Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-07-26
The Lien Law.

Tho repeal of this law, which has remained
on our statute book for upward Of ten years,
is ono of tho wiscst measures Of tho last Lo.
gisloture. Tho Radical Senate for three sue.
cossivo years passed q bill repeating it, but
the bill invariably failed in tho House. At
the timo Of tho passage of tho lion low it was
considered necessary measure to enable
planters to stock and plant their farms. The
war had just ended and tho country WAS
without money or credit or anything tangible
to got tho one or secure tho othor. As q
measure of temporary relief tho ACT was
without injury and would have long since been
repealed or disused but for the change in
our labor system and laws regulating it.
Under tho lien law it was expected tho skillful
planters of tho State would employ lobor and
secure supplies for year or two, when the
legitimate profits Of tho farm would render it
self-supporting. This, doubtless, would have
happened but for reconstruction and it's effect
In placing the ignorant and corrupt in author.
ity and tho enactment of laws which worked
a complete decentralization of labor. The
laborer was placed above control and became
80 unreliable as to subvert the old system of
farming under the direction and management
of the land owner. The labor Of the country
soon became scattered, ignorant negroes
attempting to farm under their own Judgment
as rontors, tho landowners generally furnish-
ing tho stock and supplies for share of the
crop. In few years these renters became
go unmanagenble and unreliable in many in
stances that tho landlord, not receiving fair
remuneration for his stock, supplies and land,
refused to furnish stock and supplies and in
somo caecs land. In consequence of this,
labor became worse scattered and dsorgan-
lied and less productive. Tho negroes to
great extent squatted on poor and unproductvo
ridges, built cabins, opened small patches,
managed to got bull or steer and some old
tools and became either landed proprietors on
credit with mortgage, or lessees for years.
Yhis gave them feeling of importance and
independence which enabled them to endure
much hunger. They had perfect freedom to
vote tue Radical ticket, attend political meet
ings, preach, sing, pray and steal by night,
for they generally mixed these things, and
grew poorer annually themselves, while the
country was likewise growing poorer.
The lion law was the basis and support of
this condition of things, and without it no
such anomalous condition Of labor and capital
could or would have existed. Under coycr
OF fow acres of ridge land, bull ycarling
and a promised cotton crop, this landed pro-
priotor of African descent would got his ado
vancos and exc out annually a scanty sub
sistencc. Each year has found those people |
poorer and poorer, whilo tho merchant finds |
himself. badly bont and the country grows |
poorer for tho want of its labor being properly
directed and we'll supplied with tools and good
land.
There are cases Of white mon whom tho
lien law bas benefited and enabled to take a |
start. There arc also raro instances Of
coiored men who have become selfssustaining
under its provisions, but we hold that these
men would have succeeded Independently of
the lien law. On tho other hand, look at its
great injury in the largo amount of labor
wasted on poor ridges, while good lands could
DO had Look farther at it's injury in SO many
ablo bodied laboroIs foolishly striving to farm
with steer or broken down horse under the
color and false idea of independence. Not
only does tho lien law retard tlro prosperity
OF the country by the oxhorbitant profits ex-
acted by tho merchant for his risk, but in %
much greater degroo in enabling and evor
encouraging so many laborors to waste their
time and labor in q fruitless attempt TO run q
farm without lund, stock, tools or supplies.
Without tho lien law oil this labor would have
been forced either to hire to good farmers or
to contract with landowners for both land and
stock and supplies. Labor would not have
been oppressed under such system, for labor
is 80 scarce in tho South that it would CONS
mand competition. Labor, too, when it once
found land or employment would hayo bcon
subject 10 reasonable control, for tho laborer
could not have felt that in his dereliotion of
duty tho lien law Afforded hin, a. protection
and refuge The country would have pros,
pored aud labor would have been better re-.
muneratod and better contented.
The repeal Of the lion law will operate to
the public welfare in, making h;rod labor
moro reliable and in diyorting unproductiye
labor into productive ctannels, either as
renters CT hirel;ngs. The merchant, too, will
be benefited, for the repeal Of the law will cut
ago condemned, and in It's place he will got
the endorsemontof Of the land oRnor for sap-
plies, which must etill bs had! In few
*years we prsdiet q fhs better oondih6h'of the
Duntry: There will doubsrese bs SONG satly
dtssat.fpedop PVT a yesr viii remove this
ard hboser and land owner will alike approve