Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-23
PENCE QUESTION.

10 the EDITOR OF the Union ana American.
As the fence question is still before the
people and open to discussion, / propose to
say few words more on the subject. Those
who favor the present system of fencing
seem to entertain the idea that a law re-
curing men to take care of their own stock
would prohibit people from building fences
around their farms. Because a writer sub
scribes himself "No Fence" and advocates
the keeping of stock enclosed, does not sig
Nifty that the farmer or any body else shall
not build as much fence as he wishes. /
have never advocated that we shall not bui Id
fences, but that we shall keep our stock up.
Perhaps we have been writing under the
wrong heading.
The caption ought to be "Stock Law.
Such law would certainly dispenss wit b
the necessity of so much fencing; but at
the same time prohibit no one from fencing.
The fences along public roads aud lanes
could be reduced to one-fourth OF the ex-
pense it takes to keep them up now, aud
bs perfectly safe against the inrOads Of
travellers and stock drivers. Polls or wire
stretched along where 1t is necessary for
protection, would be sufficient barrier for
all purposes. Some writer says that We
have bad fences, from the fact that the
farmers rent their lands to the poor at such
enormous prices that the renter is unable
to do the repairs, aud the owner will
not do them. / can only speak for
my own locality, and | know the Gus
tom in this section is and has been ever
since we have been working under the pres
ent system of labor, thirG of other crops
and a fourth of the cottO to the land
owner, and the landlord paying the custom
airy price for making and hauling rails, the
renter or cropper only required to put them
on the fence. And aside from that, where
the land owner has grass lots, it has been
usual among most farmers here 10 pasture
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs the whole
year without a cents remuneration, with.
out it be to help to keep up the lot fences.
Some people, not satisfied with having
rode the negro out IF service as political
hobby, are introducing him as a hob
by in agricultural pursuits and dis
cussions, and if there is any class in this
country that is free, easy and Independent,
it is that of the negro. The oppressed class
at this time is the land owne", but when
the country becomes overrun by immigra-
ton the farmer will look up and have word
to say about the price of farm labor and the
repairs of fences, etc. Now the terms are
dictated TO him.
From the many communications that
have appeared in favor of tie present sys-
tenn of fencing, / must confess that l have
failed to be convinced that no fence or
stock law could be oppressive to any class
of this people. l further believe that it
could be confined to certain districts aud To-
calities, and that it would operate TO the ad-
vantage of all, and as the law would not
prohibit fencing, and it became necessary,
in running out the lines, to fence off Ger
tain districts or parts Of States, do it, for it
could be done at comparative small cost.
Il would sound to some like a very huge
undertaking to talk of fencing in State,
which do not propose TO do, though it is
already partly fenced in by nature; yet l
do not doubt that there is surplus fencing
enough in this State under certain prOvi-
sions to fence in five such States. advo-
cate a stock law, not from selfshness, but
from an honest conviction that it is the only
theory that will keeppeace between the grain
grower and the eds that run upon the
common. | know that a fence no better
than the law requires, is no safeguard
against stock that are turned out to provide
for themselves. 1t requires at least third
more rails to make fence proof against
stock that Craze in naked lanes; and, in To-
calities where rail timber is scarce, there
viii always be difficulties arising from de-
predating stock, even should the fences be
up to the mark. While am in this lane
and think of it, VII say that l neither
have bad roads, quilted lanes or
fields, nor cultivate under bad
fences, and would say that it is
not always safe to jump at conclusions or
accuse Others too readily Of selfish mo-
tives, as has been done by some of your
correspondents. Let US all be charitable,
and advocate from honest convictions.
will not agree that we can have as good and
stock raised upon the COM
mon as we can in enclosed lots, because the
facts are too plain TO the contrary. A. j.
GILES COUNTY, TENN, Aug. 8.