The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-11-10
THE STOCK LAW.

subject entered into the recent can
vass that created so much interest
and excited SO much hard feeling as
the emo fence law" Indeed it over
shadowed all the other questions
and decided the ELECTION in many
instances. u -
This unfortunate state of things
in our Judgment could and should
have been obviated. The farmers
Of our State are eminently conserva-
tive. They are slow to adopt new
ideas and new systems, even when
presented under most favorable cir
cumstances. They are cautious and
prudent. Especially are they jeal-
Gus Of their rights. They may be
led but they cannot be driven.
The act of the Legislature Of 1877
establishing the Department Of Agri-
culture among other duties charged
the Board:
"The sixth clause of Sec. of the Act
chargessyour Board with the collection
of statistics relating to the subject Of
fences, with suggestions for diminishing
their cost, + and the conditions under
which they may be dispensed with alto
gether.'" :
The commissioner after labOrious
investigation3of the subject in which
he had the efficient aid of many of
the most intelligent farmers in al
sections of the state and of special
COMMITTEES appointed by the North
Carolina State Agricultural Society
and by the Roanoke and Tar River
Agricultural Association, submitted
his report to the Board of Agricul-
ture at the opening session Of 1879
In that report he Commissioners
said:
sour people, always cautious in accept
ing innovations, may be slow to
adopt system which must ultimately
revolutionize longest tablished habits and
ideas but the investigation of this sub
,ject, now so actively instituted, will MOI
doubt direct their sober judgment to a
c ,rrect conclusion. The wants and
necessities of different localities vary
greatly, and any law arbitrarily abolish
ing the present sytem, while it might
meet the requirements of old and thick
ly settled communities, would doubtless
work hardship and damage to those not
so we'll advanced.'i
He then recommended the enact~
ment of a g local l-option" law on the
subject, to remain on our Statute
books, that any township or county
hight vote on it as they chose and
that thus the people themselves
should say whether or not they
desired sue h change.
AS Commissioner and having
received all the best available infor-
nation we could as to the necessity
for the change and the sentiments
of the people in all sections Of our
State I'VE made that recommendation
and our report was endorsed by the
Board of Agriculture and by Gov
error Vance to the Legislature. We
have seen no reason since why that
course was not the correct one. We
believed it then and we believe it
now. Indeed if we had doubted it,
the recent opposition to the law, as
passed by the last legislature would
confirm us in the views then advo-
Gated.
We hope in all future legislation
on this subject to see the old idea
of the sovereignty Of the people
respected. Put the law on the
books, and let the people say at the
ballot box whether or not they want
such a change. The existence of
such a law would evoke reflection,
discussion and research, which
would doubtless result in decision
that would best subserve the true
interests of the people. And what
is scarcely less desirable, it would
move it from the arena Of politics.