Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-16
AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT ANDERSON.


On Wednesday of last week, the State
Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, with
delegations from various counties of the State,
assembled at Anderson, and marched in pro.
cession, six hundred strong, to the Fair
grounds.
After the meeting was organized, General
Bratton, of Fairfield, read essay on cattle,
in which he inculcated the duty of raising
green crops to support live stock, which in
turn would furnish the manure for the sue
cessful cultivation of remunerative market
crops.
DR.. Barton, of Orangeburg, next read an
essay ON life insurance, in which he endeav.
ored to show the superiority of Patrons aid
societies over the regularly established insur-
ance companies. He claimed that life insur-
ance could be effected at cost of less than
one per cent. of the amount insured, and
quoted the reports of several aid societies, of
from two to seven years standing, to prove
the truth Of his assertion.
The subject of the usury law. in which
much interest is manifested, was brought up
in paper against usury laws from Ashley
Grange, No. l, of Charleston. 1t was read
by Master E. B. Roche, of that Grange. The
subject of usury was treated from the earliest
ages, and the deduction was made that no
law can regulate the use of money, but that
it follows the general rule of supply and de-
mand.
At the close of the reading of this paper,
Gen. Gary was called on and came promptly
forward to reply. He alluded to his labors in
the Senate in favor of usury law and against
paying the State debt, and narrated an in.
stance where he had enabled neighbor of
his who owed merchant in Augusta $4,000,
to get off by paying only $4,000, by cancell.
ing the excessive claim for interest.
At the close of Gen. Gary's remarks, Maj.
Theo. G. Barker was loudly called on, but
the presiding officer decided that it was out
of order to call for a speaker, and Major
Barker did not come forward DR.. A. b.
Rose, however, did come forward and made a
sensible and telling speech against usury laws,
in plain common sense language, that evident
ly had its effect on the assembly, which, as
body, was undoubtedly in favor of the usury
law.
Col. D. Wyatt Aiken made one of his usual
off:hand speeches in favor of the usury law,
directing his argument principally against
the paper of the Ashley Grange. He was re-
ceived with enthusiastic cheers, and was re-
peatedly applauded in the course of his short
address.
Mai. Barker now came forward, avowed
his responsibility for the abolition of the usury
law, and defended his course in lucid and
forcible argument.
Col. Rucker followed in an earnest, impress
sive speech in favor of re.enacting the usury
law, the most plausible argument he used be-
ing that if capitalists were not satisfied with a
legal rate of finterest, they could put their mon
ey into manufacturing enterprises that would
give employment to their money, their time
and their talents, and greatly benefit the
community as we'll as themselves.
Mr.. Richard Tozer, of Columbia, read a
Short practical essay on agricultural steam
engines, which was listened to with much in
terest.
The proposed change in the fence law was
discussed by Mr.. B. F. Crayton, of Anderson,
Judge Mackey, COL Lipscomb, of Newberry,
Col. RS. Bedon, of Colleton, Col. j. S. Rich
ardson, of Sumter, Col. D. Wyatt Aiken and
others.
The next annual Fair of the State Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Society will be held at
Columbia in November, next.
On motion of Col. Wallace, it was resolved
to memorialize the Legislature for an annual
appropriation to the Society of $4,000.
The next annual summer meeting of the
State Agricultural and Mechanical Society,"
and the State Grange of the Patrons OF Hus-
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