[347] Special divorce acts may be found in the _Ter. Laws of Mich._, II, 655, 709, 710, 752, 753, 769; III, 840, 842, 847, 895, 901, 905 (three cases), 907 (two cases).
[349] Thus on Jan. 15, 1825, two decrees were granted in one bill: _Laws_ (1825), 120.
[350] Act of Feb. 15, 1831: _Laws_, 71, 72. There is another example in _Laws_ (1839), 79.
[351] _Laws of a Local Nature_ (1838), 406.
[352] _Laws of a Local Nature_ (1842), 117.
[353] _Cf._ _ibid._ (1842), 119, 120, 121; _ibid._ (1844), 148; _ibid._ (1849), 203, 300 (two cases); _ibid._ (1850), 105, 129, 194, 342, 344; _ibid._ (1851), 404, 441, 497.
[356] For examples see _Laws_ (1851), 39, 40 (four cases); and _ibid._ (1852), 60, 61 (two cases). Seven of the acts cited are also given or restated in _Collected Stat. of the Ter. of Minn. and Decis. of Supreme Court_ (1853).
During the first six years of territorial life many special divorce decrees may be found in the Nebraska laws; and they are invariably expressed in the curt and summary style peculiar to such legislation throughout the country, no reference usually being made to causes or to alimony.[357] At the same time Kansas was having a similar experience. One divorce petition was granted by the assembly in 1857, three in 1858, eight in 1859, while in 1860 the number suddenly rose to forty-three; for this was the "last chance" before the constitutional prohibition of 1859 went into effect.[358] Previous to 1847 Iowa was still more indulgent. Year after year appeals were made to the assembly for relief. Sometimes the intention appears to be to deny the defendant the privilege of further wedlock; as in 1840, when a decree was granted to dissolve the marriage contract, "so far as relates to the said Harriet Williams," who is allowed to change her name. Sometimes a partial divorce is sanctioned, as when the marital bond between John Philips and Nancy his wife was "so far dissolved as to permit the said parties to live separate and apart from each other." In this case the woman was given power to sue and be sued, and was allowed to retain the children. In 1841-42 eleven more legislative decrees were granted. The next year saw nineteen petitions combined in one bill, which was passed over the governor's veto by a two-thirds vote. The last examples occur in 1846, the year when Iowa was admitted to the Union as a state, and when the usual constitutional interdict appears.[359]