The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21

police. Now, in the garden oil the lulleries
and the Schoenbrun, the most exquisite pro
auctions of nature and art are exposed, every
day, within reach of the eyes and hands OF
hundreds and millions, who love and admire
them more than our people could possibly 90,
and vet not flower is ever touched. Such
beautiful objects are regarded with veneratlon
that removes all fear of injury. Public OPINION,
| founded on cultivated public taste, Is the best
possible security. Children can be taught TO
| love or hate ANYTHING. The Lapland boy of
ten wears delights himself, above all things,
with blubber-and the first real feast OF the
Northern sodery, upon their entrance into
Paris, was made upon the oil of the street
lamps. Ii is easier to cultivate taste for the
true and beautiful. Let the schoolmaster in
our primary schools himself feel in his own
heart the beauty and magni6cence of the works
of God. and speak of them TO his boys with the
enthusiasm they ought TO inspire, and which led
the Psalmist TO exclaim, " o that men would
therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and
declare the wonders that he doeth for the chill
dren of men," would require it as school
exercise-every new day, every declining sun,
should bring its glow of gratitude and admira-
ton.
Thus should we strike at the root of the
destructive propensity of our boys, and implant
in its stead love of the beautiful in nature and
art, source of never-failing enjoyment. In
the mean time, sir, let us punish the young
barbarian for destroying the singing birds, and,
if he has no feeling himself, compel him to re-
Spect that of his civilized neighbors.
Mr. Howe, of Hartford, said should not
have detained the House by any remark Of
mine upon the bill now under consideration,
had not few words which playfully spoke
the other day, when it was under consideration,
been received by the chairman who reported
| the bill as designed to cast ridicule upon it,
Nothing was further from my intention,
and, on the spot | so stated privately TO him,
and now desire before the House TO utterly
disclam any such design on my part, and to
say, from the bottom of my heart. | desire its
passage The gentleman from New Haven has
alluded, most appropriately and impressive
ly, to the different habits Of the people of Eu-
rope, as compared with our own, in relation to
the subject now before us and most touching
ly has he portrayed TO us the sacredness with
which, from their education and habits Of life,
all classes are accustomed to preserve their pub
lie parks and gardens; and in this particular
how uflss--r--r-.'---- - Swn Amer,coO ~s;reos
compare Ii must be observed by every
intelligent American, in his visit TO that coun-
NJ, '&NA~E Eit2% eothingxc omislk = =
servation arrests his attention quicker, or strikes
| him more forcibly, than when, on his first Wis
it to Paris, as he walks in an afternoon to the
| extensive gardens of the Tuleries, in its cen
tire, and beholds them filled, at great expense,
| with the choicest and rarest plants and flowers,
| as well as rare domescated birds, all open to
the public, frequented by all classes at their
will, still remaining untouched and unframed.
1t is beautiful sight, sir, to see the citizen in
| humble life, with his little family around him,
towards the close of the day enjoying there,
free as air, the beauties of that lovely and en-
chanting spot; and there, sir, germ and grow
the finer sensibilities of our nature.
And now, sir, if there is one propensity
which would eradicate from the breasts of my
children, it is that which leads them to de-
stroy the feathered warblers which frequent
our field. and parks, or our gardens and while
| would not unreasonably abridge the sports
or pastimes of my friends from our country
towns, ask them confidently. sir, to aid US in
the passage of such laws as will enable large
towns so fortunate as to have parks, or private
individuals residing in them so much blessed
as to have ground attached to their residences,
that the little songsters that frequent them may
be protected from the ruthless hand of the de-
stroyer, and thus be preserved one of the dear
est and most einobling Accomplishments to our
earthly residence that God has given US.
Mr.. Burr, of Killingworth, moved to erase
the long tailed thrush, as he was an arrant corn
thief.
Mr.. Boardman. hope not, sir. The thrush
| is the sweetest of our singers - the prima
donna of our troupe. When he sings with a
full heart, the whole arr is filled to intoxication
with his gushing melody. Hei is greatly supe-
rior to the nightingale Of England, and even
the Swedish Nightingale herself has listened
to him with perfect admiration and despair
Could | have every thrush in the State on my
own grounds, most cheerfully would feed
them for 1.-THE of the melody that they fur
nish TO the gentleman of Killingworth every
day.
Mr.. Burr replied that he was well aware
that the thrush was one of the sweetest song
sters in natures grand choir, yet ii was never
theless true that he was great annoyance to
the farmer and he was therefore reluctantly
compelled to move to strike out his name.
Mr.. Andrews, of New Britain said that
though he was farmer, and the son OF a
farmer, he had never heard anything said until
this morning against the character OF the thrush
In his part of the State this beautiful bird bore
an excellent reputation, and if in any other sec
ton he had lapsed into dishonest habits, il
must have been because in those sections he
had fallen into bad company. He should be
very sorry to see him stricken from the BILL
Mr.. Boardman. One word more, Mr. Speak
+ err A great diversity of opinion exists among
farmers concerning the depredations commit
ted upon their crops by birds. A law was
once enacted in Virginia, offering bounty fol
the destruction of the crows that destroyed the
corn. A war of determination followed, and
the determination of the corn also for in many
districts the ravages OF the worms were such
after the removal of the crows, that the farmers
would gladly have paid back their money il
they could have established the dynasty Of the
crows again.
Mr.. Burr again insisted thatthe thrush was tn,
-, cause of much noise and mischief in the farm
er's corn6elds, and appealed to the farmers
present to sustain his position.
Mr.. Benton, of Guilford, said he was one
the farmers appealed to, and desired to say h,
had never heard the thrush evil spoken Of; III
was Of the opinion that if they disturbed tn,
corn in Killingworth il was because the lant
was so poor that il would not produce worms
Mr.. Trumbull, Of Stonington, remarked tina
this law did not restrain people from killing bird
p on their own lands, but was designed to curtai
: the liberties of those lawless intruders who ar
d fired with an Unsuitable ambition to destro,
harmless birds on others premises.
:, Amendment lost.
Mr.. Olney, Of Thompson, moved to amen
$ by erasing the word king bird, as he had ba
reputation among the honey bees.
I Several persons objected, on the ground tina
this bird was an enemy TO the whole insec
e race, and could not be well spared. The goo
. he did far overbaanced the evil.
g Mr.. Phelps, of Windsor. conceded with tn