Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-16
wEsT vIRGIN1A TAXES.


We notice that the West Virginia tax col>
lectors are busily at work, calling on our peo-
pie to pay exhorbitant taxes to a govern
ment that has no more right, legally speaking,
to be levying rates upon the property of citi-
Gems of Jefferson county, than we would have
to require the French Emperor and the Bri-
fish Queen to pay us damages for the de-
struction of our property by the Federal ar
mics, or to sue them for not helping us out
of our troubles with our conqucring brother
JOhna<han.
If the Constitution of the United States is
the supreme law of the land, and Gen. Grant
has compelled US to acknowledge that it is,
(and We heartily wish that he would make
Sumner and his friends bow down to it, too;)
then there can bc no doubt of the fact that
this county is in the State of Virginia; that
Borcman and his concern, in taking posses
sion of us, politically and julicially, have Vi
olated the clcarcst provisions of that instru-
meut. 1t may be true that the ninety-one
individuals who were allowed to vote on the
subject, expressed the will of the pccA
V,
regard to the transfer to West Virginia :;
that the legislature Of - res orcd'' Virginia,
composed of some six Senators and some four
teen Delegates. gave the consent Of the State
to the transfer; and that the body ofluminous
legislators, who made laws for the Western
| concern, accepted the transfer, Yet those acts
by no means placed us out Of our former po-
sition. Ihclc was something more than
these acts required to complete the transfer,
and that was the consent Of Congress. In
til Congress docs give its consent, this county
Is lawfully in the State of Virginia, aacE all
attempts Of West Virginia to exercise juris-
diction. over it are. but tie Loldcst usurpa-
tions.
1t is argued by some Of Boreman's advo-
Gates that the State of Virginia released its
right to govern lis. ~ the terms of the act
giving consent to the transfer, and by others
that Governor Picrpont granted jurisdiction
over us to Governor Boreulan. The lcgisla-
ture, nor Governor Of Virginia, could do any
! thing of the SOFT. No State can, constitu-
tiOnal'y, enter into any agreement or com~
! pact with another without the consent of
Congress. If the legislature of Virginia did
! do anything of the sort in this action on the
subject, they did supremacy foolish and IL
| legal act ; and il Gov. Peirpont entered into
! any agreement IT, that effect with Gov Bore
man he committed either Il gubernatorial blum
| der, or violated his oath Ut Office to support
the Constitution of Virginia tor that imstru-
mcnt, made after all other Legislative enact
mcnts on the proposed transfer, expressly
recognizes Jefferson as ono ofthc counties of
the State Of Virginia, and provides for it,
| judicially and otherwise.
What right have-thcse western gentlemen.
sO-callcd, to be lOrding it over us, and
to be putting our money into their trca-
sury for the support of their govern
mcnt! We ask the attention Of the Rich
mond legislature to this strengthening, es>
| pccially, and cntrc"t it to devise some
mode 10y which We may be cleared of these
official harpics of West Virginia. The
great mass Of the people Of jefferson desire
no connection whatever with the new State,
and are unwilling to he subjects to its laws
and to pay taxes for its support and VIC
think the Legislature of our State should in
struct our Attorney General to sue out. in
the proper courts, without delay, an niunc-
ton against all persons claiming to be off
! Gals Of West Virginia acting in this county.