The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-18

Upoa calling up the unfn shed business, the
QUESTION Of repeating the lien law came up, Mr..
X. X. Hempbil having the floor lie said To
recall your attention to the point at which was
on yesterday, will reathrm that the lien law
was necessity Of the times when cnactci-
That some such provision. was necessary t. keep
gaunt famine from the door of many of our poor
people. IL gave them hope to work for reeo1-
cry of their property, and means TO perform
that work. We were verging upon actual want;
what had been left by sword was Sweps awaxzby
the hand of the despoilef. The passage Of s6tH :
n law was departure from the former, course
oflegslation Ii was an unfortunate innovation,
| admit, but 1t was necessity Of the tines
The unsettled condition Of our financial ahd po-
litical affairs has rendered il necessary to keep
it on our statute books. 1t is impossible to
change and repeal it just now. would be will
ing to fix upon the lst of January, 1879, for it
to become imperative, but at no earlier date
This lien is of the same nature mortgage Of
real or personal property. We make no objec-
tions to the pledging of property in this way
and of this kind. Do we not admit by this that
liens per sc are not wrong; that there is no es-
sential wrong in them? Our objections then
must be founded upon the incidental evils of the
system Should we not assure ourselves that
these evils are sufficient to overbalance those
which would arise from the immediate repeal of
the law? Repeal the law, and have no sum-
mary and speedy mode of collecting debts but
| are compelled to resort to the tedious uncertain
and expensive remedy Of an "action at law
Men, without thought, charge our present inn
poverishment to the lien law 1t cannot DO at
tributed TO any one cause. Within q year the
United States treasury has Withdrawn from cir.
culation more than $l50, ,0O0, 900 ofcurrency.-
This is more satisfactory and real reason to bc
assigned for the stringency Of the times. Tho
effect Of the lien law would be to force the labor
of the country back upon the land owners
This is perhaps, desirable result but the whole
question narrows itself down to this (: Can tho
country absorb and sustain this labor in its pres,
ent impoverished condition? Where are the
means? assert that large proportion of the
property of Abbevillc County. the basis of its
credit, is under liens or judgment and mort
cages, and that the land owners themselves can
not get credit unless those furnishing supplies
for their laborcrs can have.thc benefit of a lien
prior to the liens already subsisting. We cannot
| absorb the labor and enter upon cash payments
at once. 1t is n contest between labor and capi-
tai, and will force men of small farms to the po-
stion of day laborers, with an uncertain pros
pcct of receiving pay. 1t will still further dc.
grade the laboring man, and put it beyond his
power ever to RISE
Mr.. Smpson--The lien law was intended to
supplant the homestead law and restore to the
poor man the credit which that exemption took
away from him. But its actual operation is very
oppressive. 1t gives the former a fctous credit.
1t places his credit entirely in the power of the
merchant who has lien upon his crop. because
no one else will credit him when there is n lien
upon his property.
Mr.. Vernon-1his lien law is extremely ex-
pensive. In many counties tho Clerks of Court
make from $4,000 to $1,000 year by record
ing liens This is paid by the borrower. If
there Is merchant upon the floor to-day, L
would ask him how many of his customers who
have been giving him liens are worth one cent
more now than they were ten years ago. If
there was necessity for the law when il was
passed. that necessity does not exist now. A
lien is not security, because it is based ON
something not in existence. 1t places weight
upon the farmer calculated to discourage him i'm
his labor to accomplish that upon which the Sc.
curity depends.
Mr.. Andrews-I think that enough has becn
said oil this subject | am glad thai the happy
days of the poor man in South Carolina have
come am glad that gentlemen have found out
that the lien law is secondary slavery for the
laboring man. Let people who have no means
go TO work for somebody who can forecast for
them Our poor people have got too much
pride. Amer they give lien there is no more,
work. They get something to live on during
the summer till winter comes again. II the pco-
pie want The law after it is repealed we can
re-enact il again.
Mr., W. x. Bradlcy-whcn I came here was
In favor OF abolishing the lien law, but since [
have heard the arguments and considered the
matter more carefully, think that we should
not do so till we enact substitute for it.
Mr.. Sheppard-Onc thing which should be
considered is that the lawyers in the House are
opposed to striking out the cnacting clause of
the BILL The system is defective and should he.
amended, but | nm not in favor of wiping
1t out at once, without providing n substi-
tutc
MIR. Orr-lf the provisions Of the lien law
were carried out there would be no harm from
it. IT provides that the lien shall be given only
for supplies necessary for the making of the
cror. But when n man gives lien he buys to
Mr.. ioumans-The original intcnti ~
law was to encourage capital to come to Sout;.--
Carolina and its present operation was never
dI canned of. | think if there is any necessity
for enacting Usury Law there is tenfold more
10 repeal the lien law.