Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Letter to Editor
November 21, 1817
Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
A resident of Alexandria urges Mr. Snowden to remind police constables via the newspaper of a 1809 law prohibiting swine within town limits, allowing their seizure or destruction due to damage caused by roaming hogs to yards and gardens.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Alexandria, November 21.
Mr. SNOWDEN,
A law was passed on the 20th June, 1809, by the common council of Alexandria, prohibiting any person from keeping swine within the limits of the corporation, and authorising any white person to kill and destroy, or seize and take to his private use any swine found going at large. By this act it is made the duty of the superintendent of police and the constables of the town, and they are thereby required to seize, kill and destroy, or to appropriate to their own use, any swine so found going at large, contrary to the law. The citizens in that part of the town where I reside, have recently suffered great annoyance, and sustained considerable damage in their yards and gardens, by the nocturnal visits of three or four itinerants of the 'swinish multitude' that at this time infest the town. I request the favor of you to inform the police constables, through the medium of your paper, of the existence of the law which I have cited, and to stimulate them to the discharge of the duty which it imposes upon them, by assuring them that every hog going at large within the limits of the corporation, either in the day or in the night, may become their own property, if they will only put themselves to the trouble of taking them up.
U.
Mr. SNOWDEN,
A law was passed on the 20th June, 1809, by the common council of Alexandria, prohibiting any person from keeping swine within the limits of the corporation, and authorising any white person to kill and destroy, or seize and take to his private use any swine found going at large. By this act it is made the duty of the superintendent of police and the constables of the town, and they are thereby required to seize, kill and destroy, or to appropriate to their own use, any swine so found going at large, contrary to the law. The citizens in that part of the town where I reside, have recently suffered great annoyance, and sustained considerable damage in their yards and gardens, by the nocturnal visits of three or four itinerants of the 'swinish multitude' that at this time infest the town. I request the favor of you to inform the police constables, through the medium of your paper, of the existence of the law which I have cited, and to stimulate them to the discharge of the duty which it imposes upon them, by assuring them that every hog going at large within the limits of the corporation, either in the day or in the night, may become their own property, if they will only put themselves to the trouble of taking them up.
U.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Alexandria Swine Law
Hog Nuisance
Police Enforcement
1809 Ordinance
Town Corporation Limits
What entities or persons were involved?
U.
Mr. Snowden
Letter to Editor Details
Author
U.
Recipient
Mr. Snowden
Main Argument
the writer requests publication to remind and motivate alexandria's police to enforce a 1809 law by seizing or destroying roaming swine, which can become their property, to address damage to residents' yards and gardens.
Notable Details
Cites Law Passed June 20, 1809, By Common Council Of Alexandria
Mentions 'Swinish Multitude' As Rhetorical Phrase For Hogs
Notes Authorization For Any White Person To Kill Or Seize Swine