The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-08-10
The Lien Law.
UamOtOn Guardian.

Hampton Guardian.
There are recorded in Col. ". J
Causey's Office 67I> liens for rent anG
supplies, which amount to sG2. .SS4.S7
The largest lien is for ST 900.
Marion Merchant and Farmer.
Those interested in the repeal Of
this obnoxious and Injurious law
should take such measures as would
insure it's repeal. Talk alone vii! Dol
do it. The planting interest in each
county must work ip concert auc
forward to the next Legislature such
formidable opinions as cannot be lg.
uored.
kersn;,w Gazette.
We are greatly indebted to our
popular and clever Clerk Of Court, 5
C. Clyburu, Esq, for the statement
that up to the 10Th inst, there had
been fled in bis Office 2,241 liens,
including liens for rent, for fertilizers
and for supplies, aggregstlng 10
amount something over $500. 900.
VIII our farmers be able 70 "pay out, -
is the next question
BarnweIl Sentinel.
The miseries of this the meaueSt
and most injurious law which en-
eumbers the statutes of South Caro-.
lima, will, from present indications.
be fully realized during the coming
winter and the whole Of next year. 1t
is not, nor never has been, anything
but a trap for the destruction Of
those who have availed themselves Of
its apparent easy conveniences, and
ne are sure that one would not be
able to find TWO scores of sensible Eaen
10 Barawell County opposed to its
abolishmeDt after six months more
has rolled by. It's existence has
done more to keep the poor man poor,
er, disorganize labor and cultivate
desire for sharp practice in all transac-
tions. than everything else with which
our farmers and planters have had to
contend. 1t should be wiped out
forever and eternally. As the fellow
said when he pasted the Lords
prayer on the back of his bedstead,
sThem's our sentiments
Williamsburg Herald.
While our people are discussing
with SO much importance the aDtici-
pated passage of the fence law, does
it ever occur to them that there is one
law, to repeal which would be far
more benefit to them than any law
that could be enacted? We refer to
the lien law. 1t is nothing more nor
less than system of business slavery.
It keeps the farmer in a condition Of
penury, and forever destroys the hope
of an iodepepden: system Of farming.
1t is oae-sided aud unjust, and as
long as it is in force our country will
never be able to take her proper place
in the agricultural interests of the
world. Under its provisions and pre-
sent practice. the farmer is virtually
the slave of the merchant, and while
the farmer is year after year strug-
Cling to free himself from burden
some and increasing debt, the latter is
gradually growing rich from the hard
earnings Of the farmer, and sappipg
the very foundation Of an occupation
that should be the most independent
in the world There are some mer-
chants in this State who actually
came here without dollar, and who
in less than two or three years, lave
grown wealthy from the practice Of
this pernicious and unjust lien bust
ness. A poor, miserable, half-starved
horse is often bought for a mere song,
and is sold to the lienee for twice aud
sometimes three times it's value. In
many instances this sane old horse is
levied upon two or three times, and is
scld upon the same terms as many
more times. Money is advanced to
the poor farmer upon an enormous
per centage, and in order to secure
the merchant he has to give lien or
everything he has. At the end of
the year, if the farmer makes oue
third crop, the merchant is safe, and
the farmer for his labor 6rds bimself
confronted by debt which he will
never be able to pay. He finds no
difficulty: however, in securing another
lien, as the merchant is ouly too will
ing to take advantage of a business in
which he is so safe, and which pays
him so libera!ly for 50 small an
amount of labor. Debt is terrible
temptation, and when once incurred is
terrible burden. We think onr
farmers have had experience enough
to see the force of this. This law is
running the country. 1t caunot last,
and the sooner it is killed the bet
ter.
July Report Department OF Agriculture.
Our correspondent at Alleudale, iu
BarnYell County, says: Our river
landings ard R. r. depots are de-
positories of Western corn and bacon,
and our merchants are the commits
saries of the Agricultural Department.
Poor horses and skinny mules, creakey
wagons and carts move up to the COM
missariat every Saturday for a few
sacks of corn and middliug of bacon
bought on a credit at FROM 80 to
so per cent oa the cash price, Sc
cured BY lien. Our merchants sit
iu the shade in their shirt sleeves and
grow rich, by debating the terms up
on which hungry stomachs can be
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