Animal Rights History »» Romantic-Utilitarian Age »» Herman Daggett

Herman Daggett

1766-1832

1792 | Herman Daggett, The Rights of Animals Delivered at the Commencement of Providence-College, September 7, 1791 (New York, 1792; [Online Edition] Animal Rights History, 2003).

If we judge impartially, we shall acknowledge that there are the RIGHTS of a BEAST, as well as the RIGHTS of a MAN. And because man is considered as the Lord of this lower creation, he is not thereby licensed to infringe on the rights of those below him, any more than a King, or Magistrate, is licensed to infringe on the rights of his subjects.

AND now, let reason judge—does not the idle, and mischievous boy, who, to gratify himself, climbs the tree, and wantonly destroys the habitation, and murders the family, of an innocent Sparrow, as really transgress the rules of justice, and is he not as really guilty of incompassion, as the unfeeling wrench, who, to make himself the secure and unsuspected owner of a little treasure, which he has secretly removed, sets fire to his neighbour's house? The crimes are of the same nature, tho' the guilt may not be equally aggravated : They both act upon the same principle—self gratificatio: And the injury done, is the same, in both cases—the destruction of an innocent family. And who, that is capable of entering into the feelings of the DISTRESSED, can behold the injured and bereaved bird, setting alone, upon the naked spray, mourning in funeral grief, over the loss of ALL that was DEAR to her, without shedding the tear of sympathetic sorrow!

Transcriber's Notes

Animal Rights History

These pages are part of an ongoing effort to provide free online access to historical literature on animal rights, animal welfare and the humane movement against animal cruelty.

Quotes briefly introduce animal rights activists, animal welfare advocates and authors; the history of animal rights, animal welfare and animal protection; and the literature of the humane movement against cruelty to animals.

Free Online Library Complete Texts · Accessible Online · Free of Charge Links to primary source historical literature document the authenticity of quotations while providing more in-depth insight into the ideologies of the humane movement against cruelty to animals and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.