The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-14
The Lien Law.

I
EprroR CLARION: Your eorrespon-
dent .The People" does not fairly rep
resent the interests or wishes OF the peo-
ME in his demand for repeal OF what IS
generally known as the Merchants Lien
law. He bases his opposition to the
law on two articles which appeared In
the Oxford Eagle and the Indianoia
Times. They both denounce the law
for the evil it has wrought and propose
no remedy except its immediate aud |
unconditional repeal. This IS the sort
of remedy which is sometimes applied |
to dying horse-knock it in the head
and put an end to its sufferings.
Your correspondent, in his statement
that the law shas had its day, has reoa as
course and has done all the damage Il Is
GOING to do land here emphasize this
admission by italicizing III offers the
strongest argument, that can be present
ed. why it should not be repealed. II
the law has done all the harm it can 40.
what good can result from its repeal
Will it enable the farmers to pay the
debts or lift the liens in which they
have become involved? Not by any
means, but will have just the opposite
effect. Take away the Lien Law, and
they have no financial basis on which to
stand. You destroy their only founda-
ton for credit, and in doing that, you
efectualIy deprive them of the means
of living and the means of farming aud
all hope of paying their debts or dis
charging existing liens upon their land
and stock Repeal the Law and you
leave them stripped and helpless with
energies destroyed and hopes blighted.
Ruined and degraded, you reduce them
to condition of vassalage-to become
hewers of wood and drawers of water
| for their more fortunate neighbors. That
| is what repeal of law will do. Do the
repealers desire to bring about such
result? If not, they make sad mistake
| in what they demand. Where Is the
absurdity in the argument that farmers
would be ruined by the repeal of the
law! 1t is ridieulously absurd to con
/ tend for the opposite conclusion, when
all the objections apply to the damage
the law has already done, (Which is not
denied) without considering the damage
its absolute and unconditional repeal
would have upon a class of men already
well nigh ruined. Because the Grange
advocates it, as one of its cardinal
measures, is by no means conclusive In
its favor. The Grange is right upon
n ost of the political questions of the
day, but | am satisfied it is in error IN
Che position it has taken OF this. The
Grange, like any other mere human
organization, is not invaluable, and they
who speak by authority of the Grange
do not speak er cathedrd. ''Lf there is NJ
turkey for the poor man under the operation
of the Lien Ld,o," there is nothing bu
: buzsdrd left under its repeal. If "th'
e Lien Law is driving Mississippians from
' the State" it's repeal would cause ;
q panic that would drive them out b,
thousands.
8 The great mistake the repealers nav,
: made is found in the fact that the.
b don't understand the vital point in issue
t They condemn the law for the evil i
has done, and fail to contemplate tn
condition in which the poor farmers ar
; to day. The remedy the Legislature
; called on to apply, is for their relief
: Will it be secured by repeal, which vii
leave them without prop or support
helpless and remdiless in their destitut
B. condition? This is the all-importan
;. question.
: The Legislature, in its prosperity
e treatment of the Lien Law, has gray
s. and responsible duty to perform. 1t
> deliberations should be characterized b
If all the sagacity and wisdom it can con
IS mand. 1t should approach the consider
Is alton of this question with perfect free
i dom from partizan bias or persons
prejudice and the influence of bose
: and rings. 1t should rise to a plane G
- patriotism and craftsmanship, and tax
r. a survey of the whole field embracin
ar the peoples interest, and so shape il
j. action as to promote the good of a
Of without detriment to any.
If, however, in the exercise of il
,s assembled wisdom, it decides that th
" Lien Law ought to and must be repeale,
At then let it carefully consider the effeC
is of its sudden and absolute repeal upo
~ the poorer class of our farming popul;
NJ ton, who have no other reliance bu
this law for the necessaries of life in til
|, near future. Let it ps use and profoun'
y " and wisely consider the destitutio
ts and distress it would inevitably bril
he upon very many poor but deservin
an men and their dependent and helple
or families. Give them notice and time
he prepare for the change it would brir
in their situation and circumstance
n The passage of repeating act, to s
! into effect twelve months after its enac
i'd ment, would greatly modify the har
C. ships of the situation. ANTE.