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

custom ana innovations upon long usage
should be 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 dispassionately, without
high excitement or intemperate zeal, with
out arraying ncighbor against neighbor
capital against labor, or the landed against
the landless. Agitation is to be tolerated
only in view of information to be commu-
nicated and an understanding to be reached.
Violent speeches should be abstained from,
and opposition for the mere sake of opposi-
ton cease at once. But let us as good citi-
zens, freely, friendly, frequently talk about
the expediency of modifying the present ex-
pcnsive 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
plete renovations have taken place in sew
eral departments of agriculture within the
memory of living men. May it not be
eminently expedient to alter, amend or re-
form the prevailing farm arrangement. Let
facts be compared, reason set against reason,
and 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 the
attainment of that end Every man having
his opinions, should yet be open to the force
of truth, and be convinced by the better
reason. There is no compulsion. This
change is not proposed in the interest of a
few large land owners or ring. No i'm
proper influences as known were brought
to bear to procure the passage of the bill
looking to modification of the present
system. But full liberty Of choice is al
lowed. The Legislative enactment confers
upon every elector the right to express his
preference at the ballot box. The utmost
liberality has been granted There is no
difference between the largest land owner
and he who owns none. 1t must be ratified
by the majority before it 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 a general or common
law must pcrmeate 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
ative energies possessed by Anderson County
and upper South Carolina, viz labor and
land, cultivator and soil; hence, there ought
to be no jealousy or conflict. We assume
this conclusion to be both fair and satisfac-
tory, and proceed to state in short form our
reasons for advocating the proposed change.
In doing this we can arrive at only approx
mate results and benefits not yet having
made trial of the no fence system. I'm
questionably all ultimate authority over
lands or reA 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 own industry, belong to the owner
by as absolute tenure. All lands are
owned by somebody, hence we conclude
LIST. That the right to allow stock Of any
description to run at large has no founda-
ton, and does not exist.
End. It may safely be laid down that the
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 decade
many millions to the citizens of the State
and a pro rata proportion to the County.
4th. The annual saving from repairing
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 esti-
mates, and would be invaluable in future
years and ages.
9th. Labor annually expended to sustain
the existing system could be directed in
profitable channels and would amount to
large sum.
7th. Increased productions arising from
the rich deposits along our lines of zigzag
fences would aggregate large amount.
Sth The rapid and accelerated rccupera-
ton of worn land would add immensely to
our agricultural resources.
9th. Among the advantages the contcm-
plated change would bring may be mcn-
toned improvement of stock and the utiliza-
ton of their manures.
10th. 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 in high degree perilous.
14th. Ample provision is made 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 pastures
and wild lands. of the country are being
rapidly enclosed, only few years more will
be requisite to fence up ALL This would be
practicable enforcement of the law at
tended with these disadvantages, viz. /: ex-
clusion of the stock of the landless and the
destruction of forest.
If the foregoing statements constitute
good and valid arguments for new fence
system, they hold equal force as objections