The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-05-23
From The Darlington f7og.l
E~fCEecElnS'.

RCEeCElhS.
Mn. EDrron 1t Is gratifying 70
perceive that the public mind is graz
ually becoming aroused on tic subject
Of the present system Of enclosures
Permit me to contribute my mite.
however small, to the mass OF lcsii'
mony which has been al,caGy adductd
in favor Of an entire change Of the
present wastcinl and destructive poll
cy OF being compelled by law to en-
close our com ard cotton Feds TO
prevent the incursions of gaunl and
furnishing cattle and hogs which rruwI
like spec,rcs about our fences i'll search
of something 10 prevent s;a~rrni."n.--
The present is the old colonial system,
which vas adopted in the infancy Q:
the country when the fields were small
and the stock very extensive, aud the
advocates of reform have to contend
with the invcteraic prcju1ices which
attach to ancient usaGcs, and the re-
yercd authority Of an lonored aHcrs'
Try. Ii our fathers (bless their mem
brics!) with all their prudc"ce and
foresight in many lhinGs,-yet with
The iniirmity common To humanity,
chose to carry their wheat iii one end
Of The bag and a stone of cores oEd'
ing weight for Il balance in the other,
We are surely not bound by the laws
of reverence and tilial devotion 10
them, to resist our convictions that
the grain can be balanced without The
stone, and it be dispensed with as a
dead weight. The present system .!
fencing is u dead weight upon The vital
interests Of the agricultural communi'
IT,. Let us then drop the stone AID
put half the weight in the oti,r enl Of
the Lag Can it be done! The qnes'
ton is sureriluous, unless my iiiuotr"'
ton be considered as inappropriate
and inapplicuLlc. That i, i, not, is
think, susceptible OF convincing prooi.
With the exception Of aicw localities.
stock cannot maintain Il thrifty cundI'
tion by exclusive Dependence upon the
range. The crib and the g!cm!i.:Ss OF
The fields must comc to tGrir rcscnc,
or their hides soon adhere 20 tn ir
bones, with a ;cna ity which noi!iog
short OF decomposition can dtt"ch.
The fencing necessary to keep stock
out of our fields involves al outlay .i
timber and labor utterly dispropor'
toned to the value Of stock. NhiIc
this is frequently admittcd, it is still!
urged by some that The supply Of tim
Der warrants the outlay. l. il true
that the abundance Of timber iust!iics
the extravaganza and unnecessary wants
to which it is subjected ly the present
system! submit that it is act. The
noble Forest is u magi;Iicen: gilt o.
the Author of nature, to be priZrd ike
all other gifts from The same source,
as q treasure to be preserved for nee
essary Uses. Any other appropriation
off; is equivalent to tic destruction
of SO much capital--llc throwing intt
the fire, Of SO muv! money. "!iy
should we thus continue 10 Slight 80
noble Il gift, and thereby rob p"aicIity
of q valuable Inheritance! Timber
however is becoming very scarce IN
many sections Of u country, nnri
hence the more urgent necessity OF
cconolnising it. The saving Of labor
too, is a consideration Of very great
importance. Were the labor low So
unprrG,ably expended upon fencing,
employed in manmring, dilc!'iEg aud
raising and gathering the surplus pro.
.eyender necessary to the support tf
enclosed stock, it would work change
in the value of land and stock iuvoiY
ing millions Of dollars.
A law requiring the enclosure Of
stock would reduce fencing to an in
considerable item, and tend to reduce
the timber and greatly improve the
quality OF stock. One well fed Cow
might then be made more. profitable
than a dozen of the gaunt skeletons
that now haunt our lanes, and advcr.
tise our want Of humanity. y few
hogs well fed and cared for, could then
be made more valuable than a nerd OF
the present pine root eaters lla, scarce
ly betray by their looks; the genus To
which they belong. The pcnnn, sys.
tenn would her follow, and by indus.
try and we'll directed economy, IN
astonishing amount of manure, proper
toned in value to the improved keep.
ing Of the animals, might be made.
hope that every Agricultural Soci
ETY., and every secular paper in the
State, will agitatc this subject with II
zeal and ability equal TO It's import
ance. | hope every argument in favor
OF tho present system, will he present
cd and fairly weighed; for | acknowi.
edge that there are arguments in its
favor entitled TO consideration; at the
sanfeltime that | feel free to character.