Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-15

MEETING OF THE MERCHANTs.-A
meeting of the merchants of the city, al
which several from the county were pre-
sent, was held at the Court House Mon
| day afternoon Capt George r. Price was,
on motion of Mr.. George T. Baker, call
ed to the chair, and MI. L. b. Sublett
was chosen secretary. Messrs. u. I. Ba-
ker. J. Fl. Blaekley, D. A. Kayser and
r. Z. Foster were appointed COM
mittee to report resolutions, which,
after some absence, reported the fol
lowing resolutions, which, after some
remarks by Mr.. Frank M. Young, were,
ON motion of Mr.. I. WITT, adopted
Whereas, The Legislature Of Virginia,
in opposition to the earnest protest of
| merchants and business men of the State,
passed, at it's late session, tax bill con-
tanning certain provisions, whose evident
effect will be to impose unequal burdens Of
taxation, and,
Whereas, by it's adjournment we are left
without redress, except by an appeal to
the courts, therefore be it
1st. Resolved, That, regretting the ne
cesSity thus forced upon us, and declaring
that we do not desire to avoid any proper
UuIuCll, NO WILL CO7OpCldUC Will UlC 1ICl-
chants and business men of Richmond
and other portions of the State in resis-
lance to the execution of the tax bill.
End. Resolued, That the honor of Vir-
ginia demands the prompt payment of in
terest ON the State debt, and to accomplish
that object we will cheerfully submit to
any rate of taxation that may be neces-
sary and proper, provided it is made to
bear equally upon all that in our opposi-
ton to the tax law we are actuated by a
desire to escape from the burden, not be-
cause it is too heavy, but because it is I'M
equal and unjust.
3rd. Resolred, That though the impress
sion prevails that when merchants are
heavily taxed a per centum is added to the
cost Of their goods sufficient to cover the
lax, so that the consumer really pays it
we protest against that system of legisla-
ton which compels such lf-protection,
and places merchants in the odious posi-
ton of tax collectors.
4th. ResoIued, That the chairman of
this meeting shall appoint a committee of
five, whose duty it shall be to commune
cate with the merchants and business men
of the cities and towns Of the State, in.
wiling them to appoint delegates to a Con-
vention to be held in Richmond at as ear
ly a Gay as practicable.
5th Resolred, That said committee, OF
which the Chairman shall be the treasurer,
be empowered to employ legal counsel, to
issue circulars, and to collect contrlbu-
lions necessary to defray the expenses OF
correspondence and suits, and in the event
of a state convention of merchants to
represent the interests OF Staunton and
Augusta county merchants IN that con-
VentiOn.
9Th. RESOLVED, That the Senator and
81 afao
Augusta, are invited to address the cltl-
zens of the county on the subjects which
engaged the attention OF the Legislature
during it's recent session, and especially on
the subject of the tax bill.
18th. Resolued, That we appreciate the
efforts of those editors who have had the
independence to advocate our cause, and
in considerations of the fact that the
newspapers are largely sustained by the
advertisements, &C., OF the merchants, we
urge editors to use their talents and their
pens. as well as their scissors, in defend
ing our rights.
A note was read from Mrs. K. M, Kelley,
proprietor of millinery establishment, on
Main street, saying that while her sex
prohibited her from participating in the
meeting, she wished in this way to COM
municate her protest against the tax bill.
The Chairman appointed the following
committee under the resolutions: George
P. Baker, D. A. Kayser, M. E. Miller, P.
H. Trout and J. H. Blackley.
The meeting then adjourned.