The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21

Mr.. EDITOR: Your remarks on the Fence
Law in last paper exhibits, in its spirit, a
little impatience at the worry and confusion
existing and resulting necessarily from so
sudden change in the habits of people
in the last century or more. Permit me to
suggest that there is no disposition among
even the opponents of the Law to avoid or
eyade its provisions, or throw any unnec-
essary distractions in the practical opera
lions Of the law. All the confusion result
ing has been produced, not from the practi-
cal operations of the law but from the
unfayorable conditions under which it was
inaugurated. The first mistake was on the
part of the Legislature in framing the orig
inal bill, in omitting provision that if a
msjority of the townships in the County
adopted tho change the law should be ap-
piled to the whole County. Ascend cause
for the confusion resulting in the public
mind was the delay on the part of she
County Commissioners in surveying and
letting out the contracts for building the
County fence. Until this survey was made
the people could not be satisfied as to the
exact condition Of things in regard to the
law. As soon as it was certainly known
that the law had been duly ratified, and
was to be Immediately enforced, the people
generally, with commendable zeal, set
about adapting themselves, in their stock
interests, to the great change proposed.
Even in those sections where the opposition
to the law was most decided, the people are
not behind any others in accommodating
themselves to the law. One of the strong
est opponents of tie measure in Brushy
Creek township seid to me the other day as
he was about finishing his pasture fences:
"I had nothing to do with the making of
the law, but intend to abide by it fully"
Not only so, but this gentleman, who was
large landholder, assisted his renters in pro-
viding pasturage for their stock as for his
own. This is the proper spirit, and will, we
trust, be initiated by all. Gradually as the
practical operation of the law begins to de-
velop itself, the benefits to be derived arc
becoming more and more apparent. 1t will
take more time, however, than the Law al
lows for all the people to prepare themselves
for it, and until reasonable time has been
allowed for the enclosing of stock, the peo-
pie should exercise the utmost torbearance
towards each other. Indeed, where there is
no malicious or evil intent apparent, we
think all the difficulties likely to arise be-
tween neiGhbors may be satisfactorily ad-
justed without litigation. Barring the delay
in the matter, unavoidable no doubt, the
County Commissioners, in the discharge of
the new and responsible duties imposed by
the new law, have exhibited rare good sense
and very accommodating spirit, to which
the most ceremoniou, can find no objection.
Of course the details of the great change
proposed is so new and radical that no one
can certainly say in advance what will be
the ultimate result, yet the principle en-
bodied snd upon which the law has been
based, is so simple and so just that we do
not see how failure is possible. The princi-
pie is this-no more, no less-that every
man shall take care of his own.
T. H. r.