Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-05-02
From the Darlington Flag of the 10Th inst
DIR FENCE LAWS.

Mr.. ED1ToR:-It is gratifying to perceive
that the public mind is gradually becoming
aroused on the subject Of the present system
of enclosures. Permit me to contribute my
mite, however small, to the mass of testimo-
ny which has been already adduced in favor
Of an entire change Of the present wastefu
and destructive policy Of being compelled by
law to enclose our corn and cotton fields to
prevent the incursions of gauut and famish-
ing cattle and hogs which prowl like spec.
tres about our fences in search Of something
to prevent starvation. The present is the old
colonial system which was adopted in the
infancy of the country, when the fields were
small and the stock very extensive; and the
advocates Of reform have to contend with
the inveterate prejudces which attach to an
cient usagcs, and the revered authority Of an
honored ancestry. Within certain limits,
such veneration for ancient forms and usages
is highly commcndable-beyond those limits
it becomes absurd, hurtful, and is Of course
then "more honored in the breach than the
observance" If our fathers (bless their me-
mories J with all their prudence and foresight
in many things, yet with the infrmity com
mon to humai.iy-choose to carry their
wheat in one end Of the bag and a stone Of
corresponding weight for balance in the
other, we are surely not bound by the laws
of reverence and hIial devotion to them, to
resist our conviction that the grain can be
balanced without the stone, and it be dis.
pensed with as a dead weight The present
system of fencing is dead weight upon the
vital interests Of the agricultural community.
Let us then drop the stone and put half the
wheat in the other end of the bag. Can it
be done! The question is supertluous, un
less my illustration be considered as inap-
propriate and inapplicablc. That it is not,
is, think, susceptible of convincing proof.
With the exception ola few localities, stock
cannot maintain u thrifty condition by exclu-
sive dependence upon the range. The crib
and the geanings of the fields must come to
their rescue, or,their hides soon adhere to
their bones, with a tenacity which nothing
short Of decomposition can detach.
The fencing necessary to keep stock out
of our fields involves an outlay OF timber and
laDOr utterly uISpIolIotuoHco " tho 't'iuo VI
the stock. While this is frequently admitted,
it is still urged by some that the supply of
timber warrants tho outlay. Is it true that
the abundance of timber iustfes the extra
vagance and unnecessary waste to which it
is subjected by the present system ! SUBJ
NIT that it is not. The noble forest is mag.
nifcent gift of the Author of nature, to be
priced like all other gifts from the same source,
as treasure to be preserved for necessary
uses. Any other appropriation of it is equiv.
alent to the destruction of so much capital
the throwing into the fire Of so much mo.
ney. Why should wethus continue to slight
so noble gift, and thereby rob posterity of
valuable Inheritance Timber, however,
is becoming scarce in many sections of our
country, aud hence the more urgent necessi-
ty of economising it, The saving of labor,
too, is consideration of very great impor-
tance. Were the labor now 50 unproitably
expended upon fencing, employed in manur-
ing, ditching, and raising and gathering the
surplus provender necessary to the support
of enclosed stock, it would work a change
in the value of land and stock involving mil.
lions of dollars. A law requiring the enclo-
sure of stock would reduce fencing to an in
considerable item, and tend to reduce the
number and greatly improve the quality of
stock. One well fed COW might then be
made more profitable than dozen of the