The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-12

Mr.. EDITOR: As oil changes Of established
custom and innovations upon long usage
should he carefully examined before being
received, we ought to feel fully authorized
to investigate thoroughly the proposed
amendment to our fence laws prior to &c
ceptance. May not this investigation be
had calmly and dispassionatcly, without
high excitement or intemperate zeal, with
out arraying neighbor against neighbor,
capital against labor, or the landed against
the landless. Agitation Is to DC tolerated
only in view of information to be conimu-
nicated and an understanding to be reached.
Violent speeches should be abstaines. from,
md opposition for the mere sake OF opposi-
ton cease at once. Hnt let us as good citi-
zens, freely, friendly. frequently talk about
the cxpedicncy of modifying the present ex-
pensive system of enclosing our farms
Changes, politically, socially, economically,
almost radical in character, have taken place
in the late past. We have accepted these,
and are adapting ourselves to them. Com
piete renovations have taken place in sew
eral departments Of agriculture within the
memory of living men. May it not be
cminently expedient to alter, amend or re-
FORM the prevailing farm arrangement, Let
! iacts DC compared, reason set against reason,
ana let the might of evidence prevail, and
confirm the judgment Of each one of us.
Let justice and right and utility be The aim
OF the investigation, and let the design Of
any discussion had upon the subject be tho
attainment of that end. Every man having
his opinions, should yet be open to the force
! OF truth, and be convinced by the better
reasSi There is no compulson. This
change is not proposed in the interest OF
few large land owners or ring. No i'm
proper influences rs known were brought
to bear to procure the passage of the bill
looking to modification of tho present
system. But FULL liberty of choice is al
lowed. The Legislative enactment confers
upon every elect0r the right to express his
preference NJ the bal bale. bcs. T::e utmost
iiberaiity has b,en granted. There is no
difference between the largest land owner
and he who owns none. 1t must be ratified
by the majority before 1t becomes law, and,
in the event Of ratification, would dispense
its benefits or impose its disadvantages upon
the whole population embraced within the
territory ratifying, for general or common
law must permeate the body polite, and
especially so In this instance, because of the
intimate relations and mutual dependence
between the two main capitals, the two Gre
alive energies possessed by Anderson County
and upper South Carolina, viz. labor and
land, cuitivator and soil; hence, there ought
to be no jealousy or conflict. We assume
this conclusion to be both fair and satisfnc-
tory, and proceed to state in short form our
reasons for advocating the proposed change.
In doing this we can a,Tivc at only approxi-
mate results and benefits, not yet having
made trial of the no fence system. Un-
questionably all ultimate authority over
lands or rcA property resides solely in the
fee simple owner, extending from the upper
most air to the centre of the earth. All
productions, whether by an effort Of nature
or by his o:!l industry, belong to the owner
by rs absolute tenure. All lands are
owned by somebody, hence weconclude-
LIST. That the right to allow stock of any
description to run at large has no fonnda-
tion, and does not exist
fences of the County and State are worth
several times as much as all the stock run
ming ut large.
3rd. The abolition Of fences, but for the
enclosing pastures, would save in n decade
many millions to the citizens of the State
and pro rata proportion to the County
4th. The annual saving from rcpairiny
and erecting new fences would fall little
short of our late enormous taxation,
5th. The saving in timber would of itself
constitute large item even at present csti-
mates, and would be invaluable in future
years and ages.
9Th. Labor annually expended &c sustain
the existing system could be directed in
profitable channels and would amount to n
large sum.
1th. Increased productions arising from
the rich deposits along our lines of zigzag
fences would aggregate large amount.
sth. The rapid and accelerated rccupcra-
ton of worn land would add immensely to
our agricultural resources
9Th. Among the advantages the conten,-
plated change would bring may be men
toned improvement of stock and the utiliza-
ton of their manures.
Tc!-I. Their largely increased profitable
ness in the production of butter; flesh, etc.
11th. We maintain that not only in
creased value could be given to stock, but
that several varieties would be largely in
creased in numbers, because OF superior pro-
lection and facilities for rearing.
18th. We hold that the adoption of the
proposed law, we'll regulated, modified and
made to ensure justice between the citizens,
would gradually operate such benefcent
| changes in our farm management that pros
perity must come out from the wreck OF
Radical spoliation, financial ruin, general
| and individual bankruptcy. '
18th. We believe the very necessity has
arrived the point reached, to pass beyond
which would be i'll high degree perilous.
14th. Ample provision is mude by the
law for the tenant and employee. We will
run great risk by neglecting it, for every one
must be aware of the fact that the pasture:
and wild lands of the country are being
rapidly enclosed, only few years more viii
be requisite to fence up all. This would b,
i q practicable enforcement of the law at
tended with these disadvantages, viz (: ex
clusion of the stock of the landless and th
destruction or forest
If the foregoing statements constitut,
good and valid arguments for new fenc,
ayStav,, fba,y I,oIA nz.,,oi