Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-18
THE sUCCULENT OYSTER.
THE HAMPTON CONTENTION.

As wired you on yesterday, the oys-
ter Convention was permanently organ
lied about s P. NJ, after which q recess
was taken to 8 O'Clock. The following
is list Of the delegates present, many
Of whom were colored:
Accomack Joseph L. Cooper, p. II.
Cronorton, g. w. Glenn, and Frank
Fletcher.
Elizabeth City: A. S. Segar, James
McMinamin, Sandy Parker, X. NJ.
Smith. L. Cary, Henry Armistead,
Colonel w. N. Armstrong, f.. s. Col
lier, A. G. Lee, TN. Brown, E. Tolle-
YER, and Cary HOpson.
Essex: Horace Jones, Curtis Peter
son, r. johnson, Henry Ruffin, and R.
NJ. Neale.
Gloucester W. W. Altman, John
Decker, R. G. Coleman, W. T. A. Her.
rem, I. NJ. Altman, and j. B. Donovan.
King and Queen: d. d. Hall.
Lancaster j. G. Ewall, j. @. Townes,
William Corbin, William Ates. Sol.
Griffin, l.. Fleming, L. Williams. j. r.
Mckenzie, Chandler Willing, George
Mercer. and William Candifi,.
Matthews James b. Thurston, S. +.
Miller, A. Buff, George Hunlcy, John
b. Donovan, William Machen, W. r.
Stokes, r. b. Hudgins, S. Smith, John
Spakes, and G. 7. Garrett.
Middlesex: X. McCsndlish, G. S.
Healy, James Rapleigh. Ralph Cooker,
j. c. Parron, w. b. Sadler, W. H..
Curtis, James Boyd, B. b. Chewing,
A. I. Sable, p. C.. Jones, W. II. Nor
ton, F. II. Blackburn, James Dillon.
Cary Burroughs, II. b. Bundy. W. W.
Pitt, and William Washington.
Northumberland: j. A. Russell.
Norfolk II. Z. Erby, j. Bunting,
II. Parker, L. Ewall, A. Blair, j. C..
Bunting, j. Ashen, and II. Ivy.
Nansemond John W. Kay and H..
L. Bush.
Warwick William j. Fitchett, IL.
Scriminger. John A. Young, NJ. d.
Wright, and NJ. 7. Hughes.
York: j. C. Wainwright, X. IL.
Howard. James Y. Slait, George w.
Amery, 4. j. Rollins, and G. I. Rol-
Inns.
The Convention was called to order
at $50 p. NJ, and as the Committee
on Resolutions were not ready to re-
port DR.. R. A. Wise, representative
from this district, was, on motion, In
vited to address the assemblage. lie
spoke for short while, informing his
audience that he came to be instructed
on the oyster question, and whatever
they would agree upon he would labor
to have done.
The Committee on Resolutions sub
mitted their report through Mr.. j. b.
Donovan, of Matthews, chairman. Each
resolution was voted upon as read. and
adopted. The report was as follows
Rcsolred. l. That in the opinion Of this
| convention the public waters ana the pup
lie bottoms are not the absolute property O
| the Commonwealth, as bas oeen errone
| ously supposed, but are held by the Com
monwealth In trust for the preservation o.
| the public rights OF navigation and nshing
| for the use OF the people and while II Is the
| duty OF the Legislature TO enact all whoie
| some laws to foster and protect the public
Interests. the right to catch floating and
| shell fish and plant oysters in the public
waters Is a part of the blrthrlght or our PEG
| pie, derived from the common law
confirmed by repeated legislative en-
tanning TO each Individual citizen
| which 10 Is not IN the power of the Legisla
| ture to abridge or destroy. That we regarC
| the renting out of the public bottoms by
the State, when are held by the state only
| as trustee for the benefit OF the people, as g
| denial of the rights of our people In tht
| public waters. II the Commonwe@ I'm msA
parcel out the planting-grounds L. maj
| Viduals, any amount or rent may De De
| mapded or the whole OF the public bot
| IONS, upon which many OF our people arr
! dependent for their subsistence, may o'
| sold TO mammoth corporations TO the grea
| injury and oppression or our people. Tna
we therefore recommend that sections
| and OF chapter 62 OF the Code o. virgins
| Of 1850 be e.enacted.
| Q That as citizens of Virginia, bearing
| our due proportion OF the public burdens
| and paying our due proportion OF the pun
| lie debt Ga debt for the most part incurred
| for internal improvements in portions 81
| this State remote from us, IN which
eur people never have had any Ill
| rect INTEREST,", we are entitled 10 nave oui
| rights ana the pubic property III AhC W y
ter. beds protected by the laws OF the Com
| monweaith, without having the oyster i'll
dustry especially taxed and the same pro
| perty subjected TO several taxes for the spe
cial protection OF our peculiar rights. Taxa
| ton should be equal and uniform, ana al
| property taxed IN proportion 10 It's value
| not only planted oysters and the sale OF al
oysters being taxed, but also all boats, yes
sells. and other property employed In th'
| business and All wealth produced from IL a
| rol ha Al N neQh NaInp OF real estate III
| consequence Of the facilities Afforded by u
| proximity to the public bottoms. Any al
| ditIonal taxation Is burdensome, oppressive
| and unconstitutional.
This second resolution caused quit
spirited debate between Messrs
Garrett, McCandlish, Donovan, AM
others on the one side, and MeSsrs
Hughes and Collier on the other. Mr.
Hughes opposed it earnestly, and toll
the Convention it was going too far
that if they asked too much Of tn
Legislature its work would ayai
nothing. 1t was finally adopted on
roll-call by a vote Of 50 to Ia.
3. That we regard the tax upon steamhoa'
and masters OF vessels engaged IN buvin
4
| unjust TO them, but, inasmuch as 10 give
TO those who obtain the licenses prescribe
a monopoly, and thereby prevent compet
ton In the trade, as burdensome TO thos
whose necessities compel them to sell a
home instead of shipping to market. an
| onerous TO the tongman, because experl
| ence has shown that the tax has fallen upo
| him and not on consumers; and that I'M
| is In effect a t0nnage-taN similar 10 Una
prescribed by the act OF March 3. 1S68-de
| clared unconstitutional by the Supre m
court Of Appeals OF Virginia.; resolved
therefore. that In the opinion OF this cor
| yention the seth and 40th sections OF th
| act OF the General Assembly approve
| March 4. 1884. should he repealed forth
with and all penalties incurred for the
| violation RENTED.
| A. That we regard the tax now impose
upon those engaged in catching oyster
| with toDgs for sale as unconstitutional
first. because II imposes tax for the priv
| lege OF catching oysters for sale before tn
| oysters are either caught or sold; seconC
| because the tax Is required to be paid qua
| ierly in advance, and not in the sales eac
| wear: third, because 10 Is a plain viOlatio
of the constitutional provision requirtn
| uniformity OF taxation.
| g. That section Is OF the act OF March
! 1884, be amended 30 as to require all met
| sures, As now provided by law. TO be mad
Of straight slaves and not convex.
Mr.. Donovan also offered the follow
ing: