Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-15

Meeting iR Edgefieid last Evening
large and Enthusiastic Gathering
Remarks Of Hen. Neil =. Brown. Col.
George q. stubbIefiela. A. ". 8. E.iIlsis-


The meeting called by the citizens Of
Edgefeld, last night, to demonstrate against
the proposed measure Of Incorporating
Edge6eld into the corporate limits Of
Nashville was largely attended by The most
prominent and influential citizens. The
Trimble School House was full to over
flowing and the utmost harmony prevailed,
there NOT being a man in the house favor
able to the measure. AT seven o'clock
Hon. Neil s. Brown called the meeting to
order, which was organized by the appoint
ment Of Squire Msxey to the Chair and
Jackson 3. White az Secretary.
Gov. Brown explained the object of the
meeting. He stated that there was a gem
eral feeling that the Legislature eontem-
plated some action Incorporating Edgefieid
az a part of the city Of Nashville. He
was engaged in his professional duties
when he heard il, and was surprised st the
report. He had lived in Edgefeld for
eighteen years, and felt deep and abiding
affection for her people. A better or
higher toned people didnot live anywhere,
and il LET alone she would be an important
snburb Of Nashville. Now it wes medi-
tated TO bring her into the corporate limits
of Nashville, city of which he was proud,
because il was the capital Of the State. 1t
was a financial measure for those inter-
ested. He was opposed to it he did not
wish his felIOw-citizens to be burdened
with the debts of Nashville Of twenty-five
years standing, which they had no hand
in creating. We came here by our own Volt
tion, and have taken care ofourselv yes; we
are a quiet, church-going people. Edge
field had contributed less to the Criminal
Court than any other part of the State.
He was proud of Edgeield, loved her peo-
pie, and wished, as one Of her earliest set
tiers, to die in the town. Yet it was de-
termined, whether we were willing or not,
to draw us into the corporate limits of
Nashville. The whole thing is financial
scheme to get rs TO help pay her debts.
When are we to be beneftted2 When are
we to have water and gas benefits? Go to
Nashville now with one of your coupons
and you cannot get payment on the same.
The object is 10 draw rs into the web which
the official spiders have been weaving in
Nashville. They think we are thriving
and a prosperous people, and they want
the taxes on the earnings Of our lifetimes
to pay off the speculative debts they have
contracted during the last twenty-five years
without giving corresponding benefits, or
even the poor privilege of vote. This was
thing unheard of in the history of the State.
Every man living here is dependent, in
one sense, for his prosperity upon the pros.
perity Of Edgefeld. He knew it was not
TO the interest of Edgefeld to be incorpo>
rated with any body; if he could vote, he
would not vote to be incorporated as
town with the "sun, moon and seven
stars" When would you get correspond
ting benefits for the payment Of your taxes?
When will you see the flashes of
the gsslights on your streets, and have
water from the waterworks bubbling
up at your doors? When would Nash
vile be able TO do il? If majority
of the people favored it, he would submit :;
but to attempt to "take us in " he could
characterize il in no other sense than an
attempt to commit rape upon us. We
by our own work are prospecting is it
not hard that we should be made to
bear the taxation burdens of corporation
to which we do not belong. Let them let
us alone till we ask to be incorporated. He
would az soon be governed by Nashville as
any other city in the world, but he did not
want her with her superior officers and
government to protect us till we asked such
protection. He was opposed to the ALI
ance as a citizen, as a lawyer, and if he
could when it came up he would vote
against it, and if it comes to the scratch he
would be heard protesting against it. He
would be found opposed to being incorpor-
ated into Nashville or any other city from
Jerusalem to Halifax, without the people
having a voice in the matter, and he would
be found protesting against it down to the
| day of his death. He moved that COM
mittee of ten be appointed TO confer with
the authorities of Nashville and the mem
bers of the Legislature contemplating the
project, and to finally present a memorial
expressive of the opposition of the people
of Edgefeld 10 the measure.
Before action was had on this motion
| Mr.. F. G. Roach made some appropriate
remarks of inquiry as to what the Legiss
lature understood AZ being the limits of
Edgefeld. We were all considered as
residents of Edgefeld, but there are diff.
| ferent localities of the town. He was OPP
posed 10 the measure. The Legislature had
| Just a. much right to incorporate some of
our citizens into an insurance cons
pany a. 10 incorporate us all into
| the city of Nashville He agreed
with Governor Brown. If this: step
was taken he had this to say, he was born
a free man, ne would die free man, he
never wonld pay the taxes of such an in
corporation. He proposed that the voters
and the taxpayers be taken down and pre-
scented in opposition TO the scheme.
The following resolutions were then of
fered by Mr. Baxter Smith:
Resolved, That il is the sense of this
meeting, composed of large number of
the citizens Of Edge6eld, that they are un-
changeably opposed to the project now
being agitated by the corporate authorities
| Of Nashville to include Edgefeld within
| the corporate limits of Nashville; and
that If the same is done, it will be done
without their procurement or consent, and
against their will and solemn protest
Resolved, That it is principle as old as
the government ITSELF that the people
should be consulted as TO the mode and
manner of their government and any
changes 10 be made in their government,
either national, State or municipal, should
| only be made in pursuance of their will
fairly expressed, and their will should be
particularly expressed whenever new burr
dens and taxes are sought to be imposed
upon the people.
Resolved, That a committee of five be
| appointed by the Chairman of this meet
| inc, whose duty il shall be to confer with
the committee appointed by the corporate
authorities of Nashville TO draw new
charter for the city of Nashville, and that
the committee appointed by this meeting
express to said committee the feelings and
sentiments of the people OF Edge6eld in
reference to the proposed incorporation of
Edgefeld into Nashville, and protest re-
specially, but earnestly, against the same.
lie spoke warmly in support Of the reso-
lutious, saying that il Sas almost a waste
of time to discuss the subject, as he was
satisfied that not voter in Edgefeld was
| in favor Of il. South Nashville had been
incorporated for fifteen years, yet he was
informed that it had only been within the
last two years that they had received any
benefits whatever froin the Incorporation
If the people favored Il, we'll and good, but
in the name Of right and justice LET as have
a voice in the matter. 1t was, as he under.
stood it, not Nashville bat the Legislature
who wished the measure consummated.