The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-18

Mr.. Bergh has an act in process Of passage
in the State Legislature, entitled ''for the
better prevention of disease and cruelty"
Many of its provisions are quite necessary,
while some Of them are loosely drawn and
fortified by pretty despotic powers. Ingen-
iously concealed in section about abattoirs
or slaughter houses, and providing for killing
animals by hitting them on the head, is the
following sentence: -''But no living creature
shall be killed or mutilated by any person in
any contest of skill, or for any wager, bet or
stakes of any description. These words are
intended to dissolve all the pigeon clubs of
the State, and to enable Mr.. Bergh to accom-
plish directly, in preventing pigeon matches,
what he last year endeavored to indirectly
effect by forced construction Of the phrase
''needlessly kill" And if the sportsmen of
the State are wise they will look after this
young African whom Mr.. Bergh hides away
in his Albany Cape of Good Hope.
Nor is it alone o pigeon match which the
apparently innocuous sentence prevents. It is
common in the Adirondacks, whenever trout
ing or hunting deer, for sportsmen to amicably
bet respecting their results of individual skill.
In the less romantic purs>it of, killing sheep
or converting hog into pork throughout the
rural districts it is quite usual for Giles and
Jeremy to bet on the celebrity with which they
can draw for grease their shining blades in o
manner never contemplated by Byron. The
hunters for quail, partridge, woodcock and
reed birds often wager on the weight of their
bags at the end of the days sport. Yet over
all these "killers Of living creatures" will
impend Mr.. Bergh's little sentence, like the
suspended sentence of Justice.
Where are the demonstrating sportsmen
Why are not their clarion voices uplifted
against the proposed encroachment on their
rights? Do they know that under the section
in question they may be called upon to lay
aside their rifles and their fishing rods and to
exchange the hunting grounds for the I'M
pleasant confinement of Blackwells Island,
should Mr.. Bergh enact his law? There is no
time to be lost, tor the great philanthropist
has marshalled his men, and to-day the As
sembly propose to consider the measure, which
has already been approved by the Senate.
IMPORTANT News FROM MEXICO. The
highly important correspondence which has
lately passed between Earl Granville, British
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the
President and government Of the Mexican Re-
public relative to English reclamation for out
RACES alleged to have been perpetrated by Mex
leans against the Queens subjects at Belize
Honduras, is published specially in the
HERALD to-day. The English note was deliv-
cred at Vera Cruz from man-of-war and for
warded thence to the Mexican capital 1t is
q very matter-of-fact document; pointed in
words and dotted with dates of occurrences.
The Mexican reply is exhaustive, retrospective,
logical and republican. 1t constitutes, ap-
parently, an excellent counter-case in offset to
the Downing street circular; so that, after
reading President Lerdos bill of charges, Mr..
Bull may find that the balance is on the other
side. If SO, will he pay up2 The dispatches
will command the earnest attention Of the
American people.