The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-10-07

q
gent collection Of people of both sexes assembled
in the spacious and well known Manhattan Assem-
bly, Rooms, for the purpose Of commencing great
philanhroPlc movement, calculated to increase the
benevolent ceilings OF the agej change peculiarly
necessary and desirable in the present vicious
of the public feeling and public affairs. The COM
pany was highly intelligent, composed of some Of
the FIRST spirits Of the city. Alter good deal Of
previous conversation, they proceeded to organize
the assembly into regular mee,ng-called upon
one Of them whom the spirit moved. to commence
the great movement Of humanity, and proceed to
stem the torrent OF cruelty and passion, that has
been holding sway go long in the world.
After some preliminary conversation, in which
number of very intelligent people took part, the
venerable Thomas Herltell, formerly member OF
Assembly Tor this city and Albany, stood up and
commenced the delivering OF the following ad-
dress on cruelty to dumb beasts.
/ Thomas II ERTrHLL rose and said-Ths vice cruel.
i ty TO dumb beasts, seems to be as common as the
/ moral depravliy Of mankind; and as great and ex-
IRENE as the ignorance OF which both are the con-
sequences land education has consplfed with other
causes TO induce the eUl In question: and to Justify
aud confirm its practice Even religion, as 1t has
been taught man, has, III effect contributed lis
Influence restrain the natural feelings OF human
ity and smother mans adherence of acts of cruelty
to the brute creation. Being taught TO believe and
venerate the Mosaic Cosmogany, ESQ caled,) it is
part Of mans creed that dumb beasts were created
for his special and that the Fright to use" is
(by easy transltion) made the right TO abuse and
| treat them as he pleases. Presumipg that dumb
beasts have no souls, he also holds that he has no
intellect, reason and no rights, but quiet and pa
llenl submission to such infection as the ignorance,
passion and inhumanlty OF their Lord and mas
ter may capricousy choose to impose upon them.
| Applause from the ladies', particularly Look at
the treatment OF the horse, one OF the most noble
animals which were created for nuns use !" and
see how he is used and abused by barbarous and
savage The cruelty inflicted on this tractibe
and submissive ANIMAL is probably fair sample
Of the in which he is used in other chris
tian countries. So accustomed are we to witness
the daily, numerous and gross instances OF the
cruelty inflicted on this useful and unresisting dumb
being, that it is usually passed by UNDECIDED,
viewed with cold indifference as mere common
occurrence, matter of course Of itie or no moment,
and not worth notice. Thus, general consent tol.
crates the tCrong and public opinion regards
offence against either moral or civil law; and I'M
punity screens the culprlt from punishment, and
thus encourages the repetition OF such acts, and
increases crimes and cruelty to dumb beasts is viz
tually made the Common LaU OF our country.
JOHN SMITH think II Is very uncommon law.
LYDIA HooPER-Oh. shocking shocking.
SEVERAL YoICEs-Go on silence.
Mr.. HERTTELL continued-H0w often do we
witness in public streets the ebullton Of human
passion, recklessly and numerically vented upon
the suffering and submissive horse? Though, as in
many instances, blind, lame, starved, poor and
limb, to the extent of his power, to remove to lis
required destination, burihen greatly dispropor-
toned to his strength-who is there who have not
seen him numerically scourged, dashed, walled and
lacerated all over his body and limbs; violently
pulled, jerked, and twitched by the reins, and
sawed by the bride bits across his jaws, il to
break the bone, dislodge the teeth, cash the
tongue, and tear his lips. tGreat sensation }
How often is he madly kicked and bruised on his
belly with heavy thick soled boots-outrageou
beaten over his body and limbs with the butt Of
whip, the rung Of cart, club or billet OF wood
ultl he (has been known toy groan under the in
fiction and tears run from his eyes to all which
he is obliged to submit without the power TO resist
or the means OF remonstrating-and who cares!
Who heeds such injustice or cares for such brutal
ny. Whoever knew the perpetrator of such
cruelty called TO account or punished for his crie
Who, under the present waned and waning state
OF public morals can be expected to usd a
notice the crime in question, and order legal pro-
ceedngs TO be Instituted against the savage pun
sh him for cruelty to dumb beast, Why should
he trouble himself with business for which he
would get no increase OF pay, and receives his sa
larry whether he does his duty or not! Will an al
derman or other justice OF the peace move In the
matter, or with more promptltude and energy?
JOHN SMITH NO, indeed; aldermen will eat
oysters at Forence's, and drink champaign, but
will do no such thing.
| MARY WooLFsTENcRoFT SMITH.--True! shock
ing
| Mr. HRRTTRLI., continued Certainly not! II
i
| prudent as to cause man to be troubled only for
| using his own property just he pleases Will
| the District Attorney call him to account? It Is
not his duty officially, TO arrest or prosecute in
case no longer regarded by the public as a crime
VINO expects a constable or marshal TO arrest the
offender, with view to v.ndlcate the La,cs of hw.
manify? Really, no one! The stool pigeon Prac-
rice Is more profitable than any business in which
there is no interest but to subservc the cause Of
| morality!
JOHN SMrrH.-True Gods own truth.
PErER WnKINs.-Lets have no more Interrupt
tons.
| Mr.. HRRrrEIL coutinued.-Wil the public
press the boosted OF public morals, the
shameful act-denounce It's vile character. and ex-
| pose its villaiRous author? Editors er oDicio
/ sensible men, and averse to lose subscriber, and
thus impair the patronage of a useful moral mont
| tor [Great applause. Will the holy pastors OF
the church be disposed TO stir up the wrath and in
dIgnaton CT their plous men, and turn the moral
| influence OF religion against cruelty to dumb
beasts! The professors OF the true faith so
much engaged in saving the souls OF men, that they
| have no time to waste on dumb beasts, who have
no souls to be saved from the barbarous cruelty OF
men who claim to have immortal souls! Extra
i ordinary applause and cheers. Who, then, can
expect that they will be diverted from their charita.
Bile and interesting labor OF raising money for rever
end missionaries, or tOregO the manifestation OF
so much christian humility is shown forth in the
/ splendid and costly temples reared and devoted 10
the ostentatious exhibition of public prayers, the
public shoo of religion and to illustrate the practl-
i cal influence OF their masters divine admonitlon-
F" be not like the hypocrite." (Great sensation and
| applause Who ever dreamed or heard OF an in
stance in which cruelty to dumb beasts has ever
been denounced, officially and publicly, by clerical
professors as immoral and irregious; or that that
i crime ever constituted the principle or leading
| theme Of public OBSCURE from the pulpit And
Il who ever knew an instance where any public con-
servator of the public peace, or official guardian OF
public morals, ever voluntarily and officially, in
terposed his authority to prevent the crime, or 10
punish the offender against the laws of humanity
| in the case under consideration? (Vocferous ap-
pause) II, psrchance, feeling OF sympathy for
| with horror and disgust, exhibitions oi human de-
pravty and passion on dumb beasts, should prompt
any pl,iianthroprt to interfere in behalf Of the
| abused sufferer, save him from savage cruelty,
he would be laughed to scorn, or be sneered at for
his sickly humanity, and denounced and abused, if
j nor chastlsed for lmpndentlY intermeddlng with