The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-16
ssfeastic and Humorous Speech Of 8, 9.
Cox In Congress.

WARRINGTON, May IL, 1872.-Discus.
slons on the tariff and tax bills in Con.
gress are usually of the most nninterest-
ing character. but the speech OF s. s.
Oox IN the House. on Wednesday last
vas exceedingly lively. Members of
congress and politicians here are still
talking OF it; and, as it undoubtedly
claims attention as clever aot of Con-
gressional opera boufe, forward it for
qualifications:
Mr.. Cox-I do not propose 80 much
to antagonize the gentleman from Mas
sachnsetts (Mr. Butler) in regard to
making salt partly free. I should like
TO see it entirely free. speak on this
SIDE OF the House standing near Mr..
Oawesl because my side Of the House is
somewhat demoralized on the tariff
!uoging from some OF the votes given on
coal there yesterday. Some curious az
guments were made yesterday. They
90 lar 70 disturb come Of my principles,
il not to control my vote. A gentleman
from Pennsylvania fMr. Grifitbl an.
Peaied to my friend from Indiana (Mr.
KERR not to oppose the coal tnx. because
ne was born above coal formation in
Pennsylvanis, and his playmates were
honorable men. I feel the force of that
dd hon'inen1. was born near the salt
wells OF the beautiful Muskingum, in
Ohio. Before that stream had slack
water, before it was considered hardly
worth dam. its banks spouted salt
water like Massachusetts member of
Congress. It was evaporated by btu
mlnous COAL mem nothing personal
TO the gallant member from Massachu-
setts Mr. Banks lin the salt water.
not the banks. Around the wells and
Kettles OF my nntive river cluster those
sweet saline associations which have pre-
served mo ever youngl They are hard
20 resist Another argument has still
more force. The gentleman from Mary
land (AIr. Ritchie) begged US not to
throttle the infantile conl interests of his
beloved Cumberland. Although that
unhealthy baby has been fostered by
r"paternal government" on "pap," or, as
ought to say. by maternal govern
ment on milk, for 30 many years, its
power of suction is at least ~, 900 horse
power. These are statistics. Yet, with
rare economic genius, followed by the
eloquent fiscal member from the Ea-
nawha salt works, he appealed to us to
let him steal, 80 long as other sections
stole from him. Was there ever such
an illustration as that Just made on the
gentleman from Massachusetts fAIr.
Butler)? The gentleman from Missouri
(Mr. Finklenburg) wanted to be 80 ho-
nest as to help the people to keep pork
by cheap salt. The gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Butler) wants TO
cheat the Treasury by free salt for cod
fish. This is all larceny. What could
be more reasonable or ethical? Let ma
be to each other instruments of recipro-
cal rnpine. Michigan steals on copper:
Maine on lumber; Pennsylyania on iron;
North Carolina on peanuts; Massaobn.
setts on cotton goods; Connecticut on
hair pins; New jersey on spool-thread:
Louisiana on sugar, and 80 on. Why
not lot the gentleman from MARYLAND
steal on coal from them? True, but
comparative few get the benefit, and it
comes out OF the body of the people;
true, 1t tends to high prices, but does
not stealing encourage industry? Let
US as moralists, if not as politicians. re.
write the eighth commandment: "Thou
shalt steal; because stealing is right
when common" AS am representa-
tive OF New York, and Onondaga, with
the aid of the foreign solar artisan, eva.
porntes salt, ought not also to steal to
help Onondaga? Stealing by tariffs,
Mr.. Chairman, is, as De Quincy proved
of murder, q 6ne art If everybody
stole from everybody. is there any re-
proach to anybody? IT everybody is q
burglar, is there any need for ANYBODY
to lock up houses? The mining compa-
MES out West send their ores to Wales
to be so refined as to get more wealth.
1t ought to be stopped. Let them steal
capital out OF government Why not
pilfer something out OF somebody else's
and build works in Colorado
and Nevada like those in Wales? How
happy we should all be when the re-
proach of Goat Island is removed from
the Pacific, and from the gentleman
from California (Ar. Sargent), by a
grander steal for wool and Dlanketsl
How happy We should bo when we can
look each other in the face here, Clasp
hands, rs now look into the face of the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Dawes), and say: "God bless you, nv
brother; you have stolen from me, and +
from you; let lis love one another"
Then the little unprotected pigs, who
are crowded by the big pigs, quietly eat
ing out of the trough, will squeal no
more to be lot in, for on this idea oil
shall be fed by swallowing each others
food: and when all are fed M ona losoa