Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-08-21
CROW LEGISLATION.
"'Tbe crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark,
When neither is attended"

Wncn neltner Is attended.
The Portsmouth Journal, under the head
Of "Crow Legislation" reports the proceed
ings of the New Hampshire Legislature up
on a bill giving bounty on killing crows
and foxes. The bill grew out Of petition
from certain citizens setting forth that said
srows and foxes had committed most grie-
vous depredatons upon their crops, poultry,
Sc, and begging that law giving reward
for killing them be passed. The bill was
met at the threshold by a motion to declare
it inexpedient to legisate on the subject;
which motion was negalived-ll6 to 1913.
A considerable debate ensued, in which
many speakers took part. There was as
much diversity of opinion among the speak
ers as in the discussion Of ''Farmers'
Club.'' Some said the crow was not SO bad
as he was represented to be; that he did eat
some corn. but that he saved more to the
farmer than he ate, by destroying worms
and insects, which were themselves so de-
structive to the corn. Others said he was a
very destructive bird; that he saved very
little to the farmer in the way intlmated, and
robbed him Of great deal. One gentleman
said that IN his section of the State they had
this wear destroyed whole fields of corn;
and another gentleman,in illustration of the
ferocity of the animal, and the entire alb
sence of any emotion Of pity from his breast,
stated that they were known to pick ont
uoung lambs eyes! This should have been
enough to have determined the Legislature
to have ordered the determination Of the
whole crow family; but, strange to say such
was not the effect slim Crow'' had a
staunch friend in Mr.. Preston, who very
ef1ectualIy opposed the bill. We here quote
the Journal: Niles Reg.
"Mr Preston said he did not come up to
the house with any particular Instructions
on the subject. He hoped that the gentle
man from Walpole did not urge the passage
of the bill from any prejudice on account Of
color He believed that the crow was pro-
ductve of more good than evil, and he be-
lieved that any legislation on this subject
was uncalled for. He said that the crow
DESTROYED worms and insects, and in this
way more than repaid the farmer for all he
took from him. This fact was within the
knowledge of farmers who had paid any at
tention TO the subject. But Mr.. Preston said
he was opposed TO the bill on constitution
al grounds; because he found clauses in the
constitution which declared against such a
bill. He then read from the petition which
stated that certain foxes and crows had done
much evil and had committed depredations,
and then asked that a law might be passed
granting bounty on the heads of the 'a60ue
7lanaed' Such law would be an 'er post
facto' law, laughter, and contrary to the
spirit and intention of the constitution
Another constitutional scruple was in rela-
ton to the power which this State had in
such cases. 1t was provided in the Consti
tuition of the United States that, in cases Of
war with individuals and nations, Congress
only should have power to grant letters Of
marque and reprisal. Laughter. Another
objection was, that it was declared in the
United States Constitution that no State shall
semit bills of credit Now, on every crows
head there will probably be bill, and, as
we grant bounty, they will bear a credit;
it will therefore be issuing bills Of Credit
Laughter. If any farmer looks out for
these mischievous animals he can prevent
their depredations. He knew farmer who
prepared his corn in alcohol previous to
planning. Alter the crows dlldckeQ the neld.
and had taken few kernels, they at first
began to be talkative, then warllke, then
flew at each other and waged fierce war,
withou! any regard TO the militia laws of
New Hampshire or any other State, and
they finally cleared out pretty thoroughly
corned. Laughter
"NIr RoYsToN thought the character Of
such bill had some features of the dark
ages He did not believe that such law
would be tolerated in the present stale Of
public feeling in relation to capital punish
ment. He hoped that, if the bill did pass,
it might contain feature so that the punish
ment Of death might be commuted, and the
offender sent to the State prison for life, to
be let out when good behavior should be
promised. Laughter. "
Upon the question Of indefinite postpone
ment the yeas and nays were taken, and re-
sulted-1l6 TO 1l6.
The Speaker voted in the affirmative, and
the whole subject was indefinitely postPon-
ed.
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