in his favor the general law which others, similarly situated, must conform to in order to obtain relief from the bonds of matrimony. The special act relied on by the appellant was unconstitutional, and presents no obstacle to the relief sought by the appellee, if she is entitled to relief under the general law.- — Darling v. Rogers, 7 Kan. 592; Simonds v. Simonds, 103 Mass. 572.

More than two years before the bill was filed, the appellant required, tbe appellee to leave bis bouse. They bave not lived together since. Tbe busband bas not provided for tbe wife’s support, and bas not consented to ber return to bis bouse. These facts are not disputed. They show a “voluntary abandonment” of tbe wife by tbe husband, within tbe meaning of sub-division 3 of section 2322 of tbe Code. A busband may as effectually abandon bis wife by putting ber away from him and denying ber tbe privilege of dwelling with him, as by going off himself from their former residence, leaving ber there, and not permitting ber to live with him. — Morris v. Morris, 20 Ala. 168; Hanberry v. Hanberry, 29 Ala. 719 ; Kinsey v. Kinsey, 37 Ala. 393; 2 Am. & Eng. Encyc. of Law, 803. It is not contended that tbe busband is entitled to a divorce from tbe wife on any of tbe grounds prescribed by tbe statute. Nothing short of tbe existence of a ground of divorce in favor of tbe busband against tbe wife can defeat tbe right of tbe wife to a divorce from ber busband because of bis abandonment of ber without ber consent, for tbe period and in tbe manner fixed by the statute. The proof against tbe wife in this case, if believed, shows no more than that she was guilty of grossly offensive behavior in ber husband’s presence on one occasion; that at times she used coarse and indelicate language; that once when ber husband’s young daughter by a former marriage was standing near the fire-place, she stirred up tbe fire, so that tbe flame caught tbe clothing of tbe child, and she gave no assistance in tbe rescue; and that she wrote and circulated a number of anonymous letters cruelly and foully slandering another of ber husband’s daughters. If she was guilty of such exhibitions of ill-temper and a mean disposition, it may be readily understood bow tbe marriage relation became irksome to the busband. However bard it may bave been for him to endure such conduct, yet it did not, under tbe statute, afford him ground for relief from an uncongenial association, or furnish him with a legal justification for bis abandonment of bis wife. — Bryan v. Bryan, 34 Ala. 516; Hanberry v. Hanberry, supra; 5 Am. & Eng. Encyc. of Law, 805.

"When a divorce is granted in favor of tbe wife, if she bas no separate estate, or if it is insufficient for ber maintenance, she is entitled to an allowance out of tbe estate of ber bus-band ; and, in such case, “tbe allowance must be as liberal as tbe estate of tbe busband will permit, regard being bad to tbe condition of bis family, ana to all tbe circumstances of tbe case.” — Code, §§ 2332 and 2333. Tbe conduct of tbe wife before ber husband’s abandonment of ber is a circumstance to be considered in determining tbe amount of the provision to be decreed in her favor. Her mere failure to contribute to the peace and happiness of the home can not be allowed to justify the husband in casting her off. But she can not be regarded as entirely blameless, if, while she was living with her husband, without provocation from him, she was inconsiderate or disrespectful in her bearing toward him, or was unkind in her treatment of his children by a former marriage, or if she habituallv pursued a course of conduct calculated to vex and harass a reasonably indulgent husband. The inducement of gaining an advantage by a liberal provision for her separate maintenance is to be withheld from a perverse wife, who, though guilty of nothing amounting to a ground of divorce against her, yet, without previous fault on the part of her husband, so bears herself in her relations with him and his household, as to provoke him into wishing to get rid of her society. Overindulgence is not to be shown to a wife who has been abandoned by her husband, when her own failure to act the part of a dutiful wife has helped to put her in the position of “having the law on her side” in a proceeding against the husband for divorce. Such misconduct on the part of the wife may be considered as, in a measure, palliating the offense of the husband, and as abridging her claim to an allowance from his estate for her separate maintenance. Jeter v. Jeter, 36 Ala. 391; Lovett v Lovett, 11 Ala. 763. The Slainant herself testified: “Dr. Jones was a kind hus-to me, one of the kindest in the world.” The evidence shows, without contradiction, that he was a man of excellent character, enjoying the respect of the community in which he has lived for many years. There is nothing to indicate that he was at fault in his relations with his wife, until he required her to leave his house. It is unnecessary to detail the evidence as to the misconduct of the wife. Some of the more serious charges against her are not satisfactorily established. Enough, however, is provea to show that she was principally responsible for the unhappy state of feeling in her husband’s household. Her conduct was well calculated to foment discord. To say the least of it, she was far from discreet or forbearing in her treatment of her husband’s children by a former marriage. Her course towards her husband, and toward those who were naturally the objects of his affection and solicitude, was well calculated to destroy his regard for her, and to overtax his forbearance. True, it was the duty of the husband to persevere in his efforts to prevent an estrangement between himself and his wife, and to avoid, even at tbe expense of Ms own comfort and peace of mind, an open breach of the marriage relation. He should not have yielded to the impulse to abandon his wife, as she had committed no offense to justify him in that course. But the wife’s own folly in acting- so as to forfeit the regard of a kind husband is not to be overlooked in determining the provision to be made in her favor.

The evidence indicates that the husband owns property, including his interest in a stock of goods, worth about six thousand dollars in excess of his liabilities. He is engaged in business as a country merchant, and is also a practicing physician, though he has been trying to give up his practice, and gets but little income from that source. Three of his children by a former marriage,' two daughters and one son, are living with him and are dependent upon him for their support. They are all minors. His home is in a small hamlet in Fayette county. The habits of life are simple and inexpensive. The price of board in respectable families in that neighborhood is from five*to seven and one half dollars per month, with everything furnished. Boarders have been received in the defendant’s family at such prices. The complainant has no property which yields her any income. She is entitled to have provision made for her maintenance in the condition in life of her husband. The amount is not to be swelled because she chooses to reside in one of the suburbs of the city of Birmingham, where the cost of living is greater. In view of the course pursued by the wife before the separation, and of all the circumstances of the case, our conclusion is that she should receive fifteen dollars per month as a provision for her maintenance after the divorce. If she had been wholly without fault, a more liberal allowance would have been proper. This is less than was allowed by the chancellor. In this respect his decree will be here modified. The appellant has nothing to complain of in the amounts he was required to pay for compensation to the solicitors for the appellee and for temporary alimonv. With, the modification above ordered the decree will be affirmed.

Modified and affirmed.