Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-20
NECKLENBURG COUNTY.

BoYDToN, January IS, 1886.
Judge William Edmond Homes, our
recently elected county judge, held his
first court to-day. lie is young man
but an old lawyer, and presided with
dignity and ability.
There was large crowd in attend
ance, and the absorbing question was
the delinquent-tax sales. There were
numerous complaints Of injustice and
oppression as thick as the leaves in
Valambrosa. One man had bought |
land at commissioner sale few |
years ago for $3.50, and now taxes come
out against it since 1869 amounting to
s1O5.8l. Another had tract re-
turned delinquent for five years without
his kDowledge-the taxes amounting to
1888 6S-and there was not a year
" hen there were not good crops on the
place, out Of which the taxes could have |
been made. There are other tracts of
deceased owners, whose vouchers
are not attainable, but satisiac-
tory evidence can be produced Of pay
ment. Hon. W. I. Atkins stated that
he was counsel some four or five years
ago for a party, and was appointed
commissioner to sell twenty-five or
thirty small tracts Of land in this coun-
ty and Charlotte, and that commission
was appointed to examine the clerks
office Of both counties and ascertain
the taxes. The Auditor in Richmond
was written to, and he reported about
$3.50 due, and there now comes out
for delinquent taxes claim for State
and county taxes delinquent amounting
to over 5000.
Such are few of the grievances of
the people of this county. Like an
Alpine avalanche, threatening ruin in
its course, this iniquitous accumula-
ton of taxes presents itself Where is
the relief? Who is to blame but the
State and its legal agents: In many
cases the result comes from the igno-
rance, carelessness, or ineiliciency Of the
law officers, and is not the fault of the
present owners.
A large meeting of the citizens was
held in the courthouse, and Thomas
Williams, ESQ.,, was chosen chairman
and T. d. Jeiiress secretary. A COM
mittee Of five was appointed-namely.
Colonel Thomas F. Goode, w L. At
kins, DR.. S. &. Hines, A. W. Beadey,
DIR. John r. Leigh, and Charles I.
Reekes-to express the sense of the
people, and reported the following re-
solutions, and a committee was ap-
pointed, on motion Of Hon. W. I. At
kins, to appear before a commtte Of
the legislature
Whereas certain lands in Mecklen-
burg county have been advertised by
/ the treasurer thereof for sale for delin-
quent taxes, running from 1865 to
1888; and whereas large proportion
of these lands are owned by innocent
purchasers, who have held them from
five to twenty years without knowing,
OF even having the means of knowing,
that the Commonwealth held any
claims against them Cor taxes; and
whereas in many instances taxes
upon said lads were properly paid,
the evidence thereof through lapse of
time having been lost, while the fact
of payment on the part Of the officers
of the Commonwealth has not been re-
ported and in many other instances
taxes upon said lands have not been
collected even when collection was
possible, while years afterwards the
same lands have passed into hands Of
innocent purchasers, who had every
right in law and equity to presume that
the taxes upon them had been paid
/. Resolsed by the people Of Meek
lenburg in mass meeting assembled,
That the collection of said taxes by
the Commonwealth of Virginia would
be onerous, oppressive, and to the
highest degree unjust.
.. Resolred, That while we think it
right that every man should be COM
PEELED to bear his proportion Of the
burden Of the support of Government
by the payment of taxes, yet we think
that, in view Of the unsettled state of
affairs following the late war, and the
laches Of the Commonwealth in en-
forcing any rights she may have had
with respect to said delinquent taxes,
all claims for said taxes, certainly up to
1880, should be cancelled and annulled
and that in every case since 1880, where
the owner Of such delinquent lands was
an innocent purchaser, or had paid his
taxes, or had derived his lands from par
ties who had sufficient property out Of
which said taxes could have been made,
such parties shall be permitted to show
the facts and be acquitted.
3. Resoired, That we most earnestly
and solemnly protest against the propo-
sition to tax innocent parties, against
whom the Commonwealth may be as
serting a claim, with fees to the Com
monwealth's attorney and to the county
clerk for the privilege merely Of show
ing that they are not indebted to the
Commonwealth, as alleged.
4. Resolred, That the Common
wealth's attorney and county clerk for
the county of Mecklenburg are suffi-
GENTLY we'll paid to render without ex-
ira compensation any service that the
Commonwealth may require of them in
proceedings to collect delinquent taxes,
certainly as against innocent parties.
Each Of these officers receives from the
county for general services salary of
5000, exclusive Of other fees Of Office.
5. Resoised, That we invite the peo-
pie Of other counties to hold public
meetings, and to unite with us in an ap-
peal to the Legislature for relief.
Over 1900 tracts of land in this
county are advertised. About 1900
people are interested. Many tracts
were sold under bankrupt sales, when
there was no opportunity for an investi-
cation Of titles. The papers Of creditors
have been lost. The Legislature should
grant relief. In this county delinquent
taxes amount to nearly go, 900.
The people anxiously await the de-
cision Of the contested-election case of
Finch rs. Jones. As it is, with Jones
elected bv intimidation and bulidoziur.