Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-07-17

meeting was held at St. Johnsbury Center by
those who protest against taxing towns in support
Of building the Montpelier & St. Johnsbury Rail.
road. John Morse was chairman, G. w Stone,
secretary. Speeches were made by John Morse
Walter Wright c. j. Wright David Goodall and
others. The meeting was composed Of determ-
ined and good men, who have made arrangements
to carry the opposition 10 the highest court, IL
necessary. The following resolutions were adopt
ed;
Whereas, Our bill Of riphts-the basis and found
alton Of the Constitution Of the United States and
all our aws-guaranties to every citizen the right
of acquiring, possessing and enjoying property;
and
Whereas The last Legislature Of Vermont passed
a law authorizing towns to raise money on their
grand lists to aid in the construction Of railroads
and
Whereas, Il is claimed that st. Johnsbury has,
in accordance with said law, authorized the issue
Of lis bonds for two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars TO aid IN the construction Of railroad from
Montpelier ria St. Johnsbury to Connecticut Riv-
er and
Whereas In attaining the consent Of said St.
Johnsbury to said measure, misrepresentation aud
deception has been used and
Whereas, If said railroad should be built, il
would greatly benefit certain individuals Of said
St. Johnsbury, while the benefit TO others, large
tax payers, would be trihing and remote now,
therefore,
Res0ived, That we, over three hundred Of tho
legal voters Of said ST. Johnsbury, whose grand
list constitutes nearly if not quite moiety Of the
whole grand list Of the town, record their own
solemn protest against said law and said action Of
St Johnsbury. and declare the law arbitrary. I'M
Just and unequal, and clear and plain violation Of
the sacred rights guaranteed TO by the said bill
Of rights OF the United States and fully confirmed
to by the bill of rights Of the State Of Vermont
and the Constitutions Of both. in this That it
binds, and proposes 20 take from us nearly one
sixth part Of our entire taxable property and in
many eases a much larger portion--aud in some
all-aud invest in railroad, without even the
formality Of consulting u.s. orin any way Obtaining
our consent, or Of giving Ms the right Of voting
upon it, thus uthlcssly stripping us Of our hard
earnings. and placing 10 where We. as indiyidua 5,
can never again exercise over 10 the rights Of
ershp or control and where the benefit 20 many OF
is uncertain and remote that t requires strong
seli-nterest to perceive &c at ALL and certainly not
so great to many Of IL is TO individuals or ad.
joining towns, who are wholly exempt from taxa
ton for this purpose. We protest. also against
the law in this That 1t tends 10 make the rich
richer and the poor poorer. and that 1t establishes
precedent in legislation reckless and regard
less Of individual rights as to seriously alarm every
rejecting man since if one Legislature can au-
thorze towns TO take a sixth part OF indiyidu-
ais property 20 build railroads, another Legislature
may authorize them TO take the other hye-sxths to
build railroads, TO invest in other chmerical
enterprises, that experience in Vermont has not
yet demonstrated. As it has railroads to be unpro-
ductye aud Unsuitable, continually crying. more
l-more-MoRE!' We do not forget honored
and sound patriots who would not submit to a tax
Of few cents pound Of tea. and we believe
it duty deyolyed upon US by Providence to re-
sist the said law.
/ Res'{red, That we hereby give notice to all con-
cerned that will resist the collection Of any tax
imposed upon to pay the interest or principal Of
said bonds, II issued, and that we do hereby in
strict our committee, for the purpose chosen. to
institute suit when the proper time comes to test
the constitutionaty of the said law. aud 10 carry
the same, If need be- to the Supreme Court Of the
United States, and that we hereby pledge ourselves
to sustain our said committee, aud 10 contribute
according to our grand list funds needed TO pros
ecute such suit 10 an issue.
Resoired That said committee sign. and
publish this in the Vermont Union, Walton. Journ-
al and the Boston Journal, and request all papers
in Vermont to publish the same.
Dawn GooDALL,l
JoHN MoRsE.
JOHN BACoN. ID, ) COMMITTEE
Ira AHMNGroN,
c. J. WmGur,