Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-01-17
Humorous Speech by Mr.. Turner, of Ga.

In the House of Representatives on
last Saturday Mr.. Turner of Georgia
make an humorous speech before the
committee of the whole in defense of
the Wilson bill. On the question of
rice, he said that the gentlemen from
the other side of the chamber had
made sighting illusions to the dis
elimination which had led to the i'm
position of tax on rice. Rice was an
exotic in this country. The southern
men were unable to produce rice until
the gentlemen from the North had sold
them the labor to work the rice fields.
And it was the descendants of those
African slaves who were now working
| in the rice industry of the South. The
tax was left on rice out of sympathy OF
the committee for those poor Africans,
and not in answer to any appeal from
him (Turner). Democratic applause
Those semi savages had lost the knowl-
edge of their own language, if they
| had any, and were unable to use i'm
proved methods of cultivating rice.
A few days ago, said Mr.. Turner, the
gentleman from Michigan burrows
| had arraigned this bill as having been
framed on the sympathies of southern
men, and on the principles of the Con
|
| to the principles OF the Confederate
| Constitution is an ancient chestnut in
tariff Debates" said Mr.. Turner. "If
| were making the Constitution for a
| new Utopia" he said, Il would put in
to it's fundamental laws the principles
which have been the occasion of so
much discussion. The Republican par
ty should have a greater reverence for
| the Confederate Constitution, for it
was to the existence of the Confederate
| Constitution for four years that the
Republican party owes Its existence"
(Laughter.)
| His chief regret for the civil war, and
his part in it, resulted from the con-
seriousness that it's results had gone to
| the enemies of our freedom, the
enemies of our commerce, the enemies
of the best interests of our country,
and had put on the people OF the coun-
try the oppression of protective tar
iff. Democratic applause.)
| Therefore. he said, let the gentleman
from Michigan speak reverently of the
Confederacy, as l have learned to
reverence George w., who gave George
! Washington to the world. daughter
and applause.) And for this reason, if
for no other, the gentleman should
walk lightly over the grave OF the
southern Confederacy. UaughterD
| He had a very amusing bout with
Mr.. Reed. in the course of which he
stated that he had admired his politi-
cal acumen and craftsmanship, but he
had never been able to agree with him
on the matter of legal decision. 1.-The
gentleman from Maine" said he, has
been sort of reformer in his day.
| Naughter.) He honored him for his
martyrdom, and for his adherence to
his principles, but more than all he ad
mired him for his invention of a quo
rum" daughter and applause, in
which Mr.. Reed joined.)
Mr.. Turner'S speech held the atten-
ton of the entire House and the gal
lery, and was frequently interrupted
by laughter and applause, and as he
took his seat the uproar became sc
marked and so long continued, thai
the Chairman had great difficulty in
securing order for the next Speaker
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, who addressed
the House in opposition to the bill.