HUNTING ON ENCLOSED LANDS.
On motion by Mr. NEFF, the bill [H. R. 8] to prevent hunting and shooting on enclosed lands without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof, was read the second time.
He moved to dispense with the constitutional restriction that the bill may be put on its passage.
Mr. HALL moved to refer it to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
Mr. NEFF appealed to Senators to withhold their dilatory motions and allow the bill to pass, as it is one in which his constituents are very much interested.
Mr. BROWN looked upon the bill with anxiety, and objected to its being hurried through the Senate.
Mr. BOONE had suffered from carelessness by hunters living 100 miles away, and thinking this bill would have a wholsome effect, hoped it would pass.
Mr. STEELE had confidence enough in his neighbors to believe that they will not commit depredations on his lands, and thought this bill looked too much like the regulations of England, made to favor the large landed proprietors there. Such a law would create more difficulty among neighbors than any measures that would be passed. Mr. S. was opposed to the bill. He said he had no objection to his neighbors hunting over his fields and woods for squirrels or crows.
The PRESIDENT (interrupting) thought the Senator should omit "crows," as there had not been much demand for that sort of game of late.
Mr, SCOTT earnestly advocated the bill.
Mr. GREGG moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Rights and Privileges.
Mr. DAGGY moved to law the motion on the table.--yeas 27, nays 17.
After discussion the motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. BROWN, the bill was amended so as to make its provisions more specific.
Mr. GREGG submitted an amendment, as follows:
Any person or persons who shall trespass upon inclosed lands of another, by walking through or over the same, without license, after being notified of the objection of the owner or occupant of said lands, either personally or by notices properly posted, to the number of three or more to any one inclosure the posting of which shall be deemed equivalent to personal notice, shall be deemed guilty of a malicious tresspass, and on conviction thereof shall be punished as in other cases of malicious tresepass.
Sundry other amendments were offered.
page: 316[View Page 316]Mr. GOODING moved that the bill, with the amendments, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The motion was agreed to.
The Senate then took a recess till two o'clock.
