Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-31

torney. Maxwell, without much delay, de-
lvered the book to the committee, whereupon
proceedings against McCay we're suspended.
In THE HOUSE, the committee on privile.
ges and elections reported the case of Prince
Martin, the colored member from Fairfield,
who has labored heretofore under the double
disqualification of having entertained divi-
ded allegiance between the Wallace and
Mackey Houses, and also between two ladies
of his own color, each of whom claimed to be
his wife. The committee reported in sub
stance that the original protest against Mar
tin has been withdrawn, and protest on the
ground of bigamy preferred, over which the
committee holds it has no jurisdiction. Ham
ilton moved that Martin be allowed to purge
himself of his contempt and be sworn in,which
was adopted after some debate. Martin ap-
peared at the bar of the House, purged him
self of contempt, was sworn in and seated.
The "fence" bill was taken up and another
long discussion followed. The colored mem.
bers, Humbert, Reed, Keith and Miller, all
spoke against the measure as being oppressive
to the poor farmers of both races. Lawyer
Hemphill, of Chester, went into statistics to
show that to fence a forty-acre lot costs two
dollars per acre, ten.acre lot four dollars
per acre and one.acre lot ten dollars. He
exhibited written agreement, signed by one
hundred and sixty farmers Of York county.
who had successfully practiced the proposed
plan in their own neighborhood and found it
to work to advantage. The farms of the en-
tire county of Mecklenburg, N. c., had also
adopted this plan, and found it most economl-
cal and satisfactory.
Humbert, OF Laurens, supported the meas
ure, and said that it is poor title to land
which compels man to allow every other
mans stock to Craze on it or necessitates large
expenditure of time and money to fence them
out The people of this State are driven to
buy supplies from the West simply for the
want of such fence law. According to the
last assessment there are in round numbers
100000 acres of land under cultivation in
Laurens. The original cost of fencing this
was s315,00O, while the stock in the county
was only valued at $115,000 from which it
appears that three dollars of fencing is re-
quired to keep out one dollars worth ofstock.
Before man can safely invest capital in cul-
tivating any unenclosed land in this State he
must, under the present ruinous system, invest
% per cent. of it in fencing
Bradley said that there is no good reason
why the low country should oppose this law.
1t is necessity in the up country which asks
not that the low country shall accept it, but
that those who desire it shall be allowed to
adopt it.
Youmans said that the passage of the bill
does not decide the question, it merely sub.
mts it to the people to decide for themselves.
Sheppard called for vote on the motion
to strike out the enacting clause which was
the ground of the discussion. The motion
was lost. 1t was then moved to continue the
bill to the next session, which was also lost.
The House then took recess until 8 o'clock.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
fence law at 8p. m, but after two hours de-
bate and host of amendments, the House
adjourned, without reaching conclusion, un-
til to. morrow at II A. M.
SATURDAY, May 26.
In THE SENATE, on motion Of Mr.. CorwiD,
Mr. Meetze was relieved from his agreement
to "pair" with Whittemore, it having been
definitely ascertained that the latter would
uOG lCCulu.
A resolution that the Senate do hold two
sessions daily until adjournment sine die, the
first to begin at II A. NJ, the other at 8 P.
NJ, was adopted.
In THE HOUSE, on motion of Mr.. Vandi-
ver Peter Papin was released from further
confinement.
The House concurred in the Senate amend
ment to resolution authorizing the Governor
to appoint Trial Justice resident in the
town of BIackstock.
The unfinished business of last night was
resumed, being bill to authorize the County
Commissioners to submit to the voters of the
various counties a proposition to alter the
fence law.
A proposition to except the county of
Richand was rejected. Horny, Marion, COL
Teton, Beaufort Charleston, Williamsburg
and Georgetown we're excepted, and the bill
Was passed to third reading.
Mr.. Orr, from the Committee on Ways
and Means and the Judiciary Committee, re-
ported on the Charleston case, and recon-
mended that Mackey, Brodie, ct. al, be not
seated, because there existed in that county
so much violence, intimidation and fear that
no fair election was held.
Mr.. Miller, from the same committee, sub
mitted minority report, recommending that
the delegation be seated on purging them
selves of the contempt.
Both reports were made the special order
for Tuesday, at II o'clock.