Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-25
RURDENsoME rAxATIox.

Robbed by a Gang of InteriOpeFs b.
IA System OF VfIIainOus Taxation
Lawyers, Merchants, Manufacturer
and Citizens Generally, I'm the Meet
ing.
At large meeting of the property-hold
ers and tax-Rsyers OF. Nashville, held O
the Office Of Messrs. Anderson, johnson
Smith yesterday, ". r. Elliston occupies
the chair, and C. Scott symmes, Esq, acte,
as Secretary pro TEN.
Gov. Foote offered the following rosolu
lions t kf
Resolved, That The following sub-com
mittees be appointed by the Chair:
]. A subcommittee, composed Of all thu
members Of the legal profession now pres
ent, Whose duty it shall be (either alone
or in connection with such other member
Of the bar Of this city a. shall be willing
in this fearful and perpIexing crifis, to Iend
| their aid TO the distressed aud cruelty over
taxed population OF this once 1onrishing
commercial mart), to consult together, dill
| gently and earnestly, for the purpose Of as
certaing If there are any judicial remedies,
either at law or equity, which, If resorted
! tC, would be likely 10 arrest the progress OF
| oppression and ruin now in manifest pro-
gress, and prevent at least IA part the col
lection by the present city authorities The
! enormous taxes which have been levied up
on the property holders Of the city By those
who now claim the right 90 control and
regulate the corporate concerns Of said city !;
anu hat said subcommittee shall report
their action thereon 30 this general commit
tee on Thursday neas.
2. A subcommittee, whose 1stv It shall
be TO inquire diligently into all the facts
connected with The present condition OF the
city Of a nature 10 aid said subcommittee
OF lawyers in the important task commit
ted to them; aud that said second sab
committee shall make prompt report of
.beir action herein, TO said subcommittee
Of attorneys, 30 as 10 aid, as far as posi-
bic, ia enabling them TO come 10 a sound
and reliable conclusion in the premises.
A. l.. DeMOss, Esq, rose, and expressed
himself opposed to Reputation of any
kind. The question is whether anything
can be done 70 relieve the people Of oppres.
slve taxation. He believed that though
officers who levied the taxes are ineligible,
they are still, in his estimation, officers de
tdctO, and their action as TO third parties
are binding, and be thought the matter
ought to be Investigated by legal gentlemen.
lie did not want the tax -payers 10 go into
any litigation unless we were satisfied we
could get rid Of our liabilities through the
courts. The question OF "What is to be
DONE" is one Of dollars and cents. and
should be 80 considered.
E1-CioY. Foote arose and explained that
no proposition looking 10 repudiation had
been made. He thought that a matter of
Interior action. He only had said that he
thought it would not be unwise to let the
city government know that if driven by
farther oppression, these high minded citi
zens might be forced TO such a step. He
would not state his legal views now. lie
thought the better plan wonld be toappoint
a committee of attorneys TO consult the
matter and report.
Judge M. NJ. Brien said that he had con-
sidered the question maturely the whole
action Of the city government from the
time of their induction into office up to
the present time. He had filed bill
against the corporation, and had applied to
Chancellor Harrison, who refused to grant
an Injunction; that the taxes and all laws
passed by the present city government are
Gb iRitiO illegal and void, aud ii resisted
cannot I've collected. IL be had 20 be robbed
OF all lac had spent a lifetime in working
for, he was for reputation or bankruptcy,
one or the other.
EK-Gov. Neill S. Brown said that this
was only a meeting for the purpose Of or
ganizing, and that he would like TO hear
some of the other members of the commit
tee 90 the same subject.
Col. A. S. Colyar favored the resolution.
but thought the committee ought TO have |
more time to report legal opinion. He |
knew that since Judge Brien's bill had
been fled frauds had been perpetrated |
upon the people by the city government |
that amounted TO perfect outrages, and if |
there was any chance for success he would |
be in favor Of resisting the collection of |
taxes. His opinion was that they were |
a set Of robbers and thieves, and when they |
get together TO consult, he had no donbt |
that they agreed they had no interest with |
This people, and would make all they could |
out of them. He knew that overwhelming |
Justice often overcame technicalities He |
was in favor of Cauvassing every ward In /
the city TO see whether the taxpayers
would stand together to resist the collection
Of taxes, and when they would do that, he
knew that even the friends of the tax col |
Iectors would desert them t..
President Elliston suggested for action,
whether the taxpayers should pay the five |
per cent or go TO work now to buy checks
10 pay taxes.
The question was then put aud carried |
and the resolution adopted, |
Judge Gaut ask ed further time for the /
legal committee.
II. b. Cheatham, ESQ, made several sug- |
gestions as TO the duties Of the second sub
committee.
Gov. N. s. Brown then read the charter
and explained the same TO the meeting
showing that il was homogeneous.
Orville Ewing, Esq, wss anxious that
he committee should report as soon as
possible and publish the opinions TO the
taxpayers so that their action may be
governed thereby.
The Chairman then appointed the
econd subcommittee, as follows: f. II.
French, Chairman Robert Thompson, H.
Z. Scovel, Fred. Terrass and r. B. Cheat
ram. Motion that Judge w. +. Cooper
be made Chairman OF the Legal Committee,
carried.
Moved by Mr. +. III. French that "a 10
he five per cent the Committee should re-
port at once and publish 10 the morning
papers. Carried.
Moved by Judge Whitworth that the
meeting adjourn TO meet Thursday at 3 p. NJ.
IN the club room Of the Democratic Cuba
After the meeting adjourned the follow
ing report was handed us for publication
rom the gentlemen forming the Committee;
THE committee 70 whom il was referred |
By the citizens 10 examine the recent tax
act Of the city, and ascertain when the FIVE
per oenlum as costs, given by the fifteenth
section Of the act is demandsble," have
the act Of the 10th of March,
1868, and find that the fifteenth section pro-
lides expressly that the collector shall
attend at the Treasurer's Office in such
,iiy, during business hours OF each day,
or two month"; giving notice thereof by
publication in some newspaper in the
,ity, and by posting at the Mayors
,fiice and Courthouse, for that time, for
he payment Of the taxes assessed, accord
ne 10 the roll and assessment in his
lands" The section then continues
And for the succeeding month, he will