Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-04

Special 10 the Register.
MARrIYsBURG, February 3.-Pursuant tC
a call of the members of two oranges in
Berkeley county, a large and enthusiastic
meeting Of the farmers OF the county was
held at the Court House in Martinsburg,
on Saturday, January 2, for the purpose oi
considering the best plan and most feasible
method of protecting agricultural inter
ests IN the matter of taxation. The circu'
! lar of instructions sent out By Auditor
Miller at the suggestion Of Governor Jack
son, in which the assessors were directed to
List Certain Farm Products
for taxation, which property has always
been locked upon as being exempt from
taxation las been the chief instrument in
fOIlentiug the present excitement. Ine
question of taxation hiss been for several
months ventilated through the various
paIsrs Uf the State, and the merits of II are
generally understood, but never until Sat
urGay have the people in public assernblage
met 10 protest against what they considered
su enCrOaChment Of their rights.
Tie meeting was called 10 order at
o'clock by W. T. Noll, who nominated
Alex. Clohsn, Republican, for chairman.
Mr.. c. vas duly elected, and Hon. w. I
Logan was made Secretary. Hon. c. j.
Faulkner then arose and explained the
OF ipcts of the meeting and moved the sp-
puintment of a committee on resolutions.
The chair appointed the following gentle
men. viz: W. w. Downey, Hon. c. J.
Faulkner, Z. J. Riner, Decatur Hedges and
J. 3. Small.
After Protraeted Conference
the committee finally, through their chair
man, Rev. w. W. Downey, reported the
argumentative and yOluminOus resolutions
given below, which were finally adopted
after speeches by the following gentlemen
viz: Hon. Z. J. Faulkner, Rev. w. w.
Downey, W. S. Henshaw and States At
toruey 2. A. Rohr5augh, a Republican OF
considerable prominence. Mr.. Faulkners
remarks were attentively listened to and
we're delivered with some OF the old time
fire. He felicitated himself upon being pre-
sent at such a gathering and had passed by
another engagement So as to be present
He approved the resolutions in toto, and
they would TO doubt reyeroerate through
the State and arouse the sentiment OF the
people. The taxing power in every free
government resides slOne IN
The Representatives OF the People.
II is denied 20 the executive and denied TO
the courts. The taxing power is vested
exclusively in that department called leg
islstuze. The legislature must ascertain
what property shall 1e taxed, and no
sUch power should be delegated
to any one. He drew a
picture Of the tax imposed upon the C. x
.. K. L. Company and said that there was
a very decided difference between case OF
that character, which merely affected little
eorporation, whilst this circular" en-
brsced and concerned four.tifths OF the
populatiou of this State. He demanded
for the people that they be permitted to
have fair fight for their rights before the
courts. The people must be represented
before the courts,
ID. fore They be Struck Down,
The attempt to draw agricultural pro-
ducts into the vortex of taxation because
one corporation has been drawn therein, is
an absurdity. lie believed that the Gov
eruur was honest in mis- convictions and no
doubt thinks himself right in his action
but he, the speaker thought that in this
matter the executive was wrong lie al
luGsd 10 the vast interests of agricultural
purSuits aud their importance, and de-
Glazed that to discourage agriculture would
ruin the State. He believed in sgitatlon
ana alluded 10 the sacred pool, which only
eNprted it's healing power when the angel $
wing II He'd its waters, so ii was with agi
tatiops among the people. He urged the
people 10 be Wide-awake and inquired II
,hty would enjoy their liberties and trans
init those liberties TO poSterlty.
Rev. W. ". DoHney Followed
in very interesting aud impressive ad
dress which, in its character. was very
conservative, except at times when the
reverend gentleman became thoroughly
sntbused with his theme. He proposed
no revolutionary measures, but was anxious
for the people 10 know what their rights
we're and how they could be protectei. /. He
explained the three departments OF gov
ernmeut, and argued that the Legislature
alone was the department, in whose prov,
inces alone was the question OF what should
not be taxed. He could not understand
how the decision Of the Court of Appeals,
regarding the imposition of taxes in the
ail-oad question, could justify the Gov
ernor in issuing such an order as the circu
lar addressed to the assessors. To follow
the Governors idea TO
Its Legitimate Conclusion
would necessitate the assessors to follow
people from store TO store and assess each
poper of pins, or paper Of needles, which
| may be purchased; aye, even assess every
| "chaw" Of tobacco which may be taken
| The present circular doesn't merely tai
! the farmers cspital. That would be a.
| riEht But confound il, Ii taxes hi!
earnings. He believed the Governor to b'
honest and patriotic, and hoped he'd revoke
| the order, and if not, he hoped the assess
ors would disregard the order.
w. 5. Henshsw was interested IN every
| thing which concerned Berkeley county
| He would not aSsail the Governor, nor diC
| he believe that he would withdraw an!
1 hn Ia "a
| duty to administer the laws as he ind!
them. He didn't believe that the taxing
| Of the railroad property was right.
uwas Violation of Contract.
| As for the farmers in this matter Of tax
ing personal property which should be ex
| empt his advice was for them not to Civ,
/ in their property. He didn't propose 4
| give in any which the 1881 law had ex
empted, and would cheerfully vote for tn
| resolutions.
X II. Rohrbsugh alluded to the fact tha
| Napoleon had made q mistake at Waterloo
sid in this case under consideration to day
il was very evident that another great maj
had made grave mistake, and that maj
was Governor Jackson. He alluded to tn
constitutional right Of the people to peti
ton or protest, and applauded the princi
! pie. He didn't think the assessors wer
bound by the circulars. As far as he wa
cor cerned he would not indict nor prose
cute an assessor for disregarding the order
He was opposed to
The Employ ment OF Lawyers.
to test this matter of taxation and iasistet
that il there was to be q fight on the aues
ton the State should make it and not tn
taxpayers. As for himself he intended Il
give IN his property according to The law o
1881, and emphaticslly advised others Il
do the same.
Hon. G. J. Faulkner again took the foo
at the conclusion of Mr.. Rohrbsugh's nd
dress and stated to the meeting that tn
question, as far as Berkeley county wa
concerned, had been settled by Mr.. Rohr
bsugb, the Law officer Of the State in thi
oounty. He has told the assessors that