The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-06-13
s. s. Cox on corsets.

tho cleycrest men in the House, albeit he
is Democrat His sal!ies of wit, gen.
uiue humor, are wont to set the ffouse in
q rdar, and on no subject is he more hap
py than tariff. He las made some good
speeches in Committee of the Whole, as
we'll as in the House, while that subject
was under general debate Here is the
way that Cox protests against the tax on
corscts: l1 a4' p a' 'tid Il
There is a bill before the House Of
Representatives reported by Messrs,
Schcnck, Kelley, Blair, Mccarthy, Hoop.
er and Maynard, to impose national
tax OH corsets and hoop skirts. Against
this tax tho free women of America
should promptly protest. Is there TO be
nothing too sacred for the searching hand
Of the tat-gatherer2 Is there no limit to
the search of the assessor? The Com
mittee of Ways and Means have already
levied . tax on stockings and garters
and must the privacy Of woman be further
invaded! II women have one right which
men arc bound to respect more than an
other il is the privacy Of the bosom and
the surroundings Of their persons.
Did the Committee who reported this
bill know what they were doing1 Did
General Schenck intend to direct the
Commissioner Of Customs and his depu-
ties to thrust q hand into every gentle bo-
som and gather tax therefrom? Did he
know thnt this was o reverse of all the
tax law Of mankind in every age and in
every clime2
We know that iron has long since
entered TIE soul Of Kelley, and that be
dcvotcs his energies to steel, but had the
man q mother? Had he ever a sweet
heart! And did he know that he was
placing tax around tho fonts Of human
life? Did any member Of the Commiltse
not raised on . bottle-willipgly pro-
pose to collect this ad vulorem tax in dis
tricts rendered dear to human memory
since Eve nurscd her first born; or Yinni.
Ream shaped the bust ii Heleu9. Had
Mr.. Hooper no recollection Of early days,
when it was bliss to rest bis head upon 4
heart all fondly bis own? And could be,
recollecting this, propose to permit the
taxgstherer to extortrevenue from the hal
lowed spot7 Let him ask himself what
would have been his ceilings had he dis
covered bis darling in tears, and found
that her distress was because she had not
paid her corset tax rae
Are .tefe no men in Congtess who will
lift their voices in favor Of hntaxed cor
sets and untaxed hoops? Will General
Farhsworth be silent while this outrage is
perpetrating, and vote to to1 the vest
ments that enclose the shrincs Of beauty,
parity and love7 Will tho stalwart hero
from Massachusetts, (Mr. Butler) vote
this tax, and thereafter look any woman
straight in the face? Will ho, who has
woman's vocation with Jomipi's
art Of war, wear this outrage on bis sleeve
icff daxs to peck att Will Mungch not
point out 70 .be Democratic patty tho
dsty Of repudialing a-sssss 50 asr0cious
Will the gentleman from 0nohdags MI.
Mccarthy, in his zeal to protect san,
impose this tax on the great dairies Of
naturel Will the great champions Of
American labor and prediction voto for
this bill to encirclo with specific and ad
palorcm taxes the infant manufactures in
the lnAd7
II will not do to say that the House is
not aware that corsets and hoops arc Of
universal uso. Members know that tho
Treasury Department can furnish all need
Cd information on this subject. =.
The women Of America have no repre-
sontation, snd they have right to pro-
test against this ,unprecedent taxation,
They havo submitted to be SO taxed up
on their shoes and slippers, their hosiery,
their dresses, their sbaals, hats a1d
feathers, aud every BIT Of laco and fib-
bon bu. there is limit 10 oven female
submission. Around tho sanctuary Of
ttioit Sorsets they will draw the line.
Shall there be a tax placed upon those
emotions and tbrobbings which hnvo been
the delight Of men in all ugeS' The ta1
shotld be resisted, and tyrant man be
taught that the hand which seeks rovenuo
in that daarter may find the revolver or
the dagger. 1t only required Marat to
produce Charlotte CordaY, and the
s,chensks atd Kelleys may read that his
tory with profit. Let tho WOmsn's Con
veh!iou take action. Let them add to
tbe demand for the ballot the cry Of Free