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

is true that the long list we have against them
might now be brought up, but, perhaps, If We
pass their impcrfcctons by, they will do better.
There has not been one brIGge made In the coun-
~. 100000 have been spent by tho. commits.
sioners since last session. but II has been spent
inside OF Charleston, 10 the detriment OF the
county. BY the way, the returns OF these COM
missioners do not show for what the money was
spent. They show WHO received the money, but
not for what they received 1t.
Corbin and Donaldson protested against the
lcvying OF three mills on the dollar as an outrage
after which 1t was resolved to strike out the
word three, and substitute two; also to allow
levy OF four mills on the dollar for Barnwell
County. The resolution rs amended was sent to
the House, which refused to concur In the amend.
mcnts, and o 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 Senate to-day, bctokened that some
question OF more than usual Importance was
coming up. Yes q question OF Importance was
to be brought up. Itwas the "Bln to grant to
certain persons therein named the exclusive right
to dig and mine In the beds of the navigablc
streams and waters OF the State OF South Caro-.
lima for phosphate rocks and phosphate de-
posts."
The friends Of the bill impaticntly waited for
the hour OF one-the time appointed for the con-
sideration OF the bill-and as the hands poin ted
to that hour, their eyes were turned upon Cor.
bin, with looks which seemed to say, "now the
thunderer will begin" Corbin "looked full Of
speech" and was evidently fully prepared to let
the senators huye the benefit OF all the ideas he
had "crammed" 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 Chamberi 1t vas O'Clock,
The supporters OF the bill repeating the town shin
act desired to bring up their bill, but failing In
this, determined to oppose the consideration or
the phosphate bill, and made numerous motions
to postpone consideration OF 1t until after the
recess. Hayne intmated that 1t was q wholesale
attempt to rob the State and that several OF the
senators seemed very much Interested In having
its objects accomplished.
WHAT CAIN SAID.
After every one was wearIcd out by the "di,a.
tory motions" Cain secured the moor and speke
substantially as follows: j wish to announce
that am In favor OF bill which will do justice
to all parties. A bill OF SO much moment as this,
aHectng the Interests Of whole people, certainly
requires the coolest consideration, hence my mo-
tion to postpone until the 25th day OF January. I
have no disposition to cut or discussion, but
rather want 1t. l want to examine the phos
phates, the beds, the streams, how they run;
want to find out their value when pulycrIzed,
when mixed with liquids, with acids; then I
want to see the results In gold and grecnbacks:
then can discuss the thing fairly, aud tell how
much 1t Is worth to the parties, to the State; how
much each ought to be allowed-these are the
matters that arc running through my mind like
lightning, but / am not ready to take
up the subject now. Possibly, my COL
league may he ready; may know more about
he matter than the rest OF us. Possibly, he's run
IL ing over with more reasons than Dem osthenes
1rer had. Possibly he has ten or tt1entv thous-
ana reasons; but want to ge: these reasonsFo-
gether, want to collect the best evidences TO
hnd out all the minuIn apperta,n.ng to the
whole matter. question OF such moment we
should discuss undcrstaudingly. 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
sucha state OF things as never was seen before
The men engaged in 1t will doubtless receive
some Of the benefits, but wish the rich and
poor, the white and black, the Democrats and
Republicans, all to have O fair chance; and I
want to discuss and know the whole subject, from
Dan to Beersheba. Icannot, for the life Of me,
see why my colleague from Charleston iCorbin)
does not wish US to take time to discuss this ques
tion; he certainly Will have es good an opportu.
nifty when it comes up rs the rest OF us. think
some persons have lntImated come oflces which
know he IL anxious to wipe out, but none
OF US who know him believe these things; we all
know him to be All honest and conscientious man
tran0QctfnnQ. q tha inn <Jo
why he'll not accept the opportunity, when the
question comes up, TO discuss it. He is cool,
cear-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 IL; he has the whole thing ut 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
Nchland and Sumter, and Chester and Marion
can't see the thing, orcan't see 1t as clear as my
colleague. Why not give us poor men a chance TO
discuss the question. desire time to know what
the people want. The fishermen have laid inside
their smacks, the sailors abandoned their ships,
the lawyers laid aside their dusty fag books, the
merchants and the men now engaged in phos-
phate workings, are all interested In the bill.
WHAT coRBIN SAID.
About O'Clock coioin got an opportunity TO
say the following: The Senate seems to be actua.
teo al this matter by most unaccountablc pas.
slon-as though 1t was something wrong, some
thing that ought not to be entertained. I don't
know whether 1t ought to pass or not, but think
1t ought to he considered fairly. Those who intro.
duced this measure are anxious to see 1t consid.
cred, and they ore entitled to consideration.
Why is 1t, 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 TO shut
our mouths, and Will not allow us to be heard
That Is not tho treatment one senator ex.
poets from another. I wish simply 10 say
that the press and the country have chosen, and
various individuals Interested have chosen, to
mallgn and villlfy us and say all manner Of
things against us, because we have introduced
this bill, l do beg the senators to give me an on