The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-21

Remarks OF DIR. J. #. Caldwell, OF
Greenbrier County, IN Reference 10
releasing that County aud others
from Taxation until Is6s.
DR.. ]. f. Caldwell moved that the
judiciary Committee be directed to in
qulre into the expediency of exempting
from taxation the counties OF Pocahon-
tas, Greenbrier and Monroe for the year
1902 ana ior suspending the collection
OF taxes IN the same counties for the
years 1866 and '67, until the wear 1865.
II was near the close of 1865 that the
rebels were driven from that section of
the State and our laws Established
there, and is is right that people should
be taxed before our laws can protect
them?
These counties, sir, are on the south
east extremity OF the Allegheny Noun
tains, which separated them from Vir-
ginia. They are an oasis within our
territory of about $50 miles in length by
about % in breadth, surrounded by n
comparative desert of about so miles in
width. These people from their more
exposed position, were more liable to
suffer, and did suffer much greater
amount of injury than those of any
other county in the State, for their ter
ritory in its whole length and breadth
was more than any other portion of the
State made the battle ground between
the Union and Rebel armies. The SOL
diers of each during the whole course of
the rebellion were continually moving
! over these counties in every direction,
| and they certainly gave evidence of
their disposition to take away or de-
stroy whatever they imagined could be
| used to sustain man or beast.
Our people west OF the Allegheny
Mountains and east OF the head of the
kanawhR river, comprehending the
territory drained by the New and
| Greenbrier rivers and their tributaries,
| though exceedingly rich in minerals,
| timber. waterpower and mineral wa
tiers, are capable of producing n much
greater amount of grain than is sufi-
cient for our consumption, yet are so
distant from the seabOard that our
grain cannot be taken to market on
account of the expense which would
attend its transportation, and are com
PEELED to resort to the raising of cattle,
horses, sheep and hogs, which can be
made to transport themselves to mar
ket. We were doing we'll at this bust
ness until the commencement of the
rebellion, which, by the passing
through and occupation of our terrific
! ry by armies, robbed us of nearly all
the necessaries of life; our lands only
remaining, and these without fencing;
and il will be years before we will again
be able to raise grsin and stock for our
own consumption, and we have but
little or no currency to- use in repre-
senting our property in commerce. In
| consequence we find ourselves unable
either TO remain stationary, or to go on
to accumulate the means of support.
| Other portions of the State, though
more distant from market, having rail-
road facilities which pass from the
West to the East, both North and South
of us, and the Ohio river on the West,
having navigable tributaries running
from and through our Western and
Northern counties, receive benefits
which from our isolated condition we
have not, in consequence of the rail-
roads and canals which were intended
to traverse and accommodate this sec
ton of country. being arrested and de-
stroyed before they reached il.
During the rebellion our people had
but little opportunity to cultivate their
lands to produce the necessaries of life,
and our crops for several years have
failed TO provide one-fourth the amount
necessary for our own consumption,
and it will take several years before we
can grow any kind of stock to a suita-
BILE condition for market. In fact we
have been so peeled and prostrated by
the ravages of war, as to be in a very
helpless condition, and, at this time,
unable to pay our taxes, "but have
mercy upon us and we will pay you
| ALL"