The Van Buren press., 1871-01-24
Free Trade Speech of Hon. s. 3, Cox.

Free Trade Speech of Hon. s. :. Cox.
A week or two after the late New York
election, banquet was held in that city
by the Free Trade League, at whicA 8
tinguished gentlemen of Both political
parties were present. Hon Samuel s..
Cox, who had just beaten Horace Gree.
ley for Congress, was present, and in re-
sponse to a toast, made one ofhis short,
readable speeches. He said
! am not perhaps the best representa-
tive that might be selected to respond to
this toast. If there is any reason why !
should be selected. it is because have
done rs did at college, have master
ed Horace. Laughter and applause
do not mean my friend Horace White,
although did read his translation of
Bastiat and mastered it as best could.
But the only reason why ask your at
tention is not because Of my own merits,
but because by some misadvanture the
Republican organization placed the de-
merits Of Mr.. Greeley before the public
for judgment. am the result, in small
way, Of that decision. Applause.
know that nearly all the gentlemen
who have spoken tonight are Repubi-
cans, though some Of them have great
many Democratic inclinatons. am a
decided--almo It as Mr.. Bryant said an
unscrupulous--partisan. lie helped me,
God bless him He has gone home, and
you and will send on blessings after
him Applause. l learned Free Trade
from teacher in lS46--Dr. Wayland, Of
Providence, Rhode Island. Applause.
That little State was then chuck full
of Protection. 1t was nursed by it, and
grew fat on it. DR. Waylsnd was a just
and fair man, who believed moro in his
ethics than even in the Constitution of
the country. ! have learned to hinge
them together. Applause. l believe
no tariff is honest which undertakes to
take from one man to give to another.
houoS Gratz Brown, Grosvenor, and
Senator Schurz, because they have said
in emphatic tones, "Thou shalt not
steal !" Applause.
The idea runs further back than slave
ry. was never ashamed Of the word
Free-Tradc. Does any body want slave
trade Applause Why can We not
condemn the restrictions, the exactions
Of custom houses, when those who i'm
pose them applaud so loudly? / am a
Frec-Tradcr under the Constitution. If
any body wants to make any thing out
Of that phrase, they may. Applause.
Let us raise our revenue; let US keep up
our credit; let us provide for all the le-
gitimate wants Of the Government, but
let us keep up the idea that there shall
not be stealing from one trade to benefit
another. Applause. l believe in Free
Trade in ships Applause, Let our
merchants buy ships where they please.
We converted the President to that at the
end of last session. The legislation Of
last session, which Mr.. Wells called
sort Of bedevilment," was outrageous,
surrcptitious-anything you choose 10
call it. Hear, hear. The " little tariff
bill" was a scheme, n fraud, and a device.
1t did not take the duty from the ncces.
saries, but it left the duties on them, va
rying from forty five to six hundred per
cent 1t is slavery, it is robbery, it is
burglary! Great applause. ~
like the words Free Trade. have
fought a great deal for it. was almost
alone in Congress fighting these moral
tariff bills-lucus non lucendo Laugh.
ter and applause. l wrote n speech
which was published seven years after in
Australia, just under here. In that time,
General Schenck being in the chair, they
allowed me to go beyond my time. They
said, "That young man is a thcorist lie
won't do any harm" Laughter and ap-
plausc. Mr.. Dawes said he could an.
swer me. lie said, "You learned this
from secession. JEFF Davis taught you
that" Being little under a cloud just
then, contcnted mysefwith saying that
I learned them from DR.. Wnyland. Ap.
plause. But because JEFF Davis says,
1.-TWO and two make four" | shall not
20 back on that and say they make five,
daughter and applause.
You, gentlemen Of the press, ,ha' have
spoken here to night SO nobly, you have
fought great fight in the body Of your
own purity. We rejoice in 1t, and will
clasp hands in rivalry, in noble emna.
ton, if YOU will bring your party up to
the standaid of Free Trade. (Applausc).
lfyou will do this with your party, we
will do the same with ours. Applause.
Gentlemen, Republicans, If you can not
bring your party up to the idea Of Free
Trade, won't you come over and help Us ?
Whist grand party Gratz Brown,