The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-09-07
Abolish the Lien Law.

CoKEsBURY, S. c., Sept. 5, 1881.
Editors Press and Banner:
Since the question of the lien law has
arisen to such a pitch of discussion (nnd
it seemingly is no question for argument
at alp we would kindly ask you for space
enough in your valuable paper to express
on: views or this all important question.
1t is rather Il difficult subject to discuss
since there is so little sound argument III
favor of the law to butt against. But
since it is 4 question. it necessarily has
TWO sides and which is the strong and
right side remains to he proven, that is,
theoretically !; for it has long since been
proven practically that this law has been
by far more detrimental to the interests
oi the working class than it has ever been
beneficial to them. This is plainly proven
by observation and the proof sustained
~ the very words Of the victims them
selves to this law. Let the case Of the col
rrcd people be taken up. 20 to any ten OF
hem who have attained to any diSlinc-
ZION in wealth and nine out of he ten
will tell you that they "havc never given
/ lien and never expect to- or had never
given but II and sworc then that they
would never give another. This KIND
ire exceptions to the general stamp OF
them since they can stare any temptation
~ tho face and lever GIVE way to 1t one
single inta. TO those OF this stamp there
is 10 such thing as Il lien law and hcrct
the result. 1t is our honest opinion that
if this lien law, which ono in the shape
Of 4 temptation, cou,d right now he abol
i>hcd, or 1T least before the next crop IL
planted, there would not be within the
next five years onr-i0urth the poverty in
the land that is ut present among the col
-.,@1 ..-. AL tls, N.,,n tl,n 1nSH ~
plies TO Il large number OF the whites.
The lien law is one which has a great
tendency to extravaganza, one of the
worst miSfortuncs that ever bettll Il poor
people. And not only this, it has been
the sole source of the corrupt labor from
which the agricultural interests OF the
state have suffered more severely than
from any other law that had its origin
during the radical rule of the State. No
doubt but that there has been 4 larger
number of liens, and they too larger in
amount. recorded this year than ever was
known before, and as Il consequence the
whole country is poorer.
Look at the question on both sides,
don't attribute all the gloomy faces YOU
see to the effects of the dry weather, but
to those of tho lien law for If it had
raincd every wccH in the year or just rs
the lien men wanted It., tncrc Woulu Dc
thousands of them to-day who would not
he able to pay off the overwhelming
mounts their liens call for; and Il large
majority of those who had settled in full
would want to know the very first thing
from their creditors, ''if you can u inc
again next year" And SO it continues
year after year; what 4 gloomy state OF
affairs this mast he!
We have seen it argued that 'since this
has been such Il poor crop year, the lien
law should not be abolished now any
how" and it seems to be in thcir eyes the
strongest argument. Well, it may be
their strongest, but at that il is weak.
They had as we'll argue that a criminal
shouldn't be executed because at the time
appointed for his execution he was a lit
tic sick.
This is the kind of a year that the mis-
chief Of such q law is most plainly seen,
and while it is so, let us take hold of 1t
and go with the agriculturaiists at their
last meeting in Grecnville, when they
adopted the resolution to have the lien
law abolished ''now, finally and forever
j.