Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-12-08
THE DEBATEgPeN THE GENERAL
STOCK Law AND ITS PAS
SAGE BY THE HOUSE.

Early in the session, Mr.. Dargan, a
representative fromlED Darlington, in
troduced bill to provide general
stock law for the whole State. Pend
ing the consideration of this bill, or
course NO specific move was made as
regards Edge6eld County alone. On
Wednesday, Nov. 80, the bill was taken
up for the second or third time in the
House with view of finally testing
the sense of that body. <5We give the
discussion in full, as reported in the
News and Courier, knowing that at
this juncture nothing will be NOR
acceptable to our readers
Mr.. Dargan, the. e..author'of the bill,
offered an amendment, requiring such
counties as were. to be excepted from
the law to be fenced. The amend
ment was offered go that the counties
which desired to be excepted from the
operations of the law should know
what was expected of them.
Mr.. Werner, of Oconee, said he was
in favor of the general law. There
had been no argument against it. The
majority of the people were in favor
of it, and he would vote for it, bu'
would introduce separate bill ex
empting certain portions Of his county
Mr. Aldrich, of Aiken, proposed a
substitute providing for the fencing
out Of excepted counties BY the State
and not at the expense of the coun'
ties. He is clearly of the opinion
that the expense should be State
tax. The counties that desire 10 be
excepted pay about one,half of the
whole taxes to the State. This being
so it was wise, proper and just that
the State should bear the burden.
Mr.. Chase, of Darlington, favored
the last proposition to make the State
pay for the fencing out Of the ex,
cepted counties. 1t was wrong tc
make any county go to the expense
Of protecting itself in the enjoyment
of rights which are already guaran'
teed to them by the law.
Mr.. Haskell, Of Richland, inquire
if the mover Of the amendment had
any idea of what the fencing Of the
counties would cost?
Mr.. Hemphill, of Chester, favored
the bill. There would be no use tc
have a Legislature if they were de-
barred from upsetting a system which
was out of date. Thisi law was bes
for the State, and the only question
was whether it was aSwise politica
move. He did not believe in beating
about the bush. The best way was
to face the issue, pass the law, anc
then the people wouldicease discuss
ing it. As to the :expense, there
could be no justice in making tht
people of the county pay 'thesezpenst
Of fencing out remote county. HI
proposed an amendment dividing the
expense of constructing the fences be-
tween contiguous counties.
Mr.. Gilland, Of Williamsburg, said
the bill would be useless in its pre-
sent shape. The bill was intended &c
go into operation on the lst of March
1852. To fence in williamsburg
eessAsaaaa4sy-woufdi- essaaa4sy cost $fs,6S0, stst @6ici
would require tax of three mills
for three successive years to raise.
Mr.. Murray, of Anderson, though
it but fair, as the pioneer counties hac
paid for their own fences, that those
who now desired to except then,selve!
should do the same.
Mr.. Dargan believed that th'
strength Of the measure lay in its ap
plication to the whole State, but be
was willing to let any county be ez
cepted, provided that county bore tn,
expenses of the exception. Wha
was the use of making provisions fol
fence when any one could see the
handwriting on the wall which fore
told the end of all iences. The
measure was a progressive one. Il
had started in the mountains anc
was rushing along irresistibly to the
seacost. He saw prosperity in the
future for South Carolina, and moth
ing could hasten its coming more thar
this very measure.
Mr. Aldrich spoke at length agains
the bill. The question had nevel
been discussed in his county. 1t wa
revolution on the agriculture of th'
State and should not be hurriedly
rushed through.
Mr.. Hask I'll said that he was pre-
pared to vote for the law for th'
whole Slate, while perhaps, as far a
his own county was concerned, it wa
his duty to vote against it. He wa
opposed, however, to saddling deb
upon the State, the only limit t.
which would be the whims and cap
rices of a number of counties anc
townships.
Mr.. McKissick, of Union, said tina
he knew the advantages Of the stocl
law, but he was not in favor of pass
ing a general law. He could see
very we'll how even SO good law al