New-York tribune., 1869-02-27
ENGLLSH GAME LAWs.


The English Game Laws, which were enacted
long ago, that the nobility and landed pro
prietors might not be deprived OF objects Of
snort and that the national habit OF hunting
might not fall into disuse, have, since the m
crease of population and the improvement IL
agriculture, produced so much dissatisfaction
and we NAV say injustice, that anti-game laEi
have from time to time been proposed, but
so far. little chance of their passing has ap-
neared The outline of these laws is that 1t l.
criminal offense for one who has not received
permission TO kill rabbit pigeon, quail,
pheasant, or other kind Of game, aud this with
out regard to the fact that the game may b
doing great damage to crops which may be
| growing on ones own rented farm. In eon-
nection with the existence of the game laws q
class of men has grown up under the name o.
poachers, who not only are expert in trespass'
ing upon game preserves, but, by reason Oh
what is made an abandoned life, they have
become desperate characters, some OF whom 10
the pursuit Of their occupation, have, upon de-
lection, murdered game-keepers, that there
might be no witness to secure conviction OF an
insignificant crime, but which in Its penAlnes
is classed with murder in a low degree
In the discussion of the question which Is co..
tinually going on, one side assumes tbss IS
wrong to furnish incentives to crime by per
rritting the multiplication of game to wheh
il is replied that gold watches chains, diamond
rim qs. and bracelets should not be displayed
for fear weak human nature will be tempted
and it is concluded that if said human nature
finds in either snare, 1t must go to tue wall
Meanwhile, the ravages committed by garie
90 on, and it is not uncommon Tor sons
farmers to lose large percentage OF their crops
while they cannot lift hand to protect then-
selves, even if the spoliation is done before
their eyes. Cases are mentioned where tho
landed proprietors have sent to the marAe'
game by the hundred dozen, which TO great
extent was grown on the grain OF their tenant
farmers Some proprietors, however, feel
simple justice to compensate their tenaDs !"
the extent of their losses, but there is no Ia"
to this effect, and it is a provision IN the DO
posed game laws that damages may he ID
action.
1t is difficult for us in the United States I"
understand how it Is that these game Jaws
should find cOuntenance in that county, ai"
that there is no organized opposition sunlclsH'
to secure their repeal. No portion OF tue ha-
glish press, at least none of note, has had .a0
courage to denounce these laws, and even INC
great agricultural paper, The Marx Zane bIl'es'
though parading motto which would lndle'@
its sympathy with the farmer, as sucll' seioOu
takes an unmistakabe position on this qu'.
ton. The only popular writer who spOss
plainly was Thomas Carlyle in ms as' So .'..a
" Present.; but this was long ago. ana Oe.Os uIs
he made the discovery that the common 80, ~,
have no rights. The sum is, the iahosu p;sh ~;
prictors of England form an aristocracy VIZ
is more powerful than the literature 'IH T"@Ii.h
and common sentiment of the wno.' n - ar nriy.
people combined, aDG j. viii ennS I'd - ~ IN otb.,
ieres until its aggressions in this ana IN O'"''
respects shall become intoeTaO-c.