The Brookhaven leader., 1886-11-04
FARMERS MASS MEETING.

| Pursuant Co call, the Farmers of Lin
coin county met IN Mass Meeting this day
to take into consideration such measures
rs would best advance their interests rs q
class.
The meeting vas called to order by A.
NJ. Summers. On motion Louis II. White
was elected Chairman, and further mo-
ton, b. +. Hobbs was requested to act us
Secretary.
On motion, committee of 5 was APP
pointed to draft resolutions expressive of
the sense of the meeting, as follows, to-
wit: A. NJ. Summers, Chairman Thos.
Watts, J. A. S. Henderson, Henry Dukes,
| William Burt.
On motion, Luther Blue and X. p.
Clarke were added to the committee.
After short address by the Chairman
reviewing the condition of the farmers of
the county, the necessity Of organization,
concert of action, more general acquisi-
ton of knowledge, etc, Gen. Lee, Presi-
dent of thu Agricultural and Mechanical
College, was, introduced and addressed he
meeting in an earnest, eloquent and in
structive speech.
The Chairman of the meeting made
another short address ut the conclusion of
Gen. Lees speech, in which he appealed
to his hearers to become greater readers,
and strongly recommend to their patron
age MS an agricultural paper, the South
ern Cultivator, published ut Atlanta, Ca;
recommend the establishment of State
paper to support and defend the agricu-
tural interests, and arraigued the papers
of the State which had been recreant in
this respect.
Rev. II. L. Newsoin made q short adj
dress recommending the Field and Farm
as worthy the farmers support.
The committee on resolutions made
their report and the report, after being
discussed and amended, was adopted as
follows to-wit:
Resolved, That after a continuous strug-
gle of fifteen years to maintain ourselves
under the credit prices, created by the
infamous law called the merchants lien,
we deem it our duty for the sake of our
selves aud families to resist, in future,
with all our mil ht and influence q con-
tinuance of abuses which have thus been
heaped upon the farmers, laborers aud
mechanics who create solely the nations
wealth and prosperity.
ResOlred, That the present ruling of
credit prices adopted by organization of
the Merchants League and Alliance, we
denounce as an unjust discrimination OF
classes too intolerable to be longer borne
by the honest yeomanry of a free aud
independent government. We deny the
right of our mercantile classes to enter
INTO agreement to take advantage of the
farmers necessities in the matter of indis-
pensible goods and chattels held by them
for trade and traffic.
ResOired, That while the credit system
may in some instances he necessary I'M
til our people are in better condition,
there Is no just reasons for abuses of the
system, and we condemn extortion by
merchants or whatsoever else practiced.
ResOlred, That we claim unreasonable
and unlawful charges have been made,
the payment of which depends upon the
present crops, which by means of power
beyond control of human effort aid
energy, is cut short. We therefore in a
spirit of fair dealing, honesty and ha:-
mony ask an abatement of % per cent. Oh
all goods and chattels sold under decd of
trust and the fixing of ~ uniform rate #
charges and ask indulgence ON all BAL
ancts unpaid.
ResOired, That for the sake of harmony,
good governments and good feeling we
deprecaie aud reondiato any measures
not within the 10 Inds of law and good
breeding in the solution of differences of
opinion concerning our Indebtedness,
however great the eXtUrtiOn or oppres-
sion.
Rssolred, That for the promotion of our
mutual interest we organize respectively
i'll each beat of the county into farmers
clubs consisting of u president, secretary
and treasurer to meet monthly 1T the vot-
ing precincts.
The following resolution was introduce
ed by j. A. s. Henderson and unanimously
adopted:
Resolred, That the cordial thanks of
this meeting are hereby rendered to Gen.
S. ID. Lee for his earnest, able and IN
structive address, and that we invite him
and members of his Faculty at the A. &
NJ. College at their earliest opportunity
to visit our county for the purpose of
holding farmers institute.
On motion, The county papers were re-
quested to publish the proceedings of this
meeting.
Adjourned. L. II. WHITE,
| Chairman.
|