The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-13
JOHN sROwN SMITH.
Content TO Stay In Jail Rather
Than Pay His Poll TAX.

man =
[Northampton (Mass.l Jetter1
The case of John Brown Smith, the
Belchertown doctor who has been lying
in Jail here for nearly ten months on ac-
count of his refusal to pay his polEtax,
is again brought into prominence by the
renewed efforts to secure his release. DR..
Smith is Canadian by birth, a middle
aged man, and for about three years
resident of Belchertown. He is an ''odd
stick" ana has spent the best part of his
life in aimless study and investigation.
A vegetarian in theory and practice, he
at first found prison fare rather disa-
greeable, but Sheriff Longfey kindly
adapted his fare to his rank, and he has
since got along very comfortably.
The town Of Belchertown has to pay
at the rate of 81 70 week for the
doctors support, making in all, thus far,
about $40. DR.. Smith himself says in
regard to his case:
| am not citizen of the United
States, and consequently am taxed with
on. representation, which is quite con-
trary to the genius of republican insti-
tutions. l believe in selfgovernment
through love, as against the old forms of
government by force, and as a natural con-
sequence, can not pay this tax without
violating my conscientious convictions.
l trust that the descendants of the Pill
grim Fathers still have left enough Of
respect for a mans honest convictions to
provide a means of escape, so that he
may possess those natural rights which
belong to every inhabitant of earth to
enjoy, including the liberty to breathe
pure air without being taxed for it,
especially in case like mine, where the
Collector refused to take the only kind
of property had been engaged in pro-
ducing while resident of Belchertown--
my textbook Of my improved method of
shorthand.
If nature qualities man to produce
books, where is the Justice in refusing
them when offered, and then depriving
him Of his personal liberty? DR.. Smith
says he has been better housed and fed
the past year than the majority Of the
voters in Belchertown, who have been
paying his board bills, and he is content
to spend the rest of his days in Jail
rather than give up the principle for
which he is contending.
A recent Convention of Liberallsts at
Boston passed the following resolution,
which has given Smith renewed deter
mination and Hrmness in his purpose:
Resolved, That in suffering eight
months imprisonment in the orthodox
republican helrof Northampton, rather
than pay his taxes, John Brown Smith
has shown discerning wisdom and irwin
cible courage, which place him high
among the worlds behefactors, and dis
close practical way to vanquish san
culinary forces without shedding innocent
or vicious blood"
The voters of Belchertown, at their
last town meeting, voted almost unani-
mously to keep Smith in Jail, but Calvin
Eaton, George B. Green and few Others
arguedthe foolishness Of incurring such a
needless bill of expense. Mr.. Green has
written a communication to a local pa
per, in which he strongly urges Smiths
release. His points are that Smith is not
malicious in his offense against the law,
but simply unwise; that the object sought
by his imprisonment has been gained,
namely: to discover whether poll-tax
is collectible, and to vindicate the law as
well as to show its defects, and further
confinement Of one who is sincere in.his
principles, however unsound they may
be, is persecution, and unworthy an en-.
lightened community in an enlightened
age. Another town meeting will be held
in week or two to consider the matter
further, but there is little reason to be-
lieve that vote can be passed to release
the obnoxious Smith.