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The opinion of the Supreme Court of AL abama in our paper to day, settles an impor- tant principle in relation to the validity of the forms, without the legal sanctions of mar riage. The question presented by the rec ord was whether such conspiracy had been proved as was punishable by law. Several persons combined to accomplish a wicked purpose. They forged marriage license, showed 1t to the young lady and her par ents, as evidence of the good faith of the sHitof; and one of his associates falsely rep- resented himself to be justice of the peace, authorised to perform the rites of matrmo- ny,-whereupon consent was welded, and the usual ceremony was repeated by the pre- tended magistrate. Afterwards, the cheat was detected, and the parties to it were indicted for conspiracy. The only one found was tried and convicted in the circuit court of Butler. On points reserved as novel and diff iieult, the Supreme Court has delivered an opinion affirming the judgement below and indicating by the numerous authorities cited, that marriage, being a civil contract, Is valid where the persons united declare their inien- ton lo he husband and wife iu formal man ner, n tle presence oi witnesses. even though nc marriage license ttns been obtained. nor the usual ceremony administered hy an au- lhoFlsed person, This will open the eyes ol those who sometimes in leviv undergo a mock ceremony of marriage fu2caioosa .Naaiinr.