Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-04-01


House bill II, to prevent equiues and
cattle from going at large and prowlipg
unrestrainedly around. came up for con-
sidera,ion, aud elected quite an excited
debate. Major Dawson is Of Morgan
county, snd is our Stale Senator from
this district. We are indebted TO the
Martiusburg Statesman for the speech.
Maj Dawson spoke against the bill
and said il:
"MK. PREsrpENr-A progressive and
unbridled spirit 10 State legislation,
however commendable aud riproaring
in itself, may at times prove highly det'
rimental 10 the interests, social aud ma
terial, of the people thereof The fault
in West Virginia legislation at this
time, if an humble mountaiueerlike my
self may venture upon sn aesthetic crit
icism, seems TO be growing tendency
towards the too progressively progress
i've. There the Major had to stop until
there was a cessation Of applause. He
thought We were too rapidly drifting
away from the landmarks of the old
Virginia code of laws aud The bill under
consideration was an exrmple. A care
ful consideration of the provisions Of
this bill will show that, although it is
ostensibly for the protection of the rails
ers of fne blooded stock, j! is in fact an
unwarrautable Interference with the
natural rights OF West Virginia bulls.
A COW is a great blessing 10 the poor
man. rCon,inued Applause. ! do not
think | exaggerate when | say that
more stock is raised by more people in
West Virgins, for the purpose of OBJ
tanning either family support or for
market, milk, butter and cheese, than
are raised for the purpose OF beef
cwexper!rnce has shown that our ma
tive breeds, such az can live and thrive
on our mountain grasses, are better
adapted than mos. of the blooded stock
for milking purposes. Pass this law
and hundreds and thousands ofour poor
men will, in a few years be cowless and
callless. [Uproarious manifestations Of
unanimty on this point. They cannot
afford i'll any instance TO 10y bull for
their one COW, nor can they afford 10
pay fancy prices for their neighbcrs
fancy bovine. As il is now and as it
has heretofore been, their COW or cows
have been allowed TO range the noun
tain land and without any cost or ex-
pense have been literally provided with
the means of Increase. CThundering APP.
plause.
My county of Morgan isa fair average
of One-half Of The counties in tho State,
and her people are deeply interested in
the raising of stock They have some
fine blooded cattle, sheep and hogs, but
along with the farmers aud stock raisels
of the other counties in the district
they are bitterly opposed TO the pro-
visions of this bin. This bill was con-
ceived in inlquity to animals aud born
Injustice TO their owners. Far from ac.
vauciug the cattle Interests of the State,
it can only result in inflicting upon
them al irreparabIe wrong.
In the mountainous districts, with
the exception OF those kept at home for
milk anh butter, are generally turned
out from spring 10 fall to range through
the mountain pastures. 1t is during this
period. that ranging, fearless and free,
the cows naturally come home fresh in
the Fall.
To pass this law Is TO interfere with
the custom Of our people made sacred
with the experience OF hundred years.
For what, sir, ] pause to enquire, did
Washington and all other dead aud for-
gotten patriots die for, il such unmi,iga-
ted, uucalled for and Defarious legisls-
tion as this is TO be placed upon our
statutei CThunders of applause. It's
10 touch the mountaineer in teDdcr
place. Pass it and so deprive our bulls,
our cows and our mountain farmers Of
rights made sacred by nature and by
time. Pass it and you may az we'll
erase from the flag Of your State your
proud Uontaini Semper Liberi!
and fight over the battles OF rebellion
for 40 years 20 come" [Uproarious, long
continued and understandable applause.
Maj. Dawson, in the delivery Of his
speech occupied nearly three quarters
of an hour; and on closing was coDgrat-
uIate1 by his brethren. Many from
the House came over 10 hear The Major.
Mr.. Maxwell hoped the bill would
not be indefinitely postponed, and in q
few remarks urged its passage.
The motion 10 indefinitely postpone
was lost. -