The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
The Law.

Editor Press and Banner:
TO show that we constituents arc not uh
grateful to our laWmaksrs t 'or ni ineir efforts al
The present Legislature has immortalIzcd
itself, by the pure. lisl. toned, disintereSted
laws it has made; laws that, for impartiality
crlIetl, even by the Black Code. His Satanic
Majesty never conceived such IDEAS of fair
dealing between man and man as these laws
contain. The honesty, of these laws, is wrap
ped in more plies and shields OF protection
and safety, than were ever complied in law
before. and is us far beyond comprehension us
the East is from the West, but still it. Is there,
grand, incolnprehensible and uncolneatabie'
IL can only he seen through the eye OF faith,
aud to see it clearly requires faith II little
larger than q mustard seed.
The Priority Lien Law caps the climax IN
honesty and fairness TO all parties concerned,
OF anything ever achieved in legislation. II
has more contrivances In fewer words, TO
make people act honestly and uprishily IMAM
any law on the Statute books from Moses OF
IEg. pt to Moses o! South Carolina; 1t stattdS
like q wind mill to catch every dishonest
breeze that passes through the country, to pu.
rlfy and utilize them. 1t removes every
temptation to commit fraud, as 1t would be
almost impossible to do so under 1t. a per-
son has only 10 tell the plain truth about his
contracts for labor and rents to sweep all.
This almost divine law makes a contract for
rent or labor as pure as Flrglnlty ltsell ana
not to be gazcd on by the immodest public.
1t is only to be brought In to save the
proceeds OF the farm from the ravcnous grasp
of the dishonest merchant. There can be no
motive or inuucement TO use false witnesses,
or TO make Measurements, as all that Is nee
eSsary to make all things as straight as fish
hooks, is to get your witnesses All ready the
day before the settlement is made, and IN
their presence make contracts for rent and Ia
Dor, or either, to cover the value of the entire
crop, and you arc safe. 10 make IT. q little
more plausible, You could statct In their pres
encc, that you had made tii!s contract on the
first day Of January, soon In the morning. so
there could be no possible hope OF getting
ahead of you in any particular. The honesty
of this law Is so ueep-Scatcu that you could
not reach It with u ten foot cork screw, 1t Is SO
clear that you can see through it, It is so elias.
tic us TO tit any emergency, II ~ capable or
making a~virtueo of every vice In the catalogue,
right that it points In all directions, It Is so
fair MS to give all. .tipre than their rights, 1t Is
more universal ban Universally, it saves all.
1t puritics rottcnness and remove every evil
faint, It's beauties and PROJECTIONS commend
it to all fuirtnindcd people.
Legislators thai could construct Such. q
frightened jewel of honesty and fair play
should hold their seats for life. There could.
not be found another set of men in the State.
outside of the peritentiary, that have such. a
sense of what is right and proper, and the
next most becoming thing they chm do Is to
SaSs an Act making themselves lte-memberS
Il mean OF the Legislature BY Il tupSHS l'c1l-
ne, I WAS made TO say penitcntiary where L
should have said Legislature, so l crave the
pardon of The gentlemen of either Institution
that may take offence at the mistake:
Respectfully yours.