The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-09
THE TAX BILE,
OUR MERCHANTS RESOLVED TO RESIST
IT IN THE COURTS.
Meeting at Cid Market Hal, Last
Night.

A meeting Ct the merchants and business
men OF Richmond was held last night in ,hp
Otd Market Hall, and was organized with
ihr. a. I. Stokes as chairmau, and J. Pen
deton Rogers, Esq, as secretary.
d committee appointed ut preyious n,ec.
ing, through their chairman, Dir. Isaac
Davenport, JT., reported that they had con.
suited eminent counsel, and were advised
| That the provisions Of the tax bill respecting
tax on nerchants was as unconstiiu.ional a,
1t was unjust and oppressive. They sub
nltted to the meeting the following prea.n-
Bile and resolutions, which were read aud
adopted:
Whereas the general tax bill just imposed
by The Legislature OF Virginia at it's last ses-
SION contains features which we, as mer-
chants, manufacturers, and business men.
regard as unjust, unequal, and onerous upon
us aS class, and affecting most disasirou>Iy
the material growth OF the mercantile and
hIahuiacturing Interests, and, in fac. every
osher interest of the State; and, whereas we
nave s0lemnly protested against those sec.
t'oos OF the tax bill SO onerous to our inter
est, ana urged upon the Legislature to recall
the lax OIL before it WAS signed by the Gov
ernor and modify or amend the same and
whereas our protest, together with the pre-
test from our sister cities OF this State, met
with no favorable response or action on the
part OF tie Legislature; and whereas the
Constitution of Virginia expressly provides
that taxation shall be equal aod dd pa'orens,
after making certain specified exceptions !;
be it
Resolced. That in the opinion of this meet
ing the said tax bill is unconstitutional, un-
just, and ruinOuS 10 our interests.
Resolred, That we will resist with all
proper and legal means the payment Of the
very odious tax imposed upon us, and that
we will employ counsel to represent us in
bringing the cSnstiutionaliy of this tax bill
to speedy test before the highest courts of
the State.
ResolreG, That while re5retting the ne.
cessity of the above action on oar part, and
dcploring the existing law making such ac-
ton necessary, we again protest that we are
willing and ready to pay just proportion
of any lax that may be levied for the pur-
pose of sustaining the honor and credit o..
the State, yet we will no: submit to this un-
just and unequal taxation without appealing
to The courts.
Resolred, That we recommend to the
merchants and manufacturers of our sister
legal means this unequal and unjust taxa
ton.
ReSo!red, That Is. L. Elicit, A. S. Lee, and
+. +. Williams be appointed committee Of
correspondence TO communicate with mer-
chants and manufacturers of other cities and
ask their cooperation, and to give such par
ties in the country who may be unable to get
legal advice such information as to the man
ncr of proceeding as may be in the power of
the committee.
Resolced. That committee of twenty
five, to be composed Of the following gen
tlemen, be appointed to collect funds neces-
slEy to defray the expense OF carrying OUT
the foregoing resolutions. viz: MesSrs. Isaac
! Davenport, Jr., NJ. Milhser, John G. SPOTS,
j. P. Rogers, L. Powers, Charles f. Taylor,
Charles l.. Todd, ". Il. Tatum, w. Fl. Cor
| don, r. W. Powers, Charles A. Baldwin,
NJ. l.. StrauS, Junius A. Morris, c. z. Fox,
w. johnson, d. o. Davis, William Jenk-
inS, William Ira Smith, George Lee, Thomas
+. Minor, j. NJ. Higgins, J. P. Winston, S.
". B@nkenship, Henry c. Adams, and
Claiborne Watkins.
Mr. Isaac Davenport was elected treasurer
OF the collecting committee. About $1,000
, was at once subscribed by the merchants
, present.
The meeting then adjourned.