The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-01-05
The Priority Law.

From the Abbcville Press and Banner |
70 show that we constituents nrc not
ungrateful to our lawmakers for their
efforts ut rcctitude, is the object Of this
piece.
The present Legislature has immor-
talizcd itself, by the pure, high toned,
disintcreStcd laws il has made: laws
that, for im:ar,iality and fairness to all
classes. have not been eXcriled. even by
the Black Code. His Satanic Majesty
never conceived such ideas uf fair deal
ing between man and man rs these laws
contain. Tho honesty, OF these laws,
in wrapped i'll more plies and shields oi
protection and safety, han We're ever
complied in law before, and is as far be-
yOnd comprehension as the Last is
from the West, but still it is there
grand, incomprehcnSible and uncomcat-
able. 1t can only be seen through the
eye of faith, anart see it clearly re-
quiruS faith IL little larger than. Il mus
tard seed.
The Priority Lien Law caps the climax
in honesty and fairness to all parties
concerned, of anything ever achieved in
Legislation. 1t has more cOntrivancGS in
tower words, To make people act honestly
and %Uprinhtly thcn any law on the Stat
ute books from Moses OF Egypt to Mo
SECS Of South Carolinn. 1t stands like Il
wind mill to catch every dishonest
breeze that passes through the country
to purify and utilize tle.n. 1t removes
every temptation to commit fraud, Us it
would be almost impossible to do SO un-
der it. a person has only to tell the
plain truth about his contracts for la
Dor and rents To sweep all.
This almost divine law makes II con-
tract for rent or labor as pure rs virgini-
ty itself and not to be gazed on by the i'm
modest public. 1t is only to be brought
in to save the proceeds OF the farm from
the revenous grasp Of the dishonest
merchant. There can be no motive or
inducemeut to use faleS witnesses. or to
make misstatements, as all tina is nee
eSsary to make ull things as Straight as
fish hooks, is to get your witnesses all
ready the day before settlements is
made, aud in their presence make con-
tracts for rent and labor, or either. to
cover the value Gi the entire crop, and
you arc safe. To make it all the more
plausible, you could state, in their pres
encc, that you had made this 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 ~
SO deep-seated that YOU could
not reach it with a ten foot cork
screw, it is SO clear that
you can sec through it, is so elastic
as to tit any emergency, it is capable
of making Il virtue Of every vice in the
catalogue, so straight that its ends and
sides meet, SO Upright that it points in
all directions. ii is 50 fair as ~ give all
more than their rights, it is more uni
vcrSal than univrrSaliiy, ii saves all, it
puritieS r%ottrnLrSS and removes every
evil faint, its beauties rnd PROJECTIONS
commend it to I'LL !air:ninued people.
Legislators that could construct such
a bright-eycd jewel of honesty and fair
play should hold their seats for life.
There could not be found another set Of
f men in the State, outside of the peni-
tertiary. that have such a sense of what
il right and proper, and the mex most
becoming thing they can Ito is to pass nm
Act making themselves l~ift-mcmbrrs-
| mean of the Legislature. By Il iuD-
Sns pemn9, | was made to say pcnitcnti-
AIRY where | should have said LcgiSla-
ture, 80 ! crave the pardon OF the ger
tlcmen OF either institution that may
take offence at the mistake.
Respectfully yours,
SCEuBBs.