The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-09-19
A Much Needed Law.
For the Times.

| SEuLI SHOALS, Sept. II, 1879.
MR. bptron There is IL subject now engag-
ing the attention Of the planters OF this section,
| and which is of vital importance to every com
munity in our County and Stalc-oue too upon
| which the statutes of tho State are compara-
| lively silent.
| refer to the "cnticing invciglng or moving
! away" by one party, the laborcrs, hrclings or
| tenants of another" | venture the assertion
that no section of our County has been free
| from such "cnticing, inveigling or moving
away" and yet the only recourse that the far
mer has had, has been to The old English law on
such cases and the decisions of our Supreme
Court 'TiS sad fact yet truthful one that
SELF interest is the ruling passion of the majority
of mankind and, in disregard of all custom or
counsel, many II man will wlfully attempt 10 set
ut naught the plans of his neghbor, unless re-
strained by the stern edict of II law he under
stands. Such case as the following, often
happens:
hires laborcr, or laborerS, goes to the eX-
pcnsc of building them Il house, moves them from
y distance, and they have actually commenced
work for A--pcrhaps prepared some of his lands
for plantng-when nc hbor comes along or
sends anl by means of higher wages promised,
entices said laborers away, thereby damaging 4
no little in purse, bes,des disconcerting his
whole arrangements for cultivatng his lands for
the year.
What is AS remedy? AS we have said, only
recourse to the old English statutes. 1t has al
ways been to me an incXplicable mystery why
our Legislators have been so loath or easy on
this subject and while we arrogatc to ourselves
no extreme or even medium foresight upon the
subject we are of the opinion that some law like
the following is needed in our State
Let every man be compelled by statute to en-
ter into Il wrjitcn contract the first of every year.
with his hirelings tenants (unless where the
tenancy is for term of years. aud in default
of entering into such written agreement let him
or them bc dcbarrcd from prosecuting or main
tanning any suit against any person or persons
who may 'enlce, inveigle or move away such
laborcr or tenant and let the Bill contain II
clause making it II criminal ofensc against any
person who shall wilmlly endcavor, even, or
who shall knowingly "cnticc, invciglc or move
away" said laborer: and let there be. also a
clause empowering the farmer or contractor to
maintain II suit for damages against the often
der" This wi lie spread custom OF interfering
with ncighbor' 5 laborers has become too com
mon but if such law rs we have mentioned
above Is enacted OpEc il will not only be
bcnchcial TO the individual farmer and contract
or, but will have salutary effect in placing the
labor of our country upon II more stable and
reliable basis, and thereby adj not only to the
amount Of crops raised annually, but contribute
TO the general prosperity Of nil. 1t will tend to
create stronger confidence between the con
tractor and his laborers, and it will serve to
strengthen the cords of existing friendships be-
tween neighbors, instead of engenlcring those
internal Tor Internal if you plcase) discorls that
now SO often arise and distract the good feelings
III ncighhOrhouas Let Trial Justices lie en-.
powered to approve and file, in n book kept for
the purpose, such contracts as may he presented
to them, charging say, TO cents for the same,
and there will be no further trouble, so far as
al! lawabiling citizens or contractors are con-
ccTncl.
Until men are taught by the stern penalties Of
the law, that every one has rights, in this par
| ticular. that are sacrcl and not To he violated
with impuEity, there will be disposition, un-
dcrlying the ground work of our social state to
lord it with might over rgh;," and keep in
| continued nphcaval the quictulc Of every com
| munity, and our country will be dctcrorating
| instead Of advancing in that material wealth
and prosperity which the God of Nature has
! placed in our reach. l;y all means let our Leg
| Slators look into the matter this winter, and
if possible let the law be in operation January
| LIST, 1850. "LlONNEI.."