The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-12
SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE STOCK
LAW.
PESpLEr {. S. s.. July 4. 1s7

PESDLEr IS. S., July 4, 1877.
Mr.. EDIroR: Having read with some in
terest the communications of "Varennes"
and "Pendleton," relative to the comparn-
tive advantages and disadvantages resulting
or to result, from the abolition of the present
system of fencing, &C., &C., shall avail
myself of the privilege you have extended
by the disposal of your columns for fl iee
discussion-stipulating at the outset neither
to indulge in an appeal to the passions OF
prejudices of your readers, nor the opposite
extreme Of amusing them by useles, pro-
lixity of estimates concerning perso, al ex.
periencc and self-interest; but like Iu.itus,
with the candor of one without motive
either of animosity or interest to warp his
integrity" rs I nm neither q farmer or
laborer-albeit, am virtually the possessor
of sr;all landed estate, without the usual
appendages of tenants, stock or fences, but
withnl, q taxpayer.
AS to the eventual necessity of some such
Jew as the one lately enacted few can aues-
ton, and If practically enforced it W ould be
eminently progressive, and evince the high
est state of refined and profitable mode of
agriculture. But aside from the advantages
to be derived from the proposed system, it
is well to note the fact that unless some
wholesome legislation be made to check the
continued ravages Of rail-splittcrs and C, uss-
tie-cutters, ut no distant day our country will
be rs sterile and Gesolate as modern Pales-
tine, and as unpictureslue as mud wall
If, however, the advocates of the proposed
measure will reflect but Eor n moment and
consider the policy involved, it will readily
appear thad it Is now alike impracticable and
premature. A revolution from q custom of
such long standing as that of fencing is not
to be effected by the work of a year, but
must be the result of time, that the conse-
quences may be gradual, and effect rs little
injury as possible. We must give time to
prepare the public mind for the change as
well as the barns and pockets of the people
individually. Ninc-tenths of our farmers
are to-day in debt for supplies furnished for
last and this year, occasioned for the one by
disasters TO their crops and the other OH the
bare expectation OF making one; and IL they
apply their earnings of this year to the liqui-
dation of their Indebtedness, however great
may be the yield of their farms, it can only
leave them small surplus for their own
support, with nothing on which to subsists
their stock but g nirfe chance OF procuring
pasturagc, which we well know cannot be
obtained even of indigenous grasses and
clovers, except with time and culture In
order to secure q proper. stand Very true,
some may herd their stock part of the
year to advantage, perhaps, on hay and
other forage to be found on their own do
mains; but others less fortunate could only
do so at the risk Of the law in such cases
made end provided.
i another weil-Iounced argument is the
infeasibility of the late enactment especially
us regards the 9Th section, the w6fding OF
which, according tc the construction OF
| nl1ny, is calculated to deceive the masses
1t limits an employee to two head of stock
''or as may be agreed upon,' without max.
| ing 1t obligatory On the employer to provide
any pasturage, since it siees not attach 9
penalty for failure. In this there is certain
lyth necessity of revision and amendment
4 before my satisfactory result may be antici
! pated.a ~
Agsin, we must consider the impoiioy O
| submitsing question of such q nature tc
tho people ct such juncture, when W,
know 1t win inevitably lead to dissensions
md may exert strong Influence at another
time, ,Shen better policy dictates that VIZ
shoTld De united. It grouid DC the earnest
e:sdcavor CT every one to avoid all contro
yersies which may have political tendency
until we can recuperate our broken fortune.
y AZ. l-r As. ~ n
Addison says, very truly: -Thcre cannot bi
\ greater judgment befall a cous;try thur
such dreadful spirit OF division as rend.
us into two people, and makes them create
strangers and more averse to one anothe
than if they wcre actually two different ma
| tions." If it is indeed imperative 20 tax,
Immediate action in the matter would
not be we'll TO call a convention of the peo
pie of Anderson County afser the crops ar
laid by, when we could have an opportunit,