Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-02-03

1IE CONVENTION ~ TEANTLIN COUNTY.
The adjourned Claaiy Convention Of items
Of Franklin county took place at Sheldon, on
wednesday Of last week /; was well ATTENDED
By influential gentlemen. 5 H. Boyatoa, Esq
Of St aiblus presided. Albert Clarke Of ST.
Adams, F. NJ Mcintyre, Esq and lloa Harmon
NoT;hrop Of Fairfield were appointed committee
/ to prepare resolutions.
After due colsiierati5a she c,mmittee report
ID the following:
J;Ierccs. The committee of toe House Of Re-
/ pTesentatiyes, appointed at the last session TO
/ average and equalize the real estate appraisal,
reported A basis which m our judgment dis
criminstts unfairly against the owners Of resl
estate in ;h;s county, and, as We are informed
T and believe, increases the aggregate appraisal
/ of the entire state and
IIhgeas, Il is the opinion Of wise aud learned
counsel that The action Of sail committee was
/ illegal, and that taxes assessed upon the Grand
List as completed by them cannot he colecteI
/ sgains, the will OF the persons assessed and
fhUeas, Having no desire 70 avoid our full
share Of an the burdens Of the State that may be
fairly sul legally imposed, but being unwilling
to submit to inequality and oppression in any
form, ami being anxious also TO avoid for our
selves sad fer the State Of which we are loyal
snd lsw-sbiiing citizens, all complications that
MAJ arise from efforts to collect the taxes and
U'hersrs, We believe no power can afford re-
lief and apply legal and binding remedy in this
case except the General Assembly OF the State,
and that the emergency is Ct sufficient magnitude
to Justify the convention % the same in special
session therefore,
Resolrcd, That We unite, and recommend
the people Of this county and all others who may
feel sggrieved or wish 10 serve the best interests
of the State, to unite in petition to His Excel
ency the Governor, to issue his proclamation
converting the Legislature in special session at
an early day, to afford a redress Of the grievance
with which We are afflicted.
Rcsolrsd. Further, that We recommend a
delay in the payment Of our taxes until sufi-
cient time shall have elapsed Tor efecting this
result
A discuss Oh ensued.
Mr. Hunt Of fairfax said it had been proposed
by some of the leading men Of his town that it
would be a good plan for the collectors 70 with
hold from the state aud pay into the treasures
of their respective towns so much Of the State
and State school taxes as should be raised on
the 80 per cent increase of the real estate sp-
praisal made by the Committee, and there let it
remsin subject to the action Of the town, in the
hope that the Legislature, at its next regular
session, would afford the desired relief But
| this plan, though every member Of the Conven-
| ton expressed des re to avoid the expense of a
special session if possible, did not meet with
favor, for 10 one was able to discover any
authority for such action on the part Of the col
/ lectors or the towns themselves, and meanwhile
the duty of the State authorities to cause COL
lection and complete payment Of the taxes was
very clear.
1t finally became apparent to all that only one
of two positions was tenable- either TO drop the
subject and pay the taxes. or else to apply to
the only constitutional authority, and in the
only constitutional manner, for a redress Of
grievances. As for the former, it was feared
| that whatever willingness there might be among
those present to pursue that course, their action
would not be deemed obligatory upoa any IN
willing taxpayer and long and expensive litgs-
ton might ensue Figures were made by sev-
eral gentlemen. whereby it was shown that even
if the unfsr basis would not affect any tax but
the State tax, yet the amount which the people
Of this county would be unrighteously compelled
to pay before the next appraisal would exceed by
many thousand dollars the entire expense OF q
special session. and that it would at least equal
the same within the next two years.
Among others. Mr. joseph Northrop of Fair
field and L. H. Hapgood, Esq, Of Sheldon, ex
pressed the opinion that since the basis reported
by the State committee is believed to be Illegal,
il is for the immediate interest-not Of people
in the three aggrieved counties only,-but Of the
entire State, that session should be held, so
that even ifrelief should not be granted, the list
shall at least te made legal so that the taxes be
| collected.