Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-04-14
Frou the Cincinnati Commercial,
MUTTON RIGHTS AND CANINE WRONGS

The Legislature has adjourned. The dog-own-
ers breath freely. Canine rights were in danger
up to the last hour of the session. Never was
Legislature ever devoted to any hobby, as this
Legislature to dog-laws. Dog laws we're their es-
pecial forte, and they expended a vast amount of
valuable time, to say nothing of the fearful wear
and tear of brains, upon the absorbing theme
We should be afraid to tell on how many days
out Of the eightysfve of the session, dog-laws were
the order of the day. Not that the members were
to blame. Far be it from US to insinuate against
them any negligence of human rights, or human
interests. They only did what they were put up
to do.
We charge it all to the mutton interest. The
indispensable sheep is a favorite farm product Of
Ohio. The dog has an invincible prejudice against
wool, an irrepressible affection for the mutton
covered thereby. The resul. may be easily fore.
seen. The peace, order, and security of society,
as represented by the mutton interest,". are incom-
patible with the uncontrolled freedom of dogs
Upwards ola hundred thousand of the snowy tribe
were made mince meat Of least year by the can
inc destroyer. Think Of it-gentle and tender
hearted reader A whole hecatomb of innocent,
NhAhS AN'ANNS IllohyJ gum
boiling lambs into 'demd unpleasant bodies as
Mr.. MANTALINI was wont to say. Here was a
daughter of the innocents-a st Bartholomew
massacre, q wanton and savage destruction Of life
and property
No wonder the farmers grew nervous and exc
tied. No wonder they cursed the law which
wouldn't let them kill the miscreants, without be-.
ing held to answer TO the owner in damages i
Damages, foresooth Why, the damages was all
on one side. The sheep untimely slain-the pre-
cious wool, wasted, torn and destroyed-tho ap-
petizing mutton OF delicate lamb, rendered unfit
for table, and then, 10 add insul: to injury
swinging damages, 10 be raid TO the remorseless
owner Of the murderer! why, thou loss upon
loss. the thief gone with 30 much, and so much
to find the thief; and no atisfaction-no re-
penge.'
No wonder the farmers poured their petitions
into the Legislature for an anti-dog-law. No won
der the farmer-members thereof, were instant il
season and out of season, to secure a stringent
restrictive ~dog.law. The evil had gone to hug,
proportions, and the remedy must be applied
But it was found q great deal easier to measure
the evil than to devise q remedy. Bill after bill
was drawn, reported, amended, passed, reconsider
ed, re-amended, and so on, until the aculest intel
lect was puzzled to Keep up with the dog question
in the Legislature.
A stringent dog1icense was passed in the Senate
It outlawed every cur not found wearing q collar
bearing the owners sign-manual. IttAxed tht
whole tribe from fifty cents to two dollars each
But it was sagely discovered 70 be unconstitution
al, and defeated in the House. The dogs raised
their depressed tails once more. But their exul
tation was short-liyed. Their constitutional rights
though they exempted them from paying licenses
could not save them from rendering up their lives
Towards the close of the session, a dog law wal
agreed upon, put through, and e~linched. 1t au
thorizes the killing of oil doge found on any for
eigr premises without being accompanied by theii
owners. Whether the effect will be to cement tht
mutual attachment of the dog and his master, Sc
that they shall become hence(orth inseparable com
%panions, remains to be seen. At all events, thu
mutton interest is appeased-which is a consoliug
reflection to the benevolent mind.
We have nothing TO say in behalf Of the canine
race, az against the superior claims Of the more
valuable sheep. In ali questions between the use
full and the ornamental, we feel constrained to &C
for the useful, The dog being an article Of luxury
mainly, must yield to the animal whOis an grliele