The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-23

they will be watched with sleepess vigilance. 1t
| is true that the long list we have against them
might now be brought up but. perhaps, if we
pass their imperlectons by, they will do better.
There has not been one bridge made in the coun-
| ty. 800 900 have been spent by the commits
sloners since last session, but it has been spent
| inside of Charleston, to the detriment OF the
county. BY the way, the returns Of these COM
spent. They show who received the money, but
not for what they received II.
Corbin and Donaldson protested against the
evying OF three mills on the dollar as an outrage
after which it was resolved TO strike out the
word three and substitute two; also to allow n
| levy OF four mills on the dollar for Barnwell
| County. The resolution as amended was sent to
the House, which refused to concur in the amend
ments, and committee OF conference was ap-
| pointed from each body.
THE PHOSPHATE MONOPOLY.
The presence OF large number OF strangers,
among whom were several Charlestonians, in the
gallery OF the Sepate to-day, betoEened that some
question Of more than usual Importance was
coming up Yes, question OF importance was
to be brought up. twas the "Bi to grant TO
certain persons therein named the exclusive right
to dig and mine in the beds of the navigable
streams and waters OF the State OF South Caro-
lima for phosphate rocks and phosphate de-
posits."
The friends Of the bill impatiently waited for
the hour OF one-the time appointed for the con-
sideration Of the bill-and as the hands pointed
to that hour, their eyes were turned upon Cor.
bin, with looks which seemed to say, "now the
thunderer will begin.n Corbn Cooked full Of
Speech" and was evidently fully prepared to let
the senators have the benefit Of all the ideas he
had "crammedn on the subject. But just at this
moment the Speaker announced that the hour
had arrived for meeting in joint assembly, and
the senators went into the House. When they
returned into the Senate Chamberit was O'Clock.
The supporters Of the bill repeating the town ship
act desired to bring up their bill, but failing in
this, determined to oppose the considerable Of
the phosphate bill, and made numerous motions
to postpone consideration Of it until after the
recess. Hayne intimated that it wal wholesale
attempt to rob the State, and that several OF the
senators seemed very much interested In having
its objects accomplished.
WHAT CAIN SAID.
tory notions" Cain secured the floor and spoke
substantially as follows: l wish to announce
that am in favor Of bill which will do justice
to all parties. A bill OF so much moment as this
affecting the interests Of whole people, certainly
requires the coolest consideration, hence my mo-
tion to postpone until the 25th day OF January. l
have no disposition 20 cut Off discussion, but
rather want it. 1 want to examine the phos-
pilates, the beds, the streams, how they run; |
want to find out their value when pulverized,
when mixed with liquids, with acids; then l
want to see the results In gold and greenbacks;
then can discuss the thing fairly, and tell how
much 1t is worth to the parties, to the State; how
much each ought to be allowed-these are the
matters that are running through my mind like
lightning, but i am not ready to take
up the subject now. Possibly, my COL
league may be ready; may know more about
the matter than the rest OF US. Possibly, he's run
ming over with more reasons than Demosthenes
ever had. Possibly he has ten or t,centV thous-
and reasons; but want to get these reasons to-
gether, want to collect the best evidences TO
find out all the minutia appertainlng to the
whole matter. A question OF such moment we
should discuss understandingly. These great
phosphates are like the gold mines Of California,
possibly to be the gold mines Of South Carolina,
destined to rejuvenate this State and bring about
such state Of things as never was seen before
The men engaged in it will doubtless receive
some OF the benefits, but wish the rich and
poor, the white and black, the Democrats and
Republicans all to have fair chance; and
want to discuss and know the whole subject, from
Dan to Beersheba. cannot, for the Life of me,
see why my colleague from Charleston (Corbln)
does not wish Us to take time to discuss this ques
tion; he certainly will have as good an oppertu-
nifty when 1t comes up as the rest Of Us. think
some persons have intlmated some offices which
know he Is anxious to wipe out, but none
OF us who know him believe these things; we all
know him to be an honest and conscientious man
in all transactions; at the same time l do not see
why he'll not accept the opportunity, when the
question comes up, to discuss 1t. He is cool,
clear-headed man, and has the advantage OF us
in superiority Of mind; then he has studied the
subject, and also knows more about the parties,
the various interests, manufactures, agriculture,
chemicals, and every other question connected
with It; he has the whole thing at his fingers
ends. We poor fellows have got to dive down
among the stones, debris, marsh, and search out
by practical examination. My friends from
Richland and Sumter, and Chester and Marion,
can't see the thing, or can't see 1t as clear as my
colleague Why not give US poor men chance TO
discuss the question. desire time to know what
the people want. The fishermen have laid aside
their smacks the sailors abandoned their ships,
the lawyers laid aside their dusty law books, the
merchants and the men now engaged in phos-
phate workings, are o Il interested in the bill.
WHAT coRBIN SAID.
About O'Clock Coz bin got an opportunity to
saw the following: TIE Senate seems to be actua-
ted in this matter by most unaccountable pas
sion-as though it was something wrong, some
thing that ought not to be entertained. don't
know whether it ought to pass or not, but think
it ought to be considered fairly. Those WHO intro
duced this measure are anxious TO see it consid-
cred, and they are entitled to consideration.
Why is it, then, that members, without giving us
an opportunity OF being heard, without knowing
what we propose to do, without understanding
or giving US an opportunity OF explaining our
selves to them, or to the country, vote 10 shut
our mouths, and will not allow US TO be heard?
That is not the treatment one senator ex-
pects from another. wish simply to say
that the press and the country have chosen, and
various individuals interested have chosen, to
malign and villify ps and say all manner OF
things against US, because we have introduced
this till. do beg the senators to give me an op-
nortnnitv OF saving word about the bill: then If