Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-01-08
pUBIIC MEETING.

purpose Of taking action on the subject of the is
snance ofthe Bonds of the County to Railroad Com
panes.
On motion of Gen. W. G. Harding, JOSEPH L
EWING was called to the chair, and W. 0. HARRI
appointed secretary.
The chairman having explained briefly the OBJ
jects Of the meeting, notion the following
named gentlemen were appointed to draft resolu
tons for the consideration of the meeting-A S
Abbey, Frank McGavock, c. W. Moorman, W. G.
Hardin and Felix Compton.
The committee appointed for that purpose, retired
and upon their return reported the following pre-
amble and resolutions which were read by the Sec
rotary:
WHEREAS, AT public meeting of citizens Of Da-
wilson county, held at this place the 2Sth day Of
May last preamble and resolutions were adopted,
setting forth the grounds of their opposition to the
issuance Of the bonds of the county, and to an in
crease of debt and taxes. And whereas measures
were taken by said meeting for the purpose of as
certainng the sense of the people of the county up
on the subject and in pursuance Of the same, the
of greater number Of the legal voters of the
county presented to the Quarterly Court at its
the issuance of the bonds of the county, and pray
ing the magistrates of the county to withhold their
assent to the same than had been cast at the cleo
ton in March in favor of the measure. And where
as majority of the magistrates did, in accordance
with the prayer of the petitioners, advise and in
struct the Chairman OF the County Court not to is
the bonds Of the county, and did further resolve
that they would levy tax to meet the interest on
any bonds that might be issued by the Chairman
until by decision of Supreme Court of the
State, it should be declared their duty to do so-
And, whereas, with these acts on the part of the
people, and of the magistrates of the county
before them, the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road Company has applied for and the Chairman of
the County Court has issued bonds of the county
And, whereas, in the opinion of this meeting the
bonds Of the county issued under such circumstan-
ces, in contravention OF the will of majority of the
citizens Of the county, and of the instructions of
the magistrates thereof impose obligations, legal
or moral, on tie people Gin the absence Of decs-
ion of the Supreme Court to that effect,) to make
provisions for the payment of either principal or
Interest on the same And, whereas, we believe il
to be duty to ourselves and to the true interests
of the country, to resist every unlawful usurpaton
Of power and every encroachment upon our rights;
and that in order to the successful maintenance of
the positions we have assumed it is of the utmost
Importance that, at the next March elections,
bench OF magistrates shall be elected, pledged to
adhere TO the resolutions passed by the Quarterly
Court at its July term Therefore,
l. Reso7red, That we hereby re-ai1irm and adop;
the principles and positions set forth in the pream
bic and resolutions passed by convention of citi
zens of this county. held on the 29th day of May
last
. Resolped, That taxation by popular vote is a
dangerous innovation upon the rights Of the people |
and the usuage5 Of our Governments and contrary
the spirit and intent of that section of the Bill of
Rights, which declares that No mans particular
services shall be demanded or property taken ap-
piled TO the public without the consent of his
representatives without Just compensation being
made therefor
3. ResoUea That the Magistrates of the county |
are the constituted authorities and representatives
thereof and that section 20 of Article of the Con-
sttutior Of the State whC declares: The General
Assembly shall have power to authorize the several
counties and incorporated towns Of this State to i'm
pose taxes for county and corporation purposes re-
spectivey,' &c, invests in the General Assembly
no power to compel, or to delegate the power to
any court to compel the constituted authorities of
counties or incorporated town TO levy taxes for
county or corporation purposes
A. Resored, That we cordially approve Of the |
action taken by the County Court at its July term,
in instructug the Chairman thereof not to issue |
the Bonds Of the County. |
.. Resolred That no obligation whatever rests |
upon the people Of Davidson county, or the Magis-
trates thereof to provide for the payment of the |
principal or interest of the Bonds issued by the |
Chairman Of the County Court but it is their duty
TO resist this usurpation of power by all lawful |
means, and to yield their convictions and positions |
qa this subject only to decision of the Supreme |
Court of the State.
g. ReSolred That in the opinion of this meeting, |
the public sentiment of Davidson county calls for
the repeal Of all those enactmens passed by the last
General Assembly, which authorize the holding Of |
elections in said county, for purposes of taxation or
the issuing of bonds-and that our Senators, Repre-
seutatives and the Fioatcr for this District here
by requested to bring forward and support bills to
that effect before the present General Assembly.
Z. Reso'red, That VIII support no for the |
Office Of Magistrate Of Davidson county, at the March
elections who does not stand publicly pledged to |
oppose the levying of any tax upon the people to |
meet the interest Bonds issued to Railroad Com
panies until his duties are declared otherwise, by
the Supreme Court
8 Rssolrel, That the billnow pending before the !
General Assembly, proposing to invest in the Cir
cult Courts power TO levy taxes in counties in cases
where the magistrates thereof refuse to levy them,
is in the opinion of this meeting uuwisc and unca
c for su5versive of the established usages OF coun
ty government calculated to destroy the safeguards
wisely imposed by the people for the preservation
aud protection Of their rights-ani will, if passed
into law throw the question of its exercise into
the conyass for Judges of the circuit court-tor we
will support no man for Judge o. the circuit cout
who does not pledge himself against the exercise
of the power Of county taxation.
8. Resored, That the Chairman of this meeting
appoint central Committee Of eight forthe Coun-
~ at large and two for each civil district of the
.l,. Il, no tl,a rlr.y oftb a