The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-12-28
THURSDAY, DECEMBER rs, 1899.
PERSONAL AND PROPERTY RIGHTS

at Lock Haven the committee on re-
solutions urged that effort be made to
have law enacted making game the
property of the owner of the land on
which it is found, and making it un-
lawful for any person to hunt game
without the owners permission
The organic law, under which every
real estate owner holds title, protects
every farmer from encroachments up
on his rights, on any premises he may
hold, from invasion, by hunters, or
any other class of trespassers, and
oshall and will WARRANT AND FOREVER
DEFEND
In every INDENTURE, conveying
real estate, or landed properties, to
other ownerships, the corveyancer
grants, if nothing reserved, "ToGETH-
Err with all and singular the minerals,
woods, underwood, timber, waters,
wafer courses, ways, houses, fences,
improvements, rights, liberties, men,
bers, hereditainents and appurtenances
thereunto belonging, OF in any way
appertaining, and the reversion and re-
versions, remainder and remainders,
rents, issues and profits thereof and of
every part and parcel thereof; and also
all the estate; right title, interest, bene-
fit, property, claim and demand what
soever; in law or equity of the said
party of the first part, OF, in and to
the same, and every part and parcel
thereof: To HAVE AND TO HOLD the
said premises, OF the said party of the
second pant, xxx heirs and assigns, to
the only proper use and behoof of the
said party of the second part, XXX
heirs and assigns forever" xxx.
The rights, titles, claims and deeds
of the citizens Of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, are recorded in the
proper Office at the several county
seats of the Commonwealth for safe
keeping. and are a record of claims
that establish the rights of the afore-
SAID citizens. Sportsmen hold that,
by virtue of the Game Laws, they
have right to invade the private
property of farmers, to take game that
may be found thereon. And IN the
claim of this right, they enter upon,
with impunlty, without permission,
leave, license or consent. and without
solicitation, by gangs and troops OF
armed men, with packs Of hounds, day
after day, from Monday morning TIL
Saturday night during the entire hunt
ing season, and take all the game
found on the farmers land, as though
the farmers had not a word to say.
The Legislature have just as much
power and authority to throw wide
open, all the farm houses and barns,
for public pleasure, sport, and other
public purposes, as to make public
domain, and public hunting grounds
OF all the lanced estates, belonging TO
the farmers of the Commonwealth Of
Pennsylvania, for the pleasure, sport,
and benefit of sportsmen. The farm
ers have guaranteed rights, free OF all
membranes, in their vested titles, to
which the Legislature can neither add
thereto, nor take therefrom. Hence
we deny the right Of sportsmen, and
all other classes of trespassers, TO enter
upon any part, or parcel of the purch.
ased, granted or inherited rights, that
the farmers may hold in real estate, or
landed property, for hunting, or any
other purposes, whatsoever. If they
have rights in the estates of the farm
ers, such rights must be on record in
the courts of the proper county.
Whether there be or be not such
records, they will hereafter be obliged
TO establish such rights and claims in
the courts, before they will be allowed
to prowl, with impunity, and unsolicit,
ed, over the lands of many farmers.
In our opinion, it is question sole
ly for the courts; for we do not believe
that the Legislature have the power,
to transfer the purchased, or inherited
rights and privileges of the farmers
originally granted by the Common,
wealth, for the pleasure, sport, ant
benefit of other classes, among whom
are included sportsmen, by any legis
latlve enactment.
Private property and private rights
were regarded by our forefathers, Sc
sacred, that the necessary safeguard
were thrown around them by the con,
stitution itself. The Legislature ol
course, lay its hand upon privat,
property, and real estate, to wrench
from them enormous taxes, to be pait
by private individuals owning them
but this is constitutional prerogatve
But they cannot invade, neither llcens,
Others to invade private rights, O
private property. Here the Legis
lature can be dehed, or any othe
power, individual, or combination O
individuals, that would seek to invade
IL L