Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-02
The Lien Law.

large extent, laVofln8 the repeal OF Tho lien law
as obnoxious TO the true interests Of oil classes
We took this position years ago and constantly
held out that tho lien law, tho homestead law
and tho interest law, as it formerly existed
taken together, would ruin any people. The
nsury law has, however, heen rc-enactcd after
years Of opposition, and tho good instead Of
evil effects Of 1t arc seon in tho plcntifuness Of
money, tho case with which it can be borrowed
and our growing prosperity in every respect.
We advocated usury law for ton years amid
almost universal opposition without avail, as tho
people wero led to believe 1t would drivo money
out of tho country, that money was commodity
and like spccious arguments. It's enactment
opened out tho shut up Golfers Of tho country
and prosperity sprang up almost Us if by magic
Now let the Legislature lop off tho lien law,
root and branch, and not re.cnact it, however
great tho public camor In few years the
people will bless the wisdom in freeing them,
even against their will from This incubus. Who
docs 1t benefit? A few merchants have grown
rich under 1t, but q greater number have failed
or lost money. An occasional farmer may havo
prospered but the great bulk have grown poorer
under its operation. 1t causes men to buy more
recklessly, and if the farmer fals from any
cause to pay tho homo merchant, tho homo
merchant is exhausted and tho money sent
abroad too often for articles not actually
needed, and which, apart from tho lien law,
would not have been purchased.
What does it propose to effect? To give q
doubtful credit for q ruinous profit and swift
and sweeping remedy to the licncc. 1t makes
tho lienor tho property of the licnee, and de-
nri ba of tbo l.;
products until his master has been satisfied. 1t
opens out the widest fold for oppression, not
only in exacting exorbitant profits, but in
enforcing their collection. II is decoy duck,
Inviting men to buy and then, dcpriying them of
their earnings, thus preventing tho farmer from
rising to that independence essential to success
in his calling. Furthermore, it is an nduccmcnt
to dishonesty, in causing men to run their crops
from debts they have unwiscly contracted and
feel unwilling to pay.
Its evil influence on tho general prosperity is
greater still. II dcmoralzes labor, renders il
comparatively unproduciyo and thus mpov-
erishes tho State. To farm proitably or even
we'll tho farmer should have supply of provs-
lons' we'll fed stock and good farm implements.
Under the lien law large portion Of the labor
OF the State is wasted or ided away without any
OF these advantages. Stout laborers and their
families arc found squattcd about on poor ridges,
with scarcely anything but steer, gopher
plow and battered hoe, who with little guano,
few pounds Of meat and an occasional ponc Of
bread arc pretending TO farm. They plant their
crop, half tend it, starvo themselves and families
and at tho end of the year the product is virtually
nothing. Without tho lien law this labor would
seek employment on good lands, where with a
horse and farm tools furnished, it would work
for wages or share Of the crop, making more
for themselves and tho State, while both they
and their families would bo better fed, better
clothed and really happier. This condition of
things is seen everywhere, while valuable lands,
which would enrich the State in their products,
arc left idle for the want of labor. We do not
believe people always know what is for their best
interests, and the Legislature should no: keen
in existence law which operates so largely TO
render labor unproduclive Tho negro hns
natural antipathy TO work under or with tho
honest white man, and the lien law, in enabling
him to indulge this feeling, destroys the fruits
OF his labor to large extent Now if he were,
IN bis own true interest driven TO labor in
proper way, it would not only increase tho pro
ducts of the State, but would tend largely to
render the race more honest and more indusri-
Gus and result in producing better feeling
between the ruces That this is to the interest
Of all and to the State at large, no one can
doubt
The only reasonable objection which can be
urged against the repeal of the law are tho
claims of q few honest farmers, who owning
stock and farm implements, ask q littlo credit,
IN the honest expectation of betlcring their
condition. The homestead, they say, cuts of
credit to them. It is true it is On obstacle to
credit, and while we cannot sec whom ii benefits,
except tho improyidcnt man or tho reckless
speculator, still it is fixture which We will not
assail. The class referred to, however, can
secure credit if they honestly intend to labor to
better their fortunes, by mortgaging thcir stock
Or growing crop. II would make them cautious
In trading and diligent in their work TO meet
their obligations, and in few years by prompt
ness in paying such mon would have credit on
their good name, which is tho highest credit
we have known men not legally responsible TO,
their dcbts whose credit was bcttcr than that o
men Of means. So can any man make his BY
years Of prompt and honest dealing. We're il
otherwise, VIC doubt whether law bcnciine
but o few and operating to the general injury
should'be allowed TO stand on the statute books
When The law was originally passed il was in
tended as temporary measure to meet th'
emergencies resulting from the war. The home.
stead enactment doubtless caused it to be con.
tinucd in operation, but we think now tho TIM
has como when 1t should bo repealed
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