336 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



sideration it might have fared ill with them, for our fences 

 complied with the fiction of a ' ' lawful, cattle-proof" fence, 

 and the owner could not have collected damages for the 

 death of his oxen. 



Now, looking at the right or wrong, at the justice or in- 

 justice of this important matter, how does it stand? 



The common law is supposed to give equal rights to all ; 

 it is supposed to protect one neighbor from the depreda- 

 tions of another. If a man comes upon our land w-hen he 

 is warned to stay off of it, he becomes a trespasser, and is 

 liable to answer at law. If he steals our property, he is a 

 criminal, and the law decrees a severe punishment for such 

 an offense ; if he sends his servant to rob or assault us, he 

 is held responsible for the acts of his servant. 



This is the law of the land, the law of all civilized peo- 

 ple ; yet how is it in Florida ? 



A neighbor may not trespass on our inclosed lands, or 

 rob us without putting himself under the ban of the law ; 

 but he can send forth his cattle, his hogs, his sheep, his 

 horses, to trespass on our property and steal the hard won 

 fruits of our toil, and we dare not retaliate. If we do, 

 the law wdil punish us for objecting to the theft or pro- 

 tecting our property. 



In our own immediate locality this past season, one leap- 

 ing, pushing "leader-cow," in a roaming herd, caused so 

 much damage and expense to others than its owmer, that 

 deep and general indignation was aroused; but what good 

 did that do ? 



The offending animal is still at liberty to teach and lead 

 other cows to "go and do likewise." Within a radius of 

 two miles that one cow, worth fifteen dollars, compelled 

 fences to be raised higher, at a cost of over one hundred 

 dollars, besides destroying ten acres of cow-peas and corn, 

 and several patches of sweet potatoes and young cabbages. 



