, 1880-01-08
John Brown Smiths Martyrdom


The case of John Brown Smith, the
Belchertown doctor who has been lying
in Jail at Northampton, Mass, for near
ly 10 months on account of his refusal
to pay his poll-tax is again brought into
prominence by the renewed efforts to
secure his release. DR.. Smith is Can
adian by birth, middle-aged man, and
for about three years resident Of Bel
chertown. He is an "odd stick" and
has spent the best part of his life in
aimless study and investigation. A veg
etarian in theory and practice, he at
first found prison fare rather disagree
able, but Sheriff Longley 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
ST. rs a week for the Doctors support,
making in all, thus far, about $40. DIR.
DR.. Smith himself says, in regard to his
case: 81 am not citizen of the United
States, and consequently am taxed with
misrepresentation, which is quite con-
trary to the genius of republican insti-
tutions. 1 belive in self-government
through love as against the old forms Of
government by force, and as a natural
consequence cannot pay this tax with
out violating my conscientious convic-
tions. | trust that the descendants Of
the Pilgrim Fathersstill have left enough
of respect for mans honest convictions
to provide 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, es
pecially in a case like mine, where the
Collector refused to take the only kind
Of property | had been engaged in produc-
ing while resident of Belchertown-
my textbook or my improved method of
short hand. If nature qualities man
to produce books, where is the justice in
refusing them when offered, and then
depriving him of his personal liberty 2"
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 Liberalists at
Boston passed the following resolution,
which has given Smith renewed deter
mination and firmness in his purpose:
Resolved, That in suffering eight
months imprisonment in the orthodox
Republican hell of Northampton, rather
than pay his taxes, John Brown Smith
has shown discerning wisdom and irwin
chile courage, which place him high
among the worlds benefactors, and dis
close practical way to vanquish SAN
culinary forces without shedding inpo-
cent or vicious blood. $
The voters OF Belchertown, at their
last town meeting, voted almost unani-
mously to keep Smith in Jail, but Calvin
Eaton, Geo. b. Green, and few Others
argue the foolishness of incurring such
a needless bill Of expense Mr.. Green
has written communication to local
paper, 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 collectable, and to vindicate
the law as well as to show its defects,
and further confinement of one who is
sincere in his principles, however un-
sound they may be, is persecution and
unworthy an enlightened 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 believe that vote can
be passed to release the obnoxious Smith.
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