The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-19
A DOG LAW.


preparation OF which our accomplished
friend. Mr.. D. L. Jonas, has been en-
gagged with characteristic industry and
erudition.
This law aims ut the extinction Of a
large portion Of the canine race through
q system of taxation. A tax OF two dol
lars per head is to- be imposed upon
every dog, OF high or low degree. in the
country parishes. The English setter
or pointer, the Scotch terrier or grey
hound, the st. Bernard mastiff. the stag
and fox hound OF the most illustrious
genealogy, traceable to the Norman
conquest, are punched In with the most
despicable species OF ill-conditioned
ours. NANCY half-breeds, negro. hog
and possum dogs, and a large
and miscellaneous assortment OF dis.
reputable CANNES. Not even Col. jack
Wharton's celebrated historical Spitz
dog, is exempted from this burden or
this degrading association with the vul-
gar canaille, whose immoral and anti
social practices In respect to sheep
stealing, lamb devouring and egg suck
ing have necessitated this enactment.
Even the renowned Sirop, should he &C.
company his master, Oh the proposed
retirement of Packard, to the swamps
Of Plaquemines, whittier Kellogg pro-
poses he shall retire for the purpose of
rallying his discounted following to re-
conquer his right and title to the gov
ernorship. and re-establish the suprem-
aoy Of the Returning Board, will be
brought under the operation and con-
demnation Of this law, rs Of doubtful
habits and tastes In respect to the ovine
family and due regard for the superior
claims of humanity to preference and
prior privilege on spring lambs and fall
mutton.
Sirop. too, will have to fork over two
dollars OF the hard earned emoluments
of the Superior Civil Court, to which he
Is attached by the strongest ties. Now,
whilst this generalization and grouping
all dogs in one neutrality-suspicious. class
is In strict conformity, In letter aud
spirit, to the fourteenth amendment OF
the Federal constitution, it is objection
able in the view OF well settled prin-
ciples Of criminal law, which revolt at
presumptions of guilty and homicidal or
ovicidedal intents, without some overt
and manifest acts on the part Of the
persons charged or suspected. Because
there are miserable, ill-trained, anti
social dogs, who have an inordinate love
OF mutton, and have no more pride Of
character and sense of honor than to
steal into flock OF defenseless sheep
and throttling little weak legged
lambs or old and worn out ewes, to
bear them away into some dark
corner. there to FIJI their shrunken
paunches with the choicest cuts and
assuage their thirst with rich warm
blood. Because OF these evil deeds and
practices Of q very small and forlorn
class, is a whole race and family Of the
most generous, faithful, devoted and
endearing Of the quadrupedal genus to
be subjected to the foul imputation and
dishonoring suspicion stated In the pre-
amble of this bill 1t Is not to the tax
we Object 80 much. Indeed, we should
rather rejoice in its application to GER
tain canine pets OF our friends who
draw so largely upon our patience and
friendship in behalf OF an indulgent
tenderness and admiration Of the
wonderful sagacity and mordacity Of
their pets. in their attentions to our
unprotected calves, and contempt Of
our spring pants. For the luxury OF
this enjoyment by the proprietors Of
these playful members Of so many
households we think two dollars tax is
small consideration.
But let not Its imposition be based
on the presumption Of sheep killing
and stealing. This Is perverted
taste and habit, engendered by a
semi-barbarous early life, deprived Of
all the blessings OF common school
education, and of ell the influences Of
Christian civilization, science and the
arts. No properly regulated household
ever sheltered a dog capable Of such
baseness. 1t Is only your neglected,
kicked, cuffed and starved dog which
ever engaged deliberately and with
malice aforethought in such practices.
Besides, even these misguided and ILL.,
conditioned animals will never per-
petrate such foul deeds, and
the still fouter deed Of SUCK
Ing eggs, when the objects Of their
felonious purposes and unnatural APP
petites are properly guarded BY man.