The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-12-31
Anti-Tax Meeting.

ANTHRAX MeeL1nS.
Pursuant to published call, a large num-
Der of the citizens of Breckenridge county
met at the Christian Church. in Emporia,
on Saturday afternoon last, the Gath ult., to
consult as to what course was best to be ia
ken in regard to the payment of the enor
nous and unjust county tax lately levied
upon them by the County Board of Super
visors.
On motion, James Jackson, of Cotton
wood, was elected chairman, and j. Stotler
secretary. ]. M. Rankin was called upon
to state the object of the meeting. which he
did in clear and comprehensive manner.
Mr.. Miller, of Fremont, was called out,
and made few remarks. He said so far as
he was able to observe. the people of his
township were very much opposed to the
payment of the enormous taxes levied upon
the people of the county.
DR.. Newton, of Emporia, said he had
been over the county considerably since the
tax was levied, and so far as his observation
extended, the people were very much dis
satisfied with the action of the Board.
Mr.. Haworth, of Cottonwood, said he
was no speech maker, but so far as he was
personally concerned, he was determined
not to pay the enormous tax until compelled
to do so by law.
S. G. Brown was then called out, and
made few pithy and telling remarks. He
said his tax would probably be as large as
that of majority of the settlers. He did
not object to paying reasonable tax for the
erection of county buildings when the
county seat was located, and he believed
that II the county seat question was fairly
voted on to-day, two-thirds of the people of
the county would vote against Americas.
The hot haste displayed for the erection of
county buildings come with bad grace
from persons who need not pay cent of
tax unless they see fit. Most of those who
had been instrumental in levying this tax
for county buildings, lived on the Kaw Re-
serve. and would not be compelled to pay
cent of the tax, which was levied for the
benefit of few spectators in one horse
town lots. Fellow citizens, shall we pay
this tax I answer in the negative, and
with my friend Haworth l say will not
pay it, until compelled to do SO by law. He
thought the people were not prepared to
erect county buildings yet, aud when the
county seat was located and there was ne
cessity for county buildings, he would be
perfectly willing to pay reasonable tax for
that purpose.
On motion of NJ Rankin, a committee
of eight, consisting of one member from
each. township, was appointed on resolu-
tons. The following named gentlemen
composed said committee Judge A. J.
Mitchell, of Forest Hill; c. V. Eskridge,
Emporia; VIM. H. Nickel, Waterloo; Z
Stubs, Americas Joel Haworth, Cotton
wood; 1. D. Elliott, Fremont: VIM. Nc
Cullough, Cahola; I. Segur, Agnes City
During the absence of the committee sew
eral gentlemen were called on and made
speeches. But one opinion prevailed
throughout the large audience--the Church
being crowded-and that opinion was that
they would use every honorable means to
resist the payment of the taxes.
Mr.. Jackson, of Cottonwood, said so far
as his observation went the intention among
the people was to entirely repudiate the tax.
sa>4 Mr.. Eskridge was called out, and spoke
as follows: Appropriations had been made
and orders issued for the payment of this
enormous tax. Perhaps not one half of the
property would be taxed. as great number
of the inhabitants had not re-empted their
land at the time the assessment was made
in June last, consequently this heavy bur-
then would come on few, comparatively
y speaking. He did not propose to resist the
payment of a reasonable tax-a territorial
capitation, and necessary county tax. Nei-
the. did he propose to pay for Court
House and a Jail at town where the coun-
ty seat did not exist. The Board bad no
right 10 tax those who had pre-empted their
land previous to June last to build town
speculation.
Mr.. Rankin said the law was defective
: when the vote was taken on the county seat
question. and that Gov. Denver had advised
the psople NOT to vote on the question, as it
would amount te nothing. He would mot
object to paying tax to build county build
ings at Americas. if the people would 10
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