The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-09-07
Proceedings of a Mass Meeting
of Taxpayers of BeXar
County, held on Saturday
evening. September ID, 1871,

The meeting was called TO order by D. Y.
Portis, Esq, whereupon- it was moved and
carried that Mr.. Peyton Smythe act as Chair
man, and G. L. Wurzbach, Esq, act as Sec
rotary. Mr.. j. A. Cooke, Esq, having been
called upon, explained the object of the
meeting. 81
1t was moved ard carried that The Chair
appoint Committee of twelve to draft reso~
lutions expressive of the sense of the meeting.
The following gentlemen were appointed J.
q. Kampmann, P. Scheiner, Martin Muench,
G. NJ. Maverick, V. Marines, J. N. OhaYes,
]. E. Dwyer, H. D. Stumberg, ]. r. Sweeney,
l. P. Simpson, G. J. Houston and c. Upson
The following gentlemen having been
called upon, addressed the meeting on the
subject of taxation F. Cooke, ESQ, JUL
Behrens, Esq, Narcisso Leal, Esq, and G.
Epson, Esq.
Mr.. ]. A. Cooke, on the part of the legal
fraternity, presented and read the following
agreement:
We, the undersigned Attorneys at Law of
San Antonio, regarding the State taxes levied
for the year 1871 as unjust and oppressive,
and if their collection is enforced, that it will
work great injury to all, and be ruinous to
some of our citizens, respectfully tender our
professional services, free of charge, to the
tax payers of Bexar county for the purpose
of relieving them, if possible, by ali legiti-
mate means, from the payment of such taxes
as may be deemed unlawful.
San Antonio, Sept. 2, 1871.
GREEN, TEEL & COOKE.
DIVINE, SIMPSON 4 HOWARD,
ALTGELT PORTS
THOMAS II. STRIBLING
HOUSTON'& COOKE,
WALKER W. BERRY,
WAELDER & UPSON,
THOMAS s. HARRISON
MCLEARY g. WURZBACH
Mr.. |. P Simpson, Esq, on the part of the
Committee on Resolutions, presented and
read the following Resolutions
WHEREAS, The taxes for State and county
purposes, now in course of collection. are
unnecessary, oppressive and illegal, the COL
lection of which will result in the ruin of
many, by the forced sale of large portion
of their real estate, and cause great loss and
serious injury to all who own property liable
to taxation; and while it is a bounden duty
on all citizens to pay reasonable taxes toward
the maintenance of their Government; it is
likewise imperatively their duty and their
right as freemen to resist, by all proper
means, all attempts on the part of those in
power to deprive them of their rights or
plumber them of their property, under pretext
or color Of law, it matters not who the men
or party may be thus seeking to outrage or
impoverish the people: Be it therefore
RESOLVED, l. By the citizens of Bexar
county, in mass meeting assembled, that the
suggestions from the citizens of Travis
county, that the people of Texas, in their
respective counties, send delegates to Con>
vention, to be held at Austin, on the 22d of
this month, for the purpose of considering
what action should be taken with reference
4. IL, II
sought to be collected, meets with our hearty
approval, action on this subject being alike
demanded by every principle of interest,
self-respect and true manhood.
2. That the Chairman of this meeting
appoint twelve delegates to attend said Cons
vention, as representatives of the Taxpayers
of BeXar county.
3. That the delegates appointed by the
Chairman, or such of them as may attend
the Convention at Austin, be and are hereby
instructed by this meeting to take snch action
as may, in their opinion, best protect the
rights of the people, and relieve them from
the ruin or loss of property with which,
under the pretext of law, they are now
threatened by persons exercising authority
or power in this State.
4. That the delegates attending said Com
vention report their action to an adjourned
meeting of the citizens, to be called by the
delegates as soon as practicable after the
adjournment Of the Convention.
5. That the people of other counties be
and they are hereby earnestly requested to
hold public meetings, and send delegates to
the proposed Convention at Austin, and that
all papers in Texas in favor of the rights of
the people, and opposed to oppression, pub
fish these resolutions or the substance there
Of
On motion the resolutions were unani>
mously adopted, in pursuance of which the
Chair appointed the following gentlemen to
represent Bexar county in the Tax Payers
Convention at Austin, on the 22d of Septem-
Der, 1871: ]. H. Kampmann, Edward
Stoves, c. L. Wurzbach, Narcisso Leal, Le>
onardo CARA, ]. N. Chsves, T. H. St-ibling.
G. NJ. Maverick, Hugh F. Young, J. B.
Sweeney, G. Epson anu D. Y. Ports.
There being no further business the meet
ing adjourned.
PEYToN SMYTHE, Chairman.
%. L. WURZBACH. Secretarv