The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-08-17
The Lien Law.
Abbeville Press and Banner.

There is no use talking about repeal
iuy TIC lien Jaw. 1t cau't be done
The farmers of this county are not
able to cultivate the soil without AID,
and it is vain to entertain such a
thought. The lien law hurts nobody,
except those who abuse its privileges
Our Iaziuess hurts more than the
lien law. If we would so" cats, and
clear our bottom lands we would not
need to come to the village to buy
corn.
Kcnwee [walhalla) Courier.
We have opposed the law for ten
years and have always been satisfied
there would be DO actual property
while it continued Of force. Tx
perienee has so far borne out our
opinion, but We have little hope for
its repeal. We have believed both 1t
aud the homestead law worked harm,
and that every one would prosper
sooner without than with the protec'
ton. The homestead law destroys
credit and the lien law gives credit
based on a security so precarious that
large profits are demanded for the
risk. To the honest and diligeut this
is a drawback. The repeal of the
lien law would also have the effect OF
directing our farmers to the lmpor.
tance of growing their wheat, corn
and bacon at home as far as possible.
Finding they could 90 longer run to
the stores and get these articles at
will, they would strive to make them
at home. The cotton crop would
then stand as surplus to pay taxes,
buy groceries and other necessities.
We know our uplands will bring but
little coru, apd that generally they
should be planted in cotton, but they
will grow wheat and oats and more of
these should be sowed to bridge over
the corn deficiency. Another way
the corn crop could be Increased is
by tending our lowlands in corn after
a better style than now. We all know
the crop is neglected even Cd low
lands for the cotton, not only planted
late, but being badly cultivated and
seldom fertilized. Our lowlands with
the fertilization and tillage that are
given to cotton would double their
present yield and the repeal of the
lien law would tend to produce this
effect.
Edgefeld Monitor.
The real Pandora's box has ben
discovered at last it is the lien law
! \ few Grangers who met at Green
! vile and who probably never had oc
casion to give lien, first discovered
it, and then ever editor cried out :
1T must be so, bold Grangers, thou
reasopest we'll else Why this scorch'
ing sun, this fearful drought, this
general failure Of the crops every
where? The lien law has done ii
and must be repealed"
Hold your horses, gentlemen, for it
may be you are driving too fast in
this matter. That the passage of the
lien law at first was an evil We are
willing to admit, and that its con.
tinuance on the statute books to the
present time has worked an injury tc
the country we will not presume tc
deny, but it seems to US a strange
philosophy that this law which has
heretofore been regarded as a neces
sity-a necessary evil, if you please
even after abundant crop years, should
now be sought to be repealed Whe1
there is serious failure in crops, and
thousands of people, even with the
help of the law, will experience Sc
rious difficulty in procuring supplies
sufficient to enable them to cultivate
their farms another year.
While the lien lien law may con-
duce somewhat to extravaganza 1t
works no compulsion. If a man can
arrange to obtain his supplies without
giving a lien so much the better.
But repeal the law and there are
thousands of poor white people who,
instead of being at the mercy of the
merchant as under the lien system,
would be at the mercy of the few land
owners who might be able to furnish
supplies for such tenants as they
might need. Repeal the lien law now
and there are thousands of land
owners who would not be able to Oh.
tain supplies with which to cultivate
their own lands, for it must be remem-
bored that the homestead act renders
small farm valueless as basis of
credit. If man is compelled to mort
| gage his farm to obtain supplies he is
no better off than if he gave lien,
but rather he is worse off, inasmuch
as the cost Of recording mortgage is
greater than that of lien.
| While, therefore, We cannot see
how, under the circumstances, it
would be practicable to do away with
the lien law during the coming year,
yet We think there are some modi'
ficat;ons that might be made and
which would work advantageously to
all concerned. We would have it
modified so as cover only actual neces-
saries-corn, bacon and hay. Flour
and nolasses, perhaps, should also be
included. Whatever else the mer-
chant might sell the cropper, let hiu
understand that be takes the risk
without security. In this way the
supply bills would be considerably
lessened, for economy would become a
necessity, but all occasion for actual