The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-30
BENT ON MISCHIEF.

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The parties who have been instilling into
the minds of the credulous and ignorant
the unfounded assertion that Governor
Hampton is responsible for the passage Of
the fence law act, are bent on producing
discord in the Democratic ranks, and find
ing nothing founded in truth upon which
to produce division, have resorted to the
most groundless fabrications. Governor
Hampton had nothing whatever to do with
the fence act until it was passed by the
Legislature, and then he only allowed the
will of the people, as expressed by their
Senators and Representatives, to become a
law. This act was not even passed COM
manding anything to be done rnot to be
done, but it simply gave the people the
right to say for themselves whether they
would make change or not Would it
not have been presumption and tyranny
for either Governor Hampton or the legis-
lators to have said to the people, "You
shall not have the right to decide for your
selves about this matter?" Now, when
this act, about which so much complaint
has been made, is analysed, it amounts sim
ply to referring the question to the people
to decide for themselves, and if there is any
complaint to be made it must be against
one another for differing on this subject,
and not against the Governor nor the Legis'
lature. The fence question cannot be made
political question, and no intelligent and
honest man will try to make it so, for both
parties joined in passing it. The Demo-
Gratis had majority in the House of Rep
resentatives, and the Republicans had ma
jority in the Senate, and yet both these
bodies passed it. 1t will also be remem-
bered that Senator Cochran three years ago
had similar act passed for this County,
when the Senate and House were both
Republican by two thirds majorities, and
the last Republican State Convention
passed as one of the planks of its platform
the following:
Recognizing the enormous expense of
fencing farms, and the scarcity of timber in
some sections of the State, we feel it to be
necessary that practical relief be afforded to
the people of the State, and we pledge our
selves to secure such legislation upon the
subject as will give to the electors of each
county the right to regulate this question
for themselves"
Thus it will be seen the Republican party
was fully committed to the passage of such
an act as the present one; and hence, if the
Democratic party had not succeeded, an act
similar to the present one would have been
passed, according to the Republican plat
form; and hence, both political parties may
justly be said to favor the present law, and
neither has any just cause to take any ad-
vantage of the position of the other on this
question.
We have written this article because it
has been called to our attention that num-
Der of designing men are endeavoring to en-
gender feeling of bitterness in the minds
of the uninformed upon this subject, with
view to running independent candidates in
the next election. They should be spurned
as the most deadly vipers. Any man who
would either run or assist others to run as
independent candidates, over this or any
other subject in the next election, is public
enemy to good government in South Carroll
ma, and deserves to be consigned to eternal
infamy by all good citizens. We are only
beginning to establish our government, and
language fails US in which TO express our
utter contempt for, and condemnation of,
the infdel hands that would help for any
personal cause to tear down the glorious
fabric we have just reared amid the difficult
ties and trials of our last canvass. If we
have personal differences over the fence law,
or any other subject, let us settle those diff
ferences in our primary election; but come
what:may, after that election let it be under
stood that every decent man votes the ticket
nominated. If we do not like any man or
set of men, let us turn out on the day of
nomination and beat them if we can. 1t was
this determination to abide the nominations
which carried US through in the last elec-
ton, and we must have it again in the next.
Write every man who tries to make road
for independent candidates in the next elec-
ton down as an unworthy ofice-seeker and
demagogue. The differences men may have
upon other subjects will not affect their
Democracy if they are sincere Democrats.
Over the fence question it cannot do so, for
the Republican party is as strongly COM
mitted to the new law as the Democratic
party.