The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-24
The Meeting Of Tax-Payers In
Austin.

Wis county, met en- mass, without regard
TO party, to consult together and devise
some plan of action to relieve the peo-
pie from the ruinous taxes now being
levied upon their property.
The meeting took place in the open
air, on the corner of Congress avenue
and Pecan street, numbering about one
thousand persons.
Hon. George Hancock was called to
the chair, and Mr.. Joseph Spence ap-
pointed Secretary. August FILLER,
Alfred Smith, j. w. Hannig, NJ c.
Hamilton. and w. NJ. Walton, were
appointed a committee to draft resO~
lutions suitable to the occasion.
The meeting was addressed by the
Hon. George Hancock and Senator
Hamilton, with telling effect, upon the
oppression, distress and ruin about to
be imposed upon the people by the
forced collection of the enormous taxes
now levied to support the standing
army of State police, State guards, for
school purposes and public printing.
After showing up the monstrosities
of the party in power and the inability
of the people to pay the exhorbitant
taxes demanded, Senator Hamilton
spoke of Gov. Davis's post~dating the
school bill, as an act Of inadvertence {!
He could not think he would do such
thing Intentionally, but he had no
doubt that section five of the school
bill was repealed by the general tax law
In concluding his speech to the APP
plauding multitude, he declared that
he would not pay the taxes, now at.
tempted to be collected of him.
The following preamble and resolu-
tons were presented and unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS, In consequence of the want of
accurate information as to the value of the
taxable property in the State, inadvertenee
on the part of the Executive in defeating the
repeal of the fifth section of the "act to or
ganize and maintain, a system of public free
schools 10 the State of Texas" by post.dat-
ing its approval, the burdens imposed for the
support of the Government is ten times the
ordinary rate of taxation in this State and
Whereas, 1.-THE i'm oVerished condition in
which the disasters of the last ten years have
LETT the people, with the certainty now of a
blghted harvest, renders it impossible to
meet the demands of the tax gatherers and
Whereas, Delay and great difficulty is ap-
pretended in the collection of the taxes, even
If they can be collected at all therefore be it
ReSOlUed, That we, the Taxpayers of
Travis county, in mass-meeting assembled,
without distinction of party or creed, recon-
mend that convention of taxpayers of the
State assemble at the city Of Austin, on
the 22d day of September next, to consider
the condition of the people, as we'll as the
legitimate wants of the Government, and to
memorabilia the'LegiBlature for an abatement
OF the taxes to the necessities Of the State,
and thereby avert threatened trouble in the
attempt TO collect the full amount of the
levies.
ResolUed, That the Legislature be further
memorialized to repeal the act of the 18th of
August, 1870, regulating elections, it being
manifestly repugnant to section four, article
three, of the Constitution and by the en-
forcement whereof the integrity of the Gov
eminent is threatened by leaving it without
a Legislative department, and that a general !
election be ordered, in October or Novsm-
Der next, as is plainly required by the Con- |
ResOIUsd, That the Taxpayers of the several
counties ia the State, who concur in the fore
going resolutions, are earnestly urged to |
cooperate in this effort to modify the bur-
dens under which we suffer. in common, and |
to avert, if possible, the pending menace
against the most important branch of the |
State Government.
ResOlUsd, That each and every county in !
the State send up delegation to the Con-
yention.
.ResolUed, That all papers in the State of |
Texas, friendly to this movement, be and |
are hereby requested to publish the forego-
going resoluti ms, and to urge the people to |
meet and select delegates to the Convention.
After the adoption of these resolu-
tons, the following gentlemen were
elected as delegates to the convention
TO be held on the 22d of September,
1871: Morgan G. Hamilton, Alfred
Smith, Louis Horst, August Ziller,
Giles Burdett, Aaron Burleson, c. S.
West, E. NJ. Pease, Felix E. Smith,
w. Brown, A. j. Hamilton, Her.
man Green, W. NJ. Walton, NJ. II.
Bowers, H. W. Sutor, Ed. Zimmerman,
and George Hancock when tie meet
ing adjourned in an orderly manner
without the slightest disturbance what
ever, to meet again Saturday, August
10Th, to take into consideration the
Governors election order and other
matters of Importance.
There was displayed by the actors
in the meeting fixed determination by
the people no longer to aid, uphold and
support the standing army of Govern
or Davis and thereby perpetuate the rule
Of the odious and corrupt party now in
power. The people are aroused, and
know full well that money purchases
the sinews of war. No money, no
martial law No money, no drunken
policemen No money, no secret de-
tectives and spies! No money, no
Winchester rifles and ammunition |
Texans are not yet prepared to yield |
as abject slaves TO such masters as
Davis, Davidson, Tracy, Quick & Co. |
The people are now, as they ever
have been, willing to pay every legiti-
mate expense of the State Govern
ment.
Wonder!