Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
THE WRONGS DONE FARMERS.
Legislation Needed to Protect Them from
Gross Injustice.
SHENDUN osT-OFFTcF,l

| 1Tobb
SHEYDUS PosT-OFFIcF,
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Feb. 81. 1891. !
To the Editor Of he Dispatch:
Your correspondent from Mathews
Courthouse, Va, in the last issue of the
! Weelly Dispatch, has voiced the sentiments
| of many farmers and taxpayers in this
| section. if not throughout the State. when
/ he calls for more legislation on the oyster
| question, and the need of better stock
or fence-law.
These subjects, which are already Of
| vital importance to the protection of the
\ farmer and tax-payer-indeed, TO the pros
| perity of the whole country-should find
an echo throughout the length of this
| great valley, and from the mountains to
| the sea and made living issue.
IL is a fact that for more than quarter
ofa century, or even from time immemorial,
| the industrious frugal farmer has borne
| the burden and heat of the day in support
| of the Government, and carried with him.
| in n great measure, the support of the
| thriftless non-taXpayer whose half-fed
stock of cattle and hogs are turned loose
year in and year out to prey and depredate
upon his already over-taxed neighbor.
1t is true, too, that the legislator has all
the while ridden into his fat little Office I"
upon these same go-as-y ou-please disrepu-
| table stock-and-dog votes and turned a
deaf ear TO the best interests Of the coun-
try.
Why this subject, of somuch importance
to the general welfare and thrift OF every
community, should be so long and severely
ignored by our lawmakers is not puzzle,
but coming live question.
Those in authority, and some or them,
too, are farmers, will say: "Oh we can't
do anything for you've are IN the mi
noritv: in other words. we are not on the
popular side" Then | suppose this thrift
less, motley crowd of negroes, cattle, hogs,
and dogs-the majority-must either rule
or ruin, or both. MTdblIe-dictu
What an argument to present before an
enlightened community of patriotic, law
abiding citizens
Must this fair land, which has contri-
buted so much to the life of the nation, be
shOrn of its due protection and laid bare by
the pillage OF the INSCRIPTIONS? No,
never! Take heed then, We servants of the
people, for it Is written. and the hand
writing may be seen upon the wall Equal
and just laws to all! Special privileges to
none."
1t is said that the fencing of farms cost
more than the lands. If this be true, or
even less, what vast and profitable in
terest would accrue to the benefit of all if
our Legislature would pass a law COMPEL
ing every st ock-owner to fence his own
stock BY such q measure at least one
half of the present cost of fencing the land
could be diverted to the improvement of
waste places and the old worn-out fields be
made to bloom and blossom as the rose,
besides give long-needed relief to the
oyer-burdened farmer.
The subject of free-ranging stock should
no longer be merely question OF PRIV
lege so long granted; but is it right, is it
justice, for any one to turn In upon the
public highway any stock land all such be-
come more or less disreputable when thus
forced to shift for themselves), to depre-
date upon public and private property Gd
Rbitltmy
The fact is there should be upon our
statute-books to-day law prohibiting by
fine or Imprisonment any one found guilty
of such cruelty TO animals; and another,
the better to provide and protect the hus-
bandman in the production of our very
staff of life and support to the General
Government.
The dawn of a new era is upon US and in
the excitement of booming towns and cor
porate plants of manufacturers. which will
add a new feature to our agricultural
South, this long-delayed protection to the
farmer should not be overlooked or under
estimated.
The manufacturer and farmer must 60
hand in hand, each protected by equal and
lust laws, so that the wealth of the farmer
in developing our mines and hidden trea-
sures may find an ample market for his
subsistence at the door of the latter. The
one Is equally dependent upon the success
of the other in the great race for wealth,
prosperity, and happiness, which now lies
SO promising before us. NJ.