The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-07
Remarks of Hon. Lem Moor,. o
Issaquena, on the Lien Law.


House Bill to repeal the Lien Law being
under consideration. Mr.. Moore, Of lisa.
Quens, said:
Mr.. Speaker; 1t is not my intention to
champion this great ana important ques-
ton, but owe it to my constituency. and
would not feel that had done them JUS
tice should not call your attention to the
law aud its evils am opposed to class
legislation. In this bright age let all men
be equal. Some Of the members of this
House have stated that the repeal Of this
law would be hardship upon the poor.
As POOR man myself can't see it, but if
You touch il, without its total repeal, some
citizen will be deprived OF his rights and
privileges. Every poor man wants this
Law blotted out from the statutes Of our
State, aud pray your earnest considera.
ton of this most important question.
While the agricultural lien Law may have
been necessity TO the impoverished PEG.
pie Of this State for time, and especially
10 my people for few years succeeding
the late war, yet I believe this necessity
has ceased 10 exist. The right of the la.
borer TO give a general mortgage on prop
erty not IN eSse should be prohibited. or at
least restricted by law. believe all laws
of this character hurttul, and contrary to
sound public policy. Moreover, they CON
trovene general principle, and except in
special cases in equity, the right OF per
son TO cucumber future acquired property
has only not been found, but from the
time whereof the memsry Of man run
meth not to the contrary has been express.
~ desired. | believe that in this sys-
tenn of agricultural lien laws this is
the most striking monument OF legisla-
tive, commercial and agricultural folly.
And by this the labor of the State is deliv-
cred into the hands OF the merchant, tho
merchant with big risk on his hands, and
knowing when advancing supplies and ex-
tending credit that he is assuming the contin-
gencies of rains, droughts, floods, sickness
and other misfortunes, and for this cause
has charged enormous percentages, and
thus struck down the bone and sinew of our
land; the sen-paying men has thus carried
the idle-the good customer has thus been
forced TO pay for the bad.
/ submit these facts in no spirit of cen
sure or even of criticism to the commercial
portion of our population. The fault is
not theirs, but il is in the system. The
commerce Of our State has availed itself of
the existing state of affairs as il is natural
il should have done, and will continue 10
do so unless n change is had Large per
centages go hand in band with doubt
full security: Why not enact usury laws
and prohibit the use of money for more
than conventional rate OF interest per
annumS Under our lien law the producing
population of the State pays tribute TO the
trader at the rate of fifty or one hundred
per cent. per annum.
Gentlemen, l will say further that the
lien law creates basis OF credit unknown
to common law or statute law, at least in
our State, and in fact violating all the laws
of political economy, and establishes pure
muscle as the foundation of credit without
reference TO character or property. II
taxes n year in advance the laborers of Tho
entire State and makes merchandise out o.
the sweat of their faces.
Mr.. Speaker; Where the poor laborer /.
forced to decide between the appropriation
of a bale of mortgage cotton and the sur
render of his household TO starvation,
though he be poor and dependent humanity
should give him the alternative. This sys.
tenn does nothing to encourage the laborel
to build up a character for integrity anc
fair dealing. This system discourages anc
denies competition among traders. The
moment lien is given the home is at the
mercy of his merchant, and he can go no
where else.
The merchant who sells goods under @
lien can well afford to give his customer a
higher price for his cotton some times,
and in some localities this Ia done, and
some times not.
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen, am here
not only for the people of Issaquena, moi
only for my race, but for the interest and
good of the entire people, and a glorious
advancement Of all the departments Of
the State. Take away the lien law and lei
us know that we have no more to depend
on, and we will show you the Land OF
Promise within five years Yes, gentle
men, we want tive want it--and for
Gods sake let us have il. This appeal !
make from the depth of any heart, hoping
itmay meet your favorable consideration
and the laborer, landlord, merchant, doc