Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-27
enr he ENQUIRER

Messrs. Editors: My attention has been turned
10 the present Fence law eyersince have mao an
opportunity of experiencing its inconvenience
I was therefore glad TO see communication 10
your paper, few days since, calling lhea'tenl'cn
OF The Legislature to H. The present law does
cer,a inly bear more heavily upon the farmer
than any law in existence. Laws, we are loio,
were framed TO project and foster the interests OF
the various members of society; but how Ioes
this act and what are It's etfects2 II IS dead
weight, mighty incubus, al enoI mous TAX upon
the whole farming community, excepting per-
baps lew who live, as il were, upon lneir ne,gn-
bors Citizens of Virginia sometimes complain
that they are taxed TOO much, when 'hey are
forced TO pay small per cenlase on thelr estates
while they know that Government must oe sup
ported by this means. But how IS II WIFE tals
tax7 II is heavy expense 10 gam an end winch
might be attained with better success oY another
svsIem. with decided advantage. We have borne
this lax long time and therefore the yoke docs
not gall us, as it otherwise would DO.
Let us examine, Tor moment, the prac'
tical working OF this law. Suppose, as an
example. that a man owns FIVE hundred
acres OF land; he is surrounded by four or
Eve neishbors, whose lands join his. In
the frs, place, he must fence 10 his whole
tract; or, il he and his neighbors join fences
one.haf Then he must separate his various
shifts by several long fences. Most probably
road runs through hi: plantation, here one ortwo
additional fences must be made. II creek or
river runs through his land, a rack must be built,
and probably be repaired every lime hard ram
comes So that il he keep his fences in ORDER, he
is compelled to spend good portion OF his time
in repairing and rebuilding them. Most proba-
bIy las is The case in This seclion) timber IS scarce,
but fence must be run, or The crops will be lost
And what a wanion waste OF wood there IS IN
building rail fence and what short Time does
il las, after il is built. Alter all this labor and
expense, il does not answer good purpose. IL Is
liable 10 be thrown down by wind or mischie-
yous cattle, or to be rendered Intellectual by hard
rains. So that during The whole season, when
crops are growing, The farmer is kept uneasy
lest his own or his Deighhors' cattle or hoSs
may make depfedations on his growing crops =
Thus is he at great amount OF labor and lrcnoe
TO defend himself against himself as II were anu
aeains. his four or FIVE neighbors. They, IN
turn. have Individually 10 defend themselves in
The same manner. How much more reasonable
would it be for every man 10 "mind the things q
his own"-which he could do with one Nth
OF the trouble. And Then there would re
| not half as much chance oil his being disturbed
We believe public sentiment is becoming
aroused on this subject, and we ought 10 have
sufficient friends OF agriculture in The Lesisla-
ture to lake steps towards repeating THIS burden
some law. 1t isa question that deeply concerns
rich and poor, Wing and Democrat No IN
ternal Improvement" would benefit Virginia
more than judicious and equitable fence law.
We do mol speak unadvisedly on this subject
for what State excels Pennsylvania in agIicultu-
raj prosperiiy?-and she has law entirely diff
| ferent from ours. Such law would beneflI US
| in like manner. II j, were 10 prove obJectiona-
bic in some sections Of the Stale, il might be 50
modified that il might please all, so that there
need be no difficulty on this subject.
We wish, with your correspondent, 10 arouse
public opinion still more on this important ques-
lion. The farmers OF Virginia should awake 10
their interests, and urge upon their legislators,
both publicly and privately, the necessity OF re-
pealing The present law, and OF adopting one Del
Ter suited 10 the wants and wishes OF agricullu-
rsts. Our Representatives should not listen TO
the remonslrances OF lew, but endeayor 10 Sc
cure the Interests of The majority. Those who
are qualified BY long experience should show
forth The disadvantages oil the present Law and
the advantages of a better law. With Judi
cous Law 10 project the interests OF farmers, they
would not be compelled 10 turn out fields 10 grow
un in pine in order TO get timber Tor fences, but
might lnp.ore the cleared land b. The various
means in their power Their 'heids Of enilies'
and broon-staw would then disappear, and their
land would yield lis proper increase.
A YOUNG FARMER.
Holloway, March, lS47.