The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-10-22

The solid Men of Rankin in
Council.
Their Protest Against the Grind
ing Tax Laws.

At meeting of the taxpayers OF
Rankin county, held In the Court house,
/ in Brandon, October 18th, 1874, the fol-
/ lowing proceedings were had:
/ On motion, Col. J. N. JAYNE was call
/ ed to the chair, and VIM. Buchanan was
chosen Secretary, with w. Ii. Jones, Asst
| Secretary.
/ Col. 4. J. Frantz moved that a COM
mittee of five be appointed to draft
resolutions expressive Of the sense of the
meeting. Motion was carried, and the
following named gentlemen appointed on
sail committed: Col. G.. w. Brooks,
Silas Tucker, j. B. Berry, Fl. P. Tinnin
and J. b. Lewis.
In the absence of the committee, Mr..
F. T. Gayden, Gen. Robt. Lowery, John
Russell, Esq, and Major John B. Lewis
addressed the meeting on the subject of
taxation.
The committee on resolutions through
their chairman, Col. Brooks, reported the
following, which were adopted:
Whereas, The right of the people Of
Mississippi to peaceab!y assemble them
selves together to consider of any subject
affecting their interest, being fully
guaranteed to them by the fundamental
law of our State, as an inalienable right
of free people aud whereas the tax
payers Of Rankin county, feeling and
knowing that they are living under the
load of heavy and burdens0me taxation,
cruelty and oppressively eXtorted from
them annually by the present rulers OF
Mississippi, have assembled themselves
together this day, the 18th OF October,
1874, in the Court house, in the town OF
Brandon, for the purpose of giving ex-
preston to their feelings on this vital
subject, and in accordance Herewith,
therefore do
Resolve /, That the taxes now levied
upon and collected from the people OF
Mississippi are far too great, excessive and
burdensOme, and i'll excess, as we believe,
of any public necessity under an honest
and economical administration of govern
ment.
%, That the undue proportion of these
taxes levied upon lands is unjust to the
body Of the people, who are farmers and
planters; and that it is a discrimination
against agriculture, the leading pursuit OF
our people, and the great substratum
which underlies every material interest in
Mississippi.
Sd. That the high taxes on lands repel
the immigration of farmers to our State
that it is driving many of our own citizens,
old and young, from the fields into feeble
and unsuccessful efforts to engage in other
pursuits for a living that it settles those
who are engaged in agriculture, and
makes the plans for each crop mere
temporary expediency, resulting in the
neglect of every improvement upon the |
farm, and in theneglect of provision crops |
and the raising Of stock, so necessary to |
the support Of people; that it Is driving |
our own citizens from our borders that it |
repels foreign and domestic capital from
investment in our rich and fertile lands |
that, in short, these high taxes are mill |
stones around our necks.
4th, That We organize ourselves into
TAX Payers League" with the following
objects and purposes in view, to-wit F: To
request our tellow-citizens throughout the
State to form similar organizations to
petition His ExceilencY the Governor TO
urge upon the next Legislature i'll his
annual message or otherwise, the reduc-
ton of the present number of saiaried
officers the reduction Of the various
salaries and fees Of public officers, and
other extrayagant expenditures, and the
reduction cf the present onerous rate Of
taxation now levied by law upon the
people; to memorabilia the next Legisla-
Lure through our Senators and Represen-
tatives on the same subject; and also to
our Board Of Supervisors for
1 large reduction of the various county {
ewes for county purposes. /
9th, That this organization. when {
appoint an executive commit
zee, consisting Of GWo members from each
beat, whose duties shall be more pafficu-
arly defined by the Bylaws and regula-
ions of this organization. i;
On motion Of II. S. Cole, Esq, a
committee on permanent organic ltion,
of one from each beat WAS E
viz: P. B. Berry, Ed Jack,
Henry McLaurin, Wilson Robbins and !
Lewis Moore. t
This committee, through its chairman, /
eported, recommending the following /
Is officers Of the Tax-Payers' League, t
,iz: c
Cor PreSident-J If Javna Cr