The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-15
The Lien Inv.

MIR. EDIToR: Since tho meeting in
Grecnvi)le very few farmers have said
word about the Lien law. There the rep.
resentatives or the agriculturists of the
State W ere assembled, and almost, if not
quite. every county in the State was rep
resented; and it was almost unanimous
~ agreed that this law was working an
injury TO cvory interest in the State, after
fair trial. This law il one of the relics
OF the late war. First, the "Stay law"
and nfterwarti, when it's usefulness had
gone, then came the Lien law. Each OF
these wcro enacted principally for the
benefit of the planters OF the middle and
lower counties. Now, the time has come
certainly, for the repeal OF the last YER
tige of war legislation, and let all classea
Of people have perfect freedom To 20 with
the tide CT improvement which has COW
orc,i ali tho varied Interests of The entire
nation. We are very nigh being s.gob-
bled up by vast monopolies and large
railroad syHdicates, and these seem to lie
tho questions Of the day for all men
But our little State, in its legislative Ca
pacity, forgets that s!o is creating and
perpetuatiny by the Lien law monjed
monopoly Where is the consistency Of
legislative body that SAYS the best
financial skill cannot borrow and make
money where tho rnto Of interest exceols
por cent, and turns around and enacts
. law which requires tho most ignorant
and une,lucated 10 borrow money or get
advances in provisions. &c, at from 25
to 200 per cent These are facts that can
not be denied. Hundreds uf INSTANCES
are before tho eyes of the public, and still
there are those who contend that YOU
should make the rich richer aud the poor
poorer. We don't blame our merchants
for taking advantage Of this law. We
would do it ourselves If we were mer-
chants, but the responsibility rests upon
the voters and principally upon the far
merY, who arc not Conversant with the
laws and think our duty ended when We
go to the poles and cast our votos.
1 venture tho assertion that three
fOurths of the letters received by our
Legislators. while in session, are from
other interests than the farmers, and that
oach of the other interests give their
views upon legislation affecting the agri.
culturist so much that the averaro Leg
islator thinks. as he is to represent his
constituents. here is his guide. These
are facts that | know to be true. aud
therefore put the blame where II belongs.
upon ourselves.
Neither Georgia or North Carolina
have this law. and they are equally sue.
ce~sful as our little Palmetto State; and
neither did we have this law five years
ago, and men got credit and lived, too,
that are now said Thy those who desire to
use ;he law will surely suffer If the law
is repealed. True. those who have to
take advantage of this law are made TO
believe, by those who have run them
heretofore, If this law is repealed they
must look out for themselves, and being,
in our section, the poorer people. it nat
uraily causes alarm. We know that
merchants, factors and commission men
will take risks as other men do If this
law is repealed. and not allow their bus
iness TO suffer. AS it Is. there is no risk
whore there Is n lien, for the law protects
TO the fullest extent the lienor, and ho
knows full we'll that if he can only sell
$4,000 on liens his profits are certain
This is what call class legislation, and
will drive men of ordinary capacity TO
quit tho farm and sell goods for u living
the quickest and easiest way of making
a fortune for his family
Again, it is argued that it will split the
Democratic party. This argument re-
mind. :::2 :oTy f5Tcii1iy OF the argument
used by those who opposed tho stock law
of our county. When they were driven
from every other position they tried to
catch at straw. If the party is so weak
as to crumble to pieces because of one lit.
tie change in the laws OF the State, let it
go. Our foundation is not solid, and the
sooner we rebuild the better. No, gen
tlemen, this il simply bosh, for the ma
jority OF those who give liens are already
Republicans, anti will be 10 long rs the
two parties arc Known as Democrats and
Republicans.
We demand the repeal OF this law in
the upper districts, especially, and the
middle and lower counties can instruct
their representatives ~ they choose. 1t
Is not the better class of farmers who arc
affected by this law, hut those of us who
are abie to take care of ourselves fee, il
to be duty we owe To our weaker labor.
ers (for we are all laborers) to guard their
interests, which is identical with ours.
we having possibly little the advan: age
In some respects. In word, we all -ise
or fall together. DO away with the mis-.
CRADLE Homestead. and make, if neccs-
sary, our coats pay our debts. Raise the
standard OF moral character, and don't
let our people feel that they arc slaves 10
no man or law. w. w r.