Can a wife's claim for pecuniary damages be impaired by a divorce granted for misconduct by her husband?

her pecuniary claims, if secured by legal obligations. The right of the wife to dower in the lands of her husband, or to an allowance by way of alimony out of his estate, could not be impaired by a divorce granted for his misconduct; and the existence of an agreement whereby her future support by him was secured by a lawful obligation would afford a good reason why in equity her claims upon his property should not be provided for in the decree in divorce. The absence of such a provision seems to confirm, rather than destroy, the provisions of the contract, and looks to its expected continuance as a just and proper provision for the wife. Blaker v. Cooper, 7 Serg. & R. 500.