Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-10-02
Proceedings OF the Mass Meeting
in the Court House on the
Stock Law Question.

Oconee County met en- masse in the Court
House on Saturday last to consider the stock
law question.
Col. Robk A. Thompson was elected Chair
man and John S. Vornor, Esq, Secretary.
Thus organized. on moption, Hon. B. F.
Crayton, of Anderson, was called upon to
addros tho moe:ing. Mr.. Crayton gave an
interesting account Of tho experience Of Anr
dorson County undor tho law, compelling tho
feuoing Of tho stock Tho experiment in
Anderson, he said, had proven tho wisdom Of
tho law, and now oil olassos wero content
under its operation and delighted with the
change. II was saving of labor, added to
tho valuo Of lands, and increased also tho
valuo Of stock.
The following letter was received aad read
from Hon. Edmund IIcrndon:
September 9th, 1870.
10 The Citizens Of Oconee County, South ca,
,olind:
AS this day has boon eot apart for tho cx>
press purpose Of investigating tho claims Of
tho fencc or stock law, in which every citizen
has an interest and should bo allowed the
privilege to express his or her opinion. cspo-
cially as tho adoption Of this law will, in its
operation, rovolutonizo the whole farming
interest Of tho county. hope therefore tha t
this question may DO coolly, carefully and
thoroughly Investigated, with tho kindost
feelings, with the question in full view, 'docs
tho condition of Ooonco County require the
change sought" 1 for ono answer no, and
for tho following reasons:
The mass of tho pooplo arc not ready for
the adoption of the stock law. Many Of
them havo neither pasturage, water nor the
means of acquiring them; white tho forests
abound with food prepared by n kind Provi.
doncc. suited in cvory respect to the coudtion
of tho present occupants Of tho country. I
am ready, IT, admit that there arc few men,
owners Of large old farms, who would, by the
change, be benefited; yet thcro arc very few
that can urge, with any force, the plsa Of
scarcity Of timber to fence their lands; for it
is admitted by all that this County is COM
posed of worry large portion Of virgin forest,
whore timber and grass abound in sufficient
quantity to last, with proper care, for cen
tury yet to come. This might, and would
havo been the case, all over the State but for
tho reckless waste Of timber made by men in
pursuit of gain, without looking to the future
Of the country. Could tho whole State be
reinstatcd with her forest and grazing lands,
or if tho whole State could bc placed in tho
same condition rs that of Oconcc, tho idca Of
Then why plunge Oconcc into this uncallcdf
for change to compensate tho rccklcssncss of
few who may or might DO benefited by the
change?
Another reason is tho inodaptability Of tho
soil Of Oconco to the growing of tho grasses,
(the cutivated) tho soil being naturally des'
titute Of the elements necessary to tho pro-
duction Of these grasses. l am told TINT good
crops of clover bus and can be grown on lands
admit that tho soil, without literally applying
such fertilizers as these grasses demand, will
produce them.
Give us the soil of Virginia and Kentucky
and then tell US that VIC can grow clover and
other grasses Until you do this, let us have
tho free uso Of tho thousands Of acres of
forest lands, where the cattle Of the poor find
sustcnancc and furnish tho humble inhab-
tants with an untold amount Of milk, butter
uuu pOIk lrOu NHC uDnuQl mUStS.
We arc told that it is unjust and lrcspass
upon tho rights of tho land owner for tho
stock of his neishbor TO grazo on bis neigh.
boris land. pity the man who may havo
soul so much contracted ne to bogrudgo tho
use Of q fow blades of grass. that some poor
child may havo a oup Of milk and bread for
supper. We should remember that tho land
and its natural products, with tho cattle ou q
thousand hills, belong to the Owner Of tho
Universe, and that it is an assumption on the
part Of any man to attempt to monopolizc the
exclusive right to own or to use these ricl,
gifts.
am told to fence up large forests or old
fields, or to inclosc q number of small lots,
that thoy may bo changed aud thus furnish
food for stock. These all require q largo
number OF rails, almost equal to the common
farm fence. Stock incloscd in these must bc
kept secure, not even allowed to CLEAN the
harvest or pea fields.
The great scarty Of timber is, therefore, no
plea to tho citizens of this County, nor do
the advocates of the stock law so recognize it,
for they tell US to fence largo fields or num-
Der of small ones.
10 me the stock law has no charms, but on
tho contrary has every feature Of oppression,
especially of the poor.
hope that your deliberations may be for
tho interest Of Oconce County, adopting such
resolutions rs will best promote County
policy, and bo careful to avoid any action
that may in any way affect general govcrn-
mental policy. Respectfully,