The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-07-18
For the Times.
Tho Homestead---Crops, &C.

not represented last week and therefore did not
contribute to that Ocer-dOSe. Well, "aftcr storm
there is generally calm" SO | can have the
whole field to myself this week!
According to promise now propose TO review
the Homestead law. IL will bc remembered that
in the year 1868 u convention met at Columbia
for the purpose OF amending our State CoIsti-
tuition, or, we might say, to frame new one,
better suited to the changed condition OF affairs.
II will, also, DC borne i'll mind that the honest,
intelligent voters had but little voice in selecting
the who composed that Convention. That
Convention (instigated by the Devil no doubt
saw proper, i'll their wisdom, (?) to incorporate
i'll that constitution, law eXcmptng from levy
and sale real and personal property 10 the
amount of > 800. Thus by organic law
of the State rendering null and void all laws Tor
the collection OF debts by civil process, from the
fact that few men owned more property than
was exempt. Property being the best collateral
security upon which credit was based, it struck
death blow to the credit system. The people,
in their impoverished conditions, were not pre-
pared for II change so radical and sudden. The
legislature, i'll attempting TO remedy the evil
passed. the Lien llw-the legitimate offspring o,
the Homestead. Many know, TO their sorrow I
how badly it has worked. But the greatest Oh
lection TO the Homestead law is its tendency to
corrupt aud dcmoraizc our people. Men will
make far promises to obtain credit. They "will
pay out of the first cotton sold, or bring you the
very first money they can raise Ii is lament
able fact that Il great many men, alter they Oh
tain credit ny lying and Discrimination, become
quite lawaGlding. When YOU attempt TO get
what is justly due you they pretend to get an
cry and tell you Ito help yourself; | CLAIM the
benefit OF the law, thereby adding insult and
dishonesty to lying y man that acts thus Ger
tainly feels himself degraded III the eyes of all
honest men he must icc dcspicabic and mean;
he knows hc has acted dishonesty. In fact he
When II man steps from the exalted plane vf
truth, honesty and virtue, his duwn ward course
IN vice is often rapid, bringing him tOa disgrace
tul end. Cursed with u law upon our statutes
iur eleven years past which gives icc.,se 10 the
people Of South Carolina to lie, and steal ind-
rccty, we need not DC surprised at the long list
OF criminal cases i'll our Courts.
There is notion among cur people that so
long as they keep within the bounds of the law
they arc shielded from rcproach it matters moi
how unj ust the law may DC. Fatal dciusIon
Right aud justice ever remain the same. They
emcnate from Him who holds thc scales Of JUS
iicc, and lie will reward every man according
to his deeds.
remember an expression made hy an intel
ligcut farmer, soon after the passage ut the
Homestead law. Says he, take away the law
to compel men to pay their debts and precious
few will pay. Thought lightly OF II 1T the
tiG.c but nave found it " bc iruc.
\ recent writer says: ..Somc men have shell
tered themselves behind homestead anl bank
rupt laws. By all sorts OF fraudulent practices,
they have conveyed their property TO others
They are clothed i'll purple and fine linen fare
sunptuouSly ever day; drive fast horses ride in
the finest vehicles rcvel in luxury, while their
honest creditors with their wives and little ones
cheated out Of their hari earnings by lying and
all sorts Of sharp raScally praclIccS are Sullcr-
ing for the neccsSarics ol life" Now, Mr., E,h
tor, If the law works badly and tends to corrupt
and dcmoraizc our people, which | think no
aid honest man can deny lihc has thought serious
ly upon The subject, let Us call convention this
Fall Tor the purpose ot ancmdimg our toustiiu-
tion. The SUUurr we return TO good old dhic
b"iiHm times in this respect the better it will be
Tor rs. Then the man who refused - pay II
just debt, WAS regarded rs dishonest. WcN do
rcmcmbcr how careful those good old citizens
were To lay up AMI he prepared to meet prompt
~ the demands against them as they became due
Dut few waited to hc dunuci even. Hut sab To
relate, most "t them have pass 81 away anl their
sons are dcmoIa!Acd, from living under differ
cnt laws, and have ceased to follow in their foot
steps.
rs | said in u former article ''somc men
attribute this state nf affairs to the late war
and even try excuse themselves. and quiet their
conscicncc> in this way. Many OF your readers
remember the ready excuse OF the soldier, when
he did II mean act during the war. .'Wcll, boys
1t war times, you know. But it is too late
now, we must l0ok elsewhere for the causes of
our present condition.
y few local Items and close. Rain is hailv
needed. y ignt shower fell here last night
(Sunday( which has lvcncd up vegetation; but
unless more comes soon early will hc al
most u failure. While writing, learn that in
portions of this Township II heavy rain glad
dcncd the hearts Of the farmers last night
Cotton is standing the drought well. IL is very
small on rcd lands. Some complaint OF lice
The new CONFER, mentioned by your corrcspon-
dent ll"GAN, made it's appearance in this Sec
ton carly Ill the spring and still persists in
committing lis iavaGcs, driying hot sun, dry
weather aud everything else. Hope some Of
our scientists will give II history of TIE pest.
IL is much larger thna the common bud worm,
about i of an inch in length. covered with dark
brown spots. la its movements it appears 10
be cndcavoring to crawl through itself clad
to see such hntcrng accounts of n large yield
of small grain throughout the County 1t speaks
well for our farmers. Let raise all we con-
sumc ut homo, then what Cotton VIC can, and
our independence is secured.
C. Il. Is.
For the Times.
Tho Heat, Drought, &C., at Skull Shoals.