The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-24
Debate i'm the House of Delegates
Upon the Oyster Bill.

Under motion by Mr.. Riddlebarger,
Wednesday afternoon, to reconsider the
vote by which the House had just refused
to dismiss the pending oyster bill, Mr.. P.
j. Carter, an able colorad member from
Northampton, obtained the floor and said:
Mr.. Speaker, we "oystermen" have done
everything we could to get our rights in
this bill, and they have been refused US.
We have petitioned, we have implored,
we have begged our rights from this
House but our pleadings have been dis
regarded, and we have been overridden
by force in whatever amendments
have been proposed by those who un-
derstood the oyster question. Our rights
have been trampled on, our very bread is
sir, am practical oysterman, and know
have to face the cold blasts of the west
ern winds and the driving spray of the
oceans foam to enable us to sustain our
families and our own lives. The
people / represent are as patriotic as
those from the valleys and mountains,
even Mt. Sinai itself; they fought, died and
bled for their country in the late war, and
now you propose to crush them down with
| your onerous taxations. You have
as much right to tax the birds in Shenan-
doah and Fauquer counties as you have to
tax the oysters. lfyou tax one tax the
other. You say they all belong to the
state. In questions that did not compre-
bend, Mr.. Speaker, during the last ses-
sion, l always voted with those intelligent
gentlemen who did. followed that party
which looked to the best interests Of the
state. Yes, sir; when the bond-holders
swarmed around this Capitol last session
like Joshua and his army around the gates
of Jericho, the ''oystermen" stood by them
and fought to the last ditch; but now
they are going back on us, and
want to tax our very life-blood
There are some gentlemen here who
think they know all about the oyster
Now, sir, will tell few facts that nc
man can gainsay, be he Solomon, Jere
miah, or Daaiel. If man plant fifteer
hundred bushels of oyste rs he is fortunate
if he realize eight hundred bushels there
from. There is disease among oysters
known as the green gill which is more de
structive to them at times than the small
pox would be in this House flor | belev,
everybody has been vaccinated). Let u
have the old oyster bill rather than thi
burdensome, hateful, contemplate one.
At this point some one moved to ad
journ.
, Mr.. Carter--I refuse to yield, Mr.
Speaker. The wicked wish to flee whel
no man pursueth. [Laughter.l As said
sir, this tax on our livelihood is monstrous
is unjust, and we will not submit to il
Unwise legislation is bad thing to start
and this house has already started it. ]
/ this is persisted in the tidewatermen wi
leave the state.
, [Mr. Carter here told an anecdote illus
: trative of the situation.]
) Mr.. Griffith--Mr. Speaker, l call tn
: member from Northampton to order. II
Q is not combining himself to the question.
e The Chair-The point is well taken.
4 Mr.. Carter-Mr. Speaker, my speec
may not be so eloquent and rhetorical {
: that one delivered by the gentleman frol
t Westmorland some days ago, when |
: spoke in such eloquent language Of ii
formidable phalanx of the mountains an
Q the Valleys" but it has as much commo
# sense. [Laughter.l AS was saying, 81
d if you insist on this bill as it is, with i
burdensome and unjust tax, / will advis
q my constituents to go to Maryland, whe
o they can get their rights. Dismiss this b
:. and let us have the old one as it now is, ar
the state will reap nut
i larger revenue. My people are n
D going to submit to this iniquitous tax, al