Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-03
ruE MERCHANTS OF rue CRY UNANIMOUSLY
REFUSE TO PAY LICENSE TO An
UsURPED GOVERNMENT.

An adjourned meeting of the merchants
of the city was held yesterday afternoon
at the Court House, for the purpose Of ia
king SUme action upon the license ques-
ton, in view Of the so-called secession of
the State and the consequent changes in
the government of the same.
The Court House was crowded with peo-
pie, all branches of business being fully
represented.
DR.. T. II. Logan, the President, called
the meeting to order. He announced that
the meeting was merchants meeting, as
sembIed to consider upon a matter relating
to merchants only, aud that therefore it
would be improper for any but those in
tcrested to vote.
Mr. Henry CangIe, tue Secretary, read
the minutes of the previous meeting, which
were adopted.
Sir. James C. Orr, from the committee
appointed ut the first meeting, submitted
the following report, which was read by
the President:
To rus MERCMASrs or rME CRY OF WnEEL-
lN0:
The committee appointed at your last
meeting have had the subject referred to
them under confederation and beg leave
TO submit Tue following report:
The committee will briefly reeapitulate
the provisions of law relating to ltscensrs
TO merchants and the collection of taxes
thereon.
The 10 Sec. G. So, p. 22s, nf the code of
Virginia, makes it the duty of she Com
missioner of the Revenue to ascertain all
persons in his district who are engaged III
any business, calling or profession, pro-
hiUitcd without lisrense by law, and who
ought 10 obtain such lisceuse, and it is
also the duty of every person who ought to
obtain SUCH liscenSe To apply to the COM
missioner, aud in either case i is the duty
OF tue commissioner to deliver to every
such person certificate of the lisc5nsO to
be obtained, aud the amount of tax To be
paid by him. The Commissioner Of the
Revenue is required to commence tho as
sessmont of such liscense, rs expired on
the Both Of April, in such time as will Gu
able him To complete the assessment and
deliver 70 the Sheriff or collector list
thereof 0n or before the Both of April.
Upon this certificate of the Commissioner
OF Revenue the tax specified therein is re-
CURED to be paid to the Sheriff, and his
receipt Is ltscense to the person making
the payment.
When any person has failed to renew
his liscense in the mode prescribed, before
the expiration of his former liscense, the
10Th Section of the Act of April Sd, 1851,
requires that such person bs nssessed with
twice tue amount of tax otherwise imposed
ON such liScensc.
1t the lists of the subjects OF taxation
furnished by tue commissioner are not
sworn TO and returned by the pursou to
whom they have been delivered, the CON-
missioner is required TO make the assess
ment upon the best information he can
obtain.
The so See. of c. 80 of the code. n. gas,
authorizes aud requires the Sheriff 10 dc.
strain immediately for the amount with
which every PERSON may have been asses
Sed by the commissioner upon any lisceuSc
ana 10 sell the same upon ten days notice
The penalty on merchant for selling
without lisrHMse is not less than $50 or
more than S5UO, to be recovered by notion
OF debt, prcsentment, indictment or iu.
iOrmutiOu.
These are the principal provisions of
our laws relating to the taxes GU mer.
chants licenses, and under ordinary cir.
cumstAnces no difficulty would occur in
their practical operation But in the
strAnSe and anomalous situation of our
political relations, both State and FeLer-
at, your committee IRE at some loss to nd
wise. Our State Government Is in the
midst of u revolution, aud the Chief Exec
utive officer aud the State Convention have
undertaken to throw of the allegiance of
our people to the government OF the Uai-
ted States, and trIsnfer it TO the Conre,ier-
ate States. In Onr Just estimate the whole
OF tue pr 'ceedtngs ut Richmond are rev
olutOnIry ia their character, and there
tore unconstitutional, null aud void The
result Of this attempted aud partially sac
csssful aerUgatiOR OF the government,
leaves every citizen the inherent right, and
imposes upon him the duty, TO give his al
ieElance where he believes 1t to be due
as his own Judgment may dictate and re-
Ialre In the particular matter Before us,
we beg leave to recommend the adoption
OF the following resolutions:
hSsotdsd, That whilst we claim to be,
as We ever have been, true and loyal citi.
Gems OF the State of Virginia, Obedient to
9es laws, and to all the demands which
nave been made or luay be mnde upon us
IN accordauce herewith, we at the same
Tme hold ourselves loyal citizens or the
United States OF America, aud will natn-
tain an allegiance to the Constitution and
10.
:. Rs'oirei, That we are willing to pay our
license taxes iu aCcordaAcc with the Con-
S 81 and laws of Virginia, as long US
Slrglnia shall remain sns of the Uutted
FatAtes. 6utWe are not willing to pay any
revenue To tue present. usurped government
AZ ElchmOnd, which, without the consent
OF Tue people OF Virginia, and 10 violation
ot our State Constitution, has assumed to
s19olVe Us frsm our allegiance to the Uni
ted States government, aud transfer it 10
The Confederate States
Heaot7ed' That we recommend to 4he
.Ssreaanta OF the city of WheeIiug and
rae couaty Of Ohio 10 Withhold. The pay.