The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-11-24
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

lature, considering the fact that nearly
all of them admit that two weeks aSo
they thought the session cid not begin
until next Tuesday, TIE mistake arising
from the fac, tha, it WAS generally
thought tha, the session began on the
Tuesday after the fourth Monday, in
stead Of the fourth Tuesday in December,
as the Constitution provides. This year
the month came in on Tuesday, and
therefore The session begins ~ early rs
possible in the month, and sooner than
it will again convene drring the next
five years.
The 'ccnycrsati0ns last night among
the members from different portions of
the State elicitcd the fact that although
the members are greatly impressed With
the responsibility and Importance Of the
work before the session, yet there Is n
very wide difference Of opinion, amount
ing almost, if not altogether, TO bitter
ness upon some Of the topics that will
engage the attention OF The General AS
sembly. 1t is unfortunate for the State,
in our opinion, that the Legislature i.
called to pass upon quite number Of
issues upon which very great diversity
of opinion exists among the masses of
the people of the State, Just before the
most critical and dangerous canvass that
we have had since 1876. In many in
stances, let the action be what il may,
very great dissatisfaction will arise, and
we fear be turned to advantage by ambi-
,ious politicians. Prominent among
these are the questions: ]. OF extend
ing the Fence or Stock Law to Counties
which have not hitherto adopted the
new system. ,. OF passing the Prohibi-
ton Law. 3. OF repeating the Lien
Law 1t is proposed To enact
THE FENCE or STOCK LAW
for the entire State, with the exception
of some Counties in which large swamps
abound. which would render fencing
very expensive and inconvenent. From
the present tone and tenor Of the mem
bers on this subject, think they are
disposed to adopt the proposition, and
thus set the question ut rest. Every ses.
sion of the Legislature petitions are
coming up for the extension Of the law,
the consideration Of which consumes 81
great deal of time, and costs the State no
inconsiderable sum of money, besides
engendering local animositics and dssen-
sions which are carried into every can
vass. By the adoption of the general
law the friends Of the measure anticipate
permanent and satisfactory settlement
of the matter, which will greatly enhance
the agricultural prosperity and material
development of our State.
The trouble which seemed to threaten
the political ruin Of the State some time
since by the precipitation of discussion
and the probable passage of
THE PROHIBITION LAW
for South Carolina, has, in large meas
ure, subsided. The question will proba-
bly, be introduced and discussed, but
there is no chance fol its passage, and
therefore it is not probable there will be
any serious evil effects from the discus
sion. In fact, the discussion of the sub
ject during the past Summer seems
rather to have damaged than benefited
the temperance reform, and therefore
there is no probability of the passage of
additional restrictions Mt this time If
there is any real contest, it will be over
an effort to repeal the present laws.
Such an effort will not, in my opinion,
prevail, though it is probable that the
law will be amended SO as to permit the
manufacture and sale Of domestic wines
in quantities by the parties who grow
grapes in this country, and perhaps also
80 Us TO permit distileries to sell their
whiskies in quantity to the retail dealers
in this State. AS tie law now stands.
those who distill in this State are thought
by some to be prohibited from selling at
all in South Carolina, while the distille.
ries Of North Carolina and other States
are permitted to sell here without license.
1t is argued that our own people ought
to be given an equal opportunity with
the people Of other States tor selling
their manufactures in our midst, and it
is not improbable that the law may be
amended so as to give them the right so
to sell. At any rate, think the tempe
rance laws will remain about as they
now are, with very slight changes, if any.
The great question here, SO far as in
terest and feeling are concerned, is the
proposition to repeal
THE LIEN LAW.
The members cannot discuss it with any
moderation, and one frequently hears the
most immoderate expressions from advo-
Gates on each side. AS far as / can
gather the feeling of the members, l
think there will be very fierce, bitter
and unfortunate light over the PROPOSE
ton to repeal, but there is very little
prospect that the effort will be successful.
The feeling, as far as it can be gathered
from conversations with members from
different parts or the State, is very much
whites being about evenly
divided on it, and the negroes almost
unanimously opposed to repeal. A
Senator from one of the middle counties.
ast night, went so far as to say in a con-
7ersation, that majority of his people
could not do without the law, and that
ts repeal would break up the Democratic
party and moreover announced that if