The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-09
The Lien Law.

| @~eS>~ ~-'-'N
We notice disposition on the part of
the press, as we'll as among individuals,
to denouncc the lien law as the source OF
MANY, if not all, the evils that atfiict the
farming interest, 1t is illustrative of the
fact that thousands are hacking at the
bending branches of evil, to one who is
striking at the root"
The lien law is a necessity. 1t is the
result of the condition into which the
farmers have placed themselves, by the
improvident system they have pursued.
/ They are without supplies, without money
with which to purchase, without credit,
and if without the lien law would soon be
without existence, for no one would make
the requisite advances unless the security
given was satisfactory to the creditor
The lien law, then, is q necessary evil it
is the system of credit; it is the branch
of an evil as its root, which utterly fails
| to provide the means of subsistence and
| nccessitates 4 resort to the original in
vestment itself. 1t is an evidence of the
dissolution of the farming interest of the
country. He who gives lien thereby
confesses that his farm has failed to sus-
| tain itself
If this view of the subject is correct, we
fail to see the wisdom of denouncing the
lien law. Rather denounce the system
which has called it into existence and
made it necessity. Point out the evils
in the system of labor, as the root from
which springs all other consequences, as
| evil branches, which can not be destroyed
unless their cause is cradicated. When
farmers resolve to pay only for services,
and that at fair valuation, then they
will have struck the root which gives rise
to the lien law, When they realize the
fact that the result of their operations
under their present system is often insult
ficient to pay the demands of the laborer,
the lien law will cease. When they re-
fuse longer to employ their lands and
stock and tools for the maintenance OF
the laborers, to assume all risks therefor,
incur all liabilities, and endure the anX-
iety and care incident to such position,
which none can realize except he who
has tried it, then the lien law will cease.
If the farmer awakes to the hemagnitude of
these evils in time to save himself from
rapidly approaching and complete ruin,
the lien law and similar evil results will
disappear, and tide of prosperity will
flow in on him that he has not anticipa-
tcd.-NeW Era
There is much in the above for our far
mers to seriously think upon. They
complain grievously of the lien law !;
but avail themselves of its provisions
year after year, acknowledging all the
time that it is injurious to them. The
law is not to blame in the least. 1t does
not compel the farmer to give a lien; it
does not prevent flrmer from raising
his own supplies, nor does it compel
him to locate his granary and meat house
hundreds of miles from his farm: but if
farmers prefer paying so per cent. more
for what they eat than it would cost them
to raise it, the law allowing him to do so
should not bc blamed. One would sup
pose that after one years trial OF the lien
law, every farmer would bend all his
energies toward relieving himself OF the
necessity for its assistance. If every far
mer in this County would adopt the sys-
tenn next year of raising all the meat,
bread and provender he will require tor
his household and stock consumption the
following year, he would be independent
of the lien law and it would be inopera-
tive, in this County, at least.
The only reason why we think the lien
law should be abolished is, that hundreds
of our planters never will make provis-
ion crcS so long as they can get credit
for provisions to make cotton crop; and
that system of farming is doing great in
Justice, not only to themselves but to
everybody else, because all the money
made from the cotton crop is sent West
and North to pay for what they have
already eat and used, instead OF being
kept among us to build up our own me,
chanics, improve our own farms and
spread its encouraging influence through
every industrial interest i'll the State.
Entertaining this view of the operations
of the lien law we are in favor OF Its
repeal; at the same time we believe the
farmers themselves-those who avail
themselves of its privileges-have no
right to complain of the high prices they
are compelled to pay, under it, because
they can help themselves if they deter
mine so to do.
The law was intended to do good, but
those for whose benefit it was enacted
have so abused its privileges that it has
become an cvil-much like the use OF
whiskey. Used only when necessary it
is good thing, but when its use has be-
come confirmed habit, from which III
Jury is done, then it is great evil and
should be abolished Union Times.