Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-12-07
rmExNEs.
The Lien Law.

islature We conclude tho ropoal Of this law
will be vital question before the present
body. It will be seen bills have been
introduced in both branches for its repeal,
but we arc uoable as yet to form any
opinion Of the strength for and against the
law. We know tho law was designed for
temporary relief from tho embarrassments
growing out of the late war and that it's
continuance on the statute books is duo to
tho homestead law. Without it no doubt
but many would bo deprived of credit who
now enjoy It, On the other hand labor
would be moro plentiful! aud reliable with.
out it.
Wo have always held strongly in favor
Of the repeal of the law, believing its con
tinuanoe wastes much of the labor of the
State, encourages trading to degree beyond
one's means and in tho end Injuries rather
than benefits tho GLASS it gives credit. We
havo had it on trial sixteen years and
surely in that time our citizens should
havo saved and made legal credit, or failing
in that, credit for integrity and promptncss,
which is better than legal credit. Those
who have failed in both these particulars
we may conclude will continue to fail, and
to such the repeal of the law would be
beneficial. Men by nature take such q
pleasure in spending that they need no
incentive to spend. They rather need
check than spur and in the repeal of
the lien law they get the former. We
however 60 farther and believe both the
lien law and the homestead law should go
together. 1t is true the latter is constitu.
tional reservation, but this could be stricken
cut of the constitution by popular vote.
We arc satisfied the negroes would vote for
it and largo majority of the whites would
90 with them. The effect would be whole.
some, inasmuch as men would fud not only
that honesty is the best policy, but also
that honesty is legal necessity. They
would spend far less and puy up promptly,
as was the case before tho war. They
would begin to recuperato in reality and
five years would not pass before wo would
have citizenship which for integrity and
thrift would have no equal in the South.
We speak both from experience, in that
before the war as merchant we found no
class of customers more reliable than tho
poor men of tho country, whose accounts,
though small, wero promptly met. From
observation, in that even now, if you can get
criminal action against debtor he will
manage to pay both debt and cost, when
without it ho will 'efy collection. The
best argument in favor of the repeal of the
law is that its effect will largely decrease
trade and its effect in depicting the country
Of money. We arc oil by for too cxtravagant
in dress and other things. Men of
thousand dollars now spend us much as men
Of fifty thousand did before tho war. 1t
not only Injuries them as individuals, but
it Injuries the country by their sending out
ofthe State for goods as much money as
they realize both from the oarth and their
labor. Limit rather than extend credit
and this will cause every person to 80 man
age as to lay by something every year. 1t
will also be seen that men of means do not
spend in the same proportion as men of no
or small means. They save something
every year and thus prosper without regard
to the lien law or homestead law Repeal
these, put all on equality and the result
will be everywhere good.
One thing is certain, if tho law is to be
ever or soon repealed wo will hardly find a
moro favorable time than this. We have
had year Of unprecedented fertility.
Native crops and field crops of all kinds
have been good and those who can savo
nothing this fall will have little chance
hereafteg ~vTTAh Tho ftltraiahly discussed and
we believe plain straight vote without
discussion the easiest way for the Lcgisla-
turo to dispose Of tho question. Wo doubt
if any change could be made by discussi on
and hope tho matter will be voted on
promptly.
Nlr. John G. Dial, Of Columbia, died on tho
Sd instant.
Mr. F. NJ McDowall, o highly esteemed citi-
zen of Kersbaw county, was brutally murdered