Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-10-04

to Charles his crown and his head.
The Constitution says that taxation
shall be equal and uniform through
out the State, aud both real and
personal shall be taxed according to
its value as directed aud ascertained
by law. The Legislature must di-
rect and affix the tax before it can be
collected. If left to the assessors,
some might say that the wearing
apparel of your wives is taxable !;
some this and others that. True, the
Supreme Court has declared the G..
& 0. r. r. taxable property, yet it is
more than idle, it is absurd, to call
that adjudication of the law of GO,
making it basis for the Governor
to apply to agricultural products.
There is no similarity-none what
ever. The agricultural interests
of the State differ essentially from
the other resources, embracing
four fifths of the property; before
the peoples rights are trampled
upon there should be some warrant
of law for it, but to undertake to run
all the agricultural interests into the
vortex of taxation because Of q sin.
gle railroad is found to be taxable,
is an outrage that should not for a
moment be considered. | have no
doubt the Governor thought he was
doing right, but certainly the in
structions declared by letter issued
in Feb, 1888, was assumption of
legislative power Ill repeating law
in force for many years and substi.
tuting another that was unheard Of
and never existed.
AS people, we can only prevent
this injustice by agitation. The
stagnant waters of the pool Of Beth
sada never possessed any healing
virtues until moved by the wings of
an angel; so it is only by agitation
we can obtain our rights and enjoy
liberty and prosperity.
They tax your land which is your
capital, they tax your stock, your
machinery, and not content they
would tax your earnings and your
| living, while the merchant and the
manufacturer has nothing taxed but
his capital. Gentlemen, what could
be more unjusts 1t is usurpation
of power and a high-handed injus-
tice that to say the least is enor-
nous. 1t was not found necessary
to tax agricultural products during
the trying times of '63 when the
State was in It's infancy, why now
should an edict 60 forth compelling
the people of our State to submit to
what never before was required in
her dark days of trial and adversely.
The subject is one that is going to
agitate the minds of the people of
w. Va, and we recommend that
you will elect able representatives to
the next Legislature to secure farm
ers their rights By wise and judi
cious legislation. | am glad to see
the farmers turn out in such num-
bers. Agriculture is the life-blood
of a nation destroy it and your
destruction will be great-the source
of the country's greatness and pros
perity will be gone forever.
Mr.. w. w. Downey made very
vigorous and practical address. He
showed the unjustness and unfair
ness of the Instructions and
claimed that the citizens had right
to oppose such injustice and oppres-
sion. The capital Of the merchant
and manufacturer was taxed, not
their products and what they have
to live on; the farmers capital was
not only taxed, but his stock and
machinery, the hay and feed lie has
to keep them, and the provisions for
his family, everything doubly taxed.
He denounced the result of the
Governors action as an outrage and
all imposition not to be submitted
to. He didn't think the Governor
was justified by law, and hoped he
would rescind his order. The tax
payers had right to demand relief,
and it was their duty to seek re-
dress now and elect such representa-
tives as would understand their
interests and protect the same.
Mr.. Henshaw responded to the
call because lie was more largely
interested in agriculture than any
other pursuit He would not assail
the GOvernor-believed he had made
a mistake in his instructions to as
SCISSORS bat thought he had acted
from honest motives and would not
withdraw the Instructions. He took
issue with Mr.. Faulkner because the
constitution of this State did not
give the legislature the power TO
exempt any property from taxation.
except only such as was specially
mentioned in art. 10, sec. of the
i Cnn ubilo fba Va EouSfitufion af