The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-24


Cnnoc''-An is not G old, Sc.-Thc
Charleston Rcmonstrance-Allc C d
Moving ArSumcnts-ConclusIo so-
cnIled-Prcss-urc-M 1 c n
lrRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, December %
THE TOWNSHIP ACT
In the Senate, to-day, Hayne called up the
billrspeaing the township act Corbln did not
obJect1sshc bill being brought up, but he did to
It's passage. The General Assembly, said he, did,
one year ago, pass the act providing for the sys-
ten OF townships, and now the members are try
ing to repeal the act even before II has had fair
trial. In many counties the Eshps have not
been organized. All OF the objections that have
been made to the system have been met In the
BIN which has been offered to amend the town
ship net. The main objection urged, was that
many Of the townships were sparsely settled. In
such places do not apply the system, but wait
until they are populated; thut Is the way
they do out West. There arc many townships
out there Inhabited only by the fox and
the buffalo; but In time they will he settled
By cmIgrants, and then the system will be ell
forced. Let oil the Objectionable features be
stricken out OF the act To repeal It, because there
are few Objectionable features is to do as fool.
ish thing as q man who had more money than
brains once did. He built a fine mansion, but did
not like the cornlce Instead OF fixing the cor
nice alone he had the entire building pulled down
and built n new one with cornice TO suit. There
must be some system which will give tile people
good roads and schools. and the township sys-
ten, as amended In the bill recently offered, Is
ABOUT the only way to secure II. Cain had great
uea' 10 say. He was not exactly certain that the
act should he repealed; anyhow he wanted moro
time to think over It, 1t was generally under.
stood that the Republican party was the
iricnu or the poor mnn, but some OF its
mcasures-thc workings Of the township act for
ohe-wcrc NJ variance With the general opinion
urder It's provisions the poor men did all the work
AMI the rich men strollcd or rode around enjoy
ing themselves. But II the act were repealed the
county commissioners would have more author
ity, more opportunities for stealing; vet when he
came TO think about II, they would steal unyhow
ana twas best to give them as much to do as pos.
siblc as set OF against their stealing. Leslie had
great deal TO say about the county commission
ers generally, but those OF Barnwell County and
the other officers OF II Also In particular. The OF.
fccrs under the Democratic rule were bad enough
but those under the Republican rule didn't seem
10 he much better. After some further discuss,Cn
motion to postpone the consideration OF the bill
was made, and much 10 the surprise OF many
carried.
THE PHOSPHATE MONOPOLY.
The opponents OF the "bin to grant certain per-
sons therein named the exclusive right to dig and
mine in the beds OF the navigablc streams and
waters OF the State for phosphate rocks and phos
phatlc deposits" made use Of every measure
known to paramentarIans,,' as Cain calls it, TO
prevent 1t being considered today, but all In vain
vYnt1 ,fout oynl
TO consider the bill WINS carried by q small ma
jorlty. After some little sparring, Corbln daAlv-
cred himself OF speech, oi which he has been
full for several days past
coRBiN's SPEECH.
Mr. Presidential shall endeayor to show in the
few words am about to utter, that the measure
before US is lawful, just and wise.
This State, in common with many other South.
ern States, has but Just emerged from q terrible
and cXhausting civil war-a war which has dc.
slroyed large portion OF her substance, reduced
her people to beggary, and left the State burdened
with debt and taxation. Sad, sad indeed, I'm this
respect, is the condition or our adopted State.
This being true, It needs no argument 70 show
that the policy Of the State Government should
be- while II mast be honest ana Just TO its credit.
ors to tighten the burden OF the people 30 fay as
lies In its power.
covered that In the low lands. In the swamps and
marshes and beds OF some few OF our naviuablc
streams, a phosphate rock or phosphate deposit
lies buried. The genius, enterprise and capital OF
lew OF our citizens have developed the fact that
this deposit Is valuable, that II oan be utilized
and made to serve an important purpose in the
conduct OF human affairs.
Such discovery having dawncd upon us, It
becomes important to Inquire, how can the State
best realize benefit from itP
The public lands OF the State were loEg Since
parted with. The nnvIgable streams and waters,
to the extent that they are navIgable are all that
is icft TO the State OF Its Wide domains, and
these as highways for intercommunicntIo
ana Tor commerce, must remain, by our consttu.
tion, forever free. With this restriction the State
owns, and may dispose OF, the lands forming the
beds OF Its rivers. Tic right to do 30 hos never,
and con never, be doubted or successfully ques.
toned. There is hardly n State In the Union that
mas not asserted, In some form, qualified prop.
erty In them. Sufficient for present PURPOSES
then, is II to say, that the beds of the nayIgabIc
streams within the Jurisdiction OF the State are the
property OF the State, and eubject TO the disposa
OF The Legislature, with The proyso that the
waters shall continue to low forever over them.
unobstructed and unopposed.
Let US now inquire how the State best real.
i"c ils properly III these phosphate deposits. The
extent ana ultimate value OF the deposits Is en-.
'lre'y speculative, and can never be known till
industry, labor and capital have searched them
out. Sufficient only Is known OF them to approx.
mate to their value, and this is mainly measured
oy inc demand for them on the one hand, and
inc labor OF obtaining them on the other. Thus
far 1t has been nsccrtaincd that the phosphatcs
IN their native beds upon the lands where they
iio near the surface are wsrth about fifty cents
per ton. Those who own the most favored beds. |
favorable to mine, nrc dsposing OF them Mt this
rate.
Now let us consider the policy Of the bill before
'is. 1t may be regarded In two aspects:
a. Capital Is required to successfully work and
develop these beds.
t2.) TO realize anything from their dcvelop.
mont tho work must be put Into tho hands Of |
parties.
cArITAL.