Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-05
DEBATE ON THE DESTRUCTION a SMALL BIRDS.

during the present session of the Legislature of
CONNECTICUT Says the Hartford Courant) have
been listened to with more attention, or have
apparently excited deeper interest, than that
which occupied the attention of the House on the
third reading OF the bill "to prevent the desruc-
ton of certain small brds;" and, though some time
has passed since il took place, the interest to see it
in print is so general that we have endeavored,
with the aid OF some who took part in the debate to
collect what was said on that occasion.
The bill was reported by the committee on the
judiciary, and provides
"That any person who shall shoot any other
destroy enrap ensnsre otherwise capture upon lands
owned occupied by himself any the following BIRDS
viz robin, blue-bird swallow, martin swift night
hoe woodpecker catbd tailed thrush or brown thrash
er mourning dove meadow lark marsh quail fre-brd
summer red red bird, hanging bird spder-brd waxbird
yellow bird phebe shall be punished by fine exceed
ing five dollars" s.-'.. r..
On its second reading there appeared be in quar-
disposition to ridcule the bill scarcely worthy the
attention Of digni6ed body and the whole matter was
spoken of as small game" On the third reading Mr.
Andrews Of New Britain endeavored give different turn
the debate and the feeling Of members the subject
Mr. AsDREws said be for the purpose of moving to
add the list of birds proposed be protected by this bill
the of several others which had been omitted He
spoke the great value and interest of the race Of BIRDS not
only account of their beautiful pumsge and their delight
full melody, but forming most important link in that chain
by which the whole visible creation united, and the
parave numbers OF the various of animals duly egu
lated They designed most important part in the
economy of by holding in check the tendency Of the
species to increase to myads and like the locust Of
the East sweep from the earth every vesge Of the vege
table creation That such tendency increase the part
Of the insect tribes actually existed and that without the
auisie checks the whole earth would be laid by them
Sufficiently apparent to all who had deeply reflected upon
the subject But among the checks to this increase
were probably important ecacous than the feather
ed songsters of the fields and the groves Ever in motion,
with keen eye and eager appetite, they every
seizng upon their prey urked beneath the bark of trees
cept leaf ower and thus kept in check the most
destructive enemy with which the farmer the florist was
called to contend But while thus engaged the farmers
most efficient coadutor and end it his misfortune al
every where be treated like enemy, and to
be prosecuted for the very acts which most edounded to the
benefit Of man.. '"
in Carolina and Virginia. he passed through forest
where the timber some hundreds of all dead
and decayng Inquiry was made OF counryman respect
ing the Of this devastation. He replied that the
had been killed by tCo0peerS, which had been increasing
in that neghborhood for years. and though they had
killed as many Of them possible all to little purpose
that they continually peckng the trees until the whole
forest far and wide destroyed. This good
pfcaon of what farmers and their
stany doing These woodpckers had doubtless been drawn
together by the myrads of woodworm the grub the Bu
pestes and other insects bred beneath the bark Of the forest
trees and which at that time engaged in devourng the
fresh wood deposited beneath the bark of those The
real enemy concealed from sight, and the friend who
searching and destroying this enemy, wherever his keen
detected their seathy cravings, taken, like the
and faithful dog of Leweyn the destructive foe, ard like
him consigned to swift destruction. So it with the
backbird which ready follow the farmer through
the furowed field and seize upon the whose
mischief disturbed by The unexpected nroad Of the
ploughshare. Through every day Of the long summer he
piled his useful labor but alas for bis safety 1t was said
that sometimes in the early spring, while searching for the
grub which would if not detected destroy the buried
corn he meets with few, very few kernas Of that
which his efforts tending to protect and nconinenty de-
them. Mr. A. wished that Notwithstanding this sin of
ignorance the part of this useful bird he could in the
House disposition protect his life from the attacks
every where made upon but he feared propose it, lest
it should bring the other little songsers into danger from be-
ing found associated in the bill with bird that had suf
fered so much in his good He would, however,
ture propose add the woodpecker and few other
fessedy harmless tenants Of our fields and forests.
Mr.. BoARDMAS, of New Haven, said It was some emi
nen geniussI think it was Goethe, who said. "the works
of freshly uttered word of God
sympathize earnestly in that sentiment We are every
where overwhelmed with proofs Of the power and goodness
of that God who has made all nature beauty to the eye and
music the ear Our brilliant sun, and clear pure air,
which Italy surpass our gorgeous sunsets the
dark uxurance of forests the rich and varied products
teeing SOIL objects of grateful contemplation
in the mornings dawn or the evening twilight At such mo-
ments nothing fills the heart with gratitude and often the
eye with tears the Free joyous singing OF the birds In the
garden and orchard srs the purest gentles sweetest
sympathies Of our It cvzes and renes the heart
and if desirous Of educating youth for happiness
and usefulness would begin and never cease teaching him
admire and love the beautiful and wonderful works Of God
is easily taugh-le the father the friend give tongue to
his thoughts in the hearing Of the boy and tell him
what admire in the painting Of the sunset the melody of
the grove the beauty Of the flowers the forms and nts Of
the landscape the music Of the restless lessons
can be more permanent effective. If generally taught,
should soon redeem national reputation from the charge
of want of taste and refinement We are called at times
nation of young barbaans, and although the charge is not
rue am sorry to say there something to make out Of
destructive tendency prominent in the young Amer
can-nohing escapes his gun and his knife In the grounds
of the Capitol at Washington, beautiful flower raised with
great and expense cannot be preserved minute with
out the constant vigilance of the police Now in the garden
Of the Tueres and the Schoenbun the most exquisite
productions of nature and exposed every day. within
reach Of the ewes and hands Of hundreds and millions, who
love and admire them than people could possibly do
and vet not flower touched Such beautiful ects
regarded with veneraon that removes all fear OF injury
Public opinion founded cultivated public taste is the best
possible security Children be taught love hate any
thing The Lapand boy Of years delights himself above
all things with bubbeand the first real feast of the North
ern sodery upon their entrance into Paris made upon
the oil of the street lamps 1t is easier to cultivate for
the true and the beautiful Let the schoomaster in pr
mary schools himself feel in his heart the beauty and
maancence Of the works Of God and speak of them his
bows with the enthusiasm they ought INSPIRE and which
led the Psamis excalm, 90 that would therefore
praise the Lord for bis goodness and declare the wonders that
he doeh for the children of men," would require it
school exercse-evey day, every declining sum- should
r. ts,,l~ ~.l ~lcr cho,ll