The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-07-23
COMMUNICATED.
HOrseracing.
Mr.. EoIToR :


right civil magistrate, pure press is "terror to
evil doers, and praise to them that do well."-
In sending you this communication therefore,
together with the result Of the proceedings of
meeting recently held by the citizens of New
Rumley, the writer hopes you will cheerfully give
them place in your columns; in doing which
you will not only comply with the wishes OF
those whose signatures are appended to the res
olutions but you will also, il is believed, crafty |
the desire OF at least all the most worthy por
tion of this neighborhood. By the instrument
tally Of the civil magistrate in this village,
promptly and faithfully executing our laws
against the vice of horseracing, it was for some
time almost entirely suspended within these
bounds; and together with this, other kindred
practices had TO great measure disappeared.
But to the deep regret and modification OF ourI
people, il has within the last year been partially
revived, and now threatens to resume a bolder
and more determined front For not only have
persons about here dared of late 10 set the laws
of the State at defiance by horseracng but per-
sons all The way from Cadiz have recently begun
10 select their race course at short distance
from our village. Have they been driven with
their profligate practices from every other decent
neighborhood2 Do they now sunoose thS,t, this
is the Only place .%.oanaoned enough to tolerate
suc9 an outraged In this supposition they will
find themselves grossly mistaken. For the same
means by which horseracing was formerly ar
rested in this place will most assuredly again be
applied, and that too upon the very first repetl-
ton of the offence. The opposition to it here
is strong, general and indignant. And who that
is not destitute Of correct moral sensbties,Who
that has any proper regard for the sanctty of our
laws, who that makes any pretentons 10 an up
right citizenship, and who especially that loves
whatsoever things are tue, and honest, and lust,
and pure and lovely and of good report, does not
cordially Gbh0r the practice of horseracing, with
all its associate vices?
Is it not an idle and Improbable businossP 1t
improves the breed Of horses says one.-Improye
the breed of horses at the expense of good mo-
rails and the laws of the State! And for what
purpose docs it improve their breed? For spft
running! BW clnnot our present breed of horses
run fast enough for the plow and for the harrow,
the cart and the wagon; the principal purposes
for which our citizens use them2 Let the Jock
les that have nothing else to do, that are accus-
toned TO spend their precious time in idle and
profjgate habits, caring as little for the law Of
the land as they do for the law of the Lord, i'm
prove the breed Of horses for swift running. An
industrious and virtuous community do not need
them for such purpose.
But not only is it an idle practice, but it is on
many accounts positively pernicious, 1t is a cruel
abuse Of the dumb brute. 1t puts in jeopardy
tic lives Of the riders as we'll as the lives of 9th
crs, shocking instances of which have not unfre-
quently been witnessed; aud all this, forsooth, to
improve the breed Of swift horses. 1t brings in
TO contempt our laws, intended for the suppress
sion oFyce and the safety of community. 1t i'm
peaches The integrity of the constituted authorI
ties that are bound by oath faithfully to execute
the laws, and who cannot permit them to galloI
them down without violation of their sacreC
trust. Besides it is invariably connected will
gambling and other mmoralites, which it is dI
rectly calculated to propagate. For who wouLt
be at the expense of keeping up horse for tht
track if he did not expect TO make something b.
it! And what is gambling but constructive theft
The principal element Of theft is a covetous de
sire to appropriate the property of another with
out rendering an adequate return. And is no
this the chief ingredient in gambling? Nor doe
it mend the matterto risk his property in stake
for no man has any more right 10 throw away hi
property in this way than he has to burn his ow
house, or kill his horse, or squander his mean
of a living and of doing good, by any other use
less expenditure. He that CANDLES does not Ii
orally steal, it is true, brit he acts in part,
least, upon the very same principle, and that to
whether he gamblos directly or by an evasion {
the law; and il is, we believe, not the influence
sound principle, but of mere custom or a regar
to popular opinion, which allows him TO do on
and not the other. Are not also the fraud, an
low tr.ckery, and profanity, and The tipping, an
the fist fighting, or the still more mortal combl
usually connected with the practice of horser;
"a IL e..
as we'll as revolving TO the virtuou4 feelings
community? Look at those sections Of COUNT
where it receives the sanction of the civil lay
and the general appreciation Of the people, ar
what do you there behold? Do you expect
find in such place the purest morals and Il
warmest piety2 Do you not rather expect
find the very reverse? There you may see Sl
bath breaking and profanity, with many similt
vices, 60 forth unbushing and unrebuked, al
the pistol and the bowie knife are the we
pons ofwar with which they usually defend the
rights And whom do you see among the va
crowd collected at The race ground9 Not for Il
most part the followers of the meek and low
Jesus, but generally those who openly profal
his sacred name. And shall such practice
permitted TO pass amongst as without rebuk
Shall our laws enacted in this state, for the su
preston of this and other kindred vices, such
shooting matches, &c, be allowed to remain
the statute book dead lettor2 1t cannot,
shall not be. JOHN BRYAN.
0ArAt meeting of the citizens of New Ru
ley, for the purpose Of taking into consideraii
the best method of putting stop to the growi
evil Of Horseracing in our ncighborhood, TT
mas Thompson was called 10 the Char, and w
II. Clarkhill, appointed Secretary. The Cb,
than appointed the following gentlemen as
committee to draft resolutions for the evenin
viz: Rey.J. Bryan, VIM. II. .Clarkhill and Tho
Day, Esq, who, after having retired few n