Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-04-17
Suspension of Taxes by Freedmen's
Bureau

By the following telegraphic correspond
ence between Hon. Albert VOORHEES, and
the President of the United States, it will
be seen that the levying of taxes by the
Freedmen's Bureau, for the purposes Of
educa ton, has been suspended:
New ORLRAss. April 10, 1866.
| His Exes'lency, President Andrew johnson:
iSsr--It lie made my duty, as President of
| the Senate of this State, to transmit to you
| by telegraph copy of joint resolution
relative to the collection of taxes by the
Freedmen's Bureau, for the purposes of
education
"WHEREAs, We are informed that the
superintendent of the freedmen's bureau
for the State OF Louisiana is proceeding to
enforce the collection of tax levied by
military order in the State of Louisiana, to
refund moneys expended, or to provide
funds to be expended by the Federal au
thorities in the education of freedmen in
this State; and whereas, sufficient provis-
ion is made by the Constitution and laws
of the State without any resort to this ex-
traordinary and oppressive mode of taxa
ton in the present exhausted and impov-
erished condition of the country, and
whereas we are informed that the collec-
ton of this tax on former occasion was
suspended by Gen. Fullerton, when acting
as superintendent of freedmen for Loui-
siana, under instructions from President
johnson; therefore
"Be 1t reso1ued By tile Senate, The House Of
Representatives Of The General Assem6ly co,a-
CURING, That Gen. Howard general super
intendent Of the freedmen's bureau for the
United States, or, in his default the Presi-
dent of the United States, be respectfully
requested to suspend the further collection
OF said taxes, and to procure or make
revocation Of the order upon which they
rest; and that the president Of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Repre-.
communicate this resolution by telegraph |
to Washington"
The people of this State are in expecta-
ton that some relief will be extended to |
them IN this instance, more especially since |
your Excellency's proclamation declaring |
martial law at an end, and recognizing the |
complete restoration of peace. The fact |
that the freedmen's bureau is to be kept in
operation for the coming twelve months,
does not necessarily, we opine, authorize
the bureau to continue to exercise the high
prerogative of taxation, especially as it is
oelleved that this remedy is no more
needed for present purposes. In this con-
nectlon, may well refer to the present
status of freedmen under our State laws.
Practically, as we'll as in theory, they are
On the same footing of equality before the
with the whites. They can sue
md be sued, prosecute and be prosecuted,
and testify in all the courts, without dis
as to color. Indeed, such were
he privileges enjoyed by the free colored
population of Louisiana at all times pre-
7ious to the late war; and such, to-day,
're the rights recognized to all freedmen.
| remain, very respectfully. your most
'bedient servant, ALBERT VOORHEES,.
WAR DEPARTMENT, April IL, 1866.
% Albert VOORHEES,, ESQ.,:
Your telegram was referred to the Sec
etary of War, who reports that all orders
nd proceedings for the collection of taxes
y the freedmen's bureau for the purpose
f education, have been suspended.
ANDREW JOHNSON.