Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-12-25
The QuinquenniaI Rebellion

The QuinguenniaI Rebellion.
The Chittenden County Tax Convention,
Lo.den at Burlington on Saturday last, was
pTesldcd over by Mayor Dodge, having first
been called to order by Henry Gllett, Esq.
Of Richmond. George H.IBigelow Of Bur
Ington, and 0. ii. Ellis Of Huntington, were
chosen secretaries. Thirteen towns were
represented by selcctmen.
MIR Glllett first proposed an informal vote,
to ascertain whether the convention were
IN favor Of taking measures to resist the
payment IF the oppressive State tax
discussion ensued, and Air. Edward Van
Slckien Of South Burlington very approprl-
ateiy wanted some explanation as to how the
payment Of this ak could be resisted. Mr.
Salmon Green Of Richmond, A. Z. White
more and Judge Carolus Noyes of Burllng
ton were called upon 20 speak, but neither
Ot these gentlemen gave the precise infJrma-
tian asked lyr by Mr.. Van Scklen. They
all agreed that the tax was oppressive,
aud Mr. WhittemoTe, who was = the member
rom Milton. III 1870, said - II was COM
nation ol Ia southern against the northern
FottIon Of the State . that brought it upon
hem. legal opinion rendered TO The city
council ot Eurlir gton IN 1870, by Messrs-
Underwood, Hard. Phelps, Roberts and A.
ser vas then read. and MIR. GillcttS motion
was unanimously carried.
Henry Gillett, Mayor Dodge, and DR.. John
f. Miles Of Hinesburgh were appointed an
executive committee, clothed with authority
to employ counsel, and after consultation re-
ported that they bad selected Messrs. f. }
PHELPS, E. R. Hard and Daniel Roberts to
manage the resistance. Mr.. Phelps was called
uron ard addressed the convention, without
giving any definite opinion, and advised ad
iourn ment to some future day, to give time
TO co nsIder He thought, however, if it was
\ decid. to resist the collection Of the tax,
I the mode to be adopted should be, the refusal
4 Of tie eeloctmen Of the several towns to issue
/ rax-bills to the collectors, and leave the State
/ Treasurer to proceed in such manner as he
4 might be advised Single cases of resistance
he did not think would amount to much but
expense greater than the tax, and if redress
was sought, it should be by combination OF
al tie aggrieved towns, backed up by
/ general and enlightened public sentiment
Further discussion followed, in which
/ Judge Noyes pitched into DR.. BoyntOn's
| defcnse of the House Committee, and said,
\ if the doctor, as practicing physician, " did
80, treat his patients better than he had this
csse, may the Lord have mercy on their
sous" Col Rolla Gleason was " full OF
fabt" and said be had been for two years
\ past lie 81 argcd our worthy State Treasurer
with .oLbyirg against the equalization
] bill Wien it was before the House, charge
that Col. Gleason would not have made had
he not been :" full, - etc. We have the best
authority for stating that the Treasurer did
not interest himself in this matter in the
least, and never referred to it unless he was
/ approached upon the subject, and then inva-
riably said he was willing to leave it to the
decision Of those whom the Legislature had
appointed to investigate it. MIR Page re
quircs 10 defense On the charge of being
:. lobbyist" as he is known to be free from
any such suspicion, where and by whom he
IL best known. His duty to see that the
State taxes are collected may not be rendered
any the pieasanter by even show of resist
ance, yet he will doubtless perform the duty
with the dignity and decision becoming
responsible officer of the State.
The cream Of this joke consists in the fact
Il at the accuser, who is more identified with
the lobby business in Vermont than ever
OtbelIo was with his vocation, can not see a
man around TIE State House during the
session, who is not a member, without plac
Nc him in that category, and though ''Rolla >
has declined sCmew hat in this role, the old
- button holes - that lie has torn are still
fresh in their wounds.
Mr.. j. 5. ID. Taylor, of the It. Adams
Messenger, was present, = to find out the
action and spirit of this meeting" so as to
8 Stir up the people of St. All ans and Frank
lin County" and they are d" stirred up to
the extent OF issuing call for a meeting at
St. Adams, December 3lst, signed by the
selectmen Of that town. The Burlington
convention adjourned to the same date. The
Free Press report. from vi ich Ii 6 foregoing
is cOllated, says the meeting was composed
Of many Of the influential and leading men
In the county, who all seem animated with
an earnest desire to ascertain if there is any
legal remedy, by which this oppressive State
ia xation can be resisted, and IF so to use it
at once.
There are plenty of men in every county