New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-05
TAXATION.

EDITOR REPUBLIoAN:
Being close observer of the actions Of
the Legislature at present in session can
see no grounds whereby the honest masses
OF the people would be justified in fearing
that they are to be taxed OF burdened by
additional State taxation. Ihave remarked
the tone Of the leading Democratic papers
of this city, and therein discover that they
pretend to fear greatly the additional
probable taxes, which they claim will have
to be imposed in order to support what
they term "the printing iniquity" and other
"outrages.' The people are told that the
printing bill is very grave outrage upon
their rights, but Of the truth of that state
ment l can assure you that have the
gravest doubts. The outrage, suppose,
consists in the undivided patronage Of the
State being given to one Journal, whereas I
believe 1t has usually been the custom to
divide it among two or three journals.
If therein consists the outrage, / am of the
impression that the great mass of the peo-
pie care but very little. The people
OF Louisiana are proverbial for their
credulity, but / doubt exceedingly that
they are disposed to believe that their
property is going TO be taxed SO much
more to support the simple printing bill,
the registration bill, or the militia bill
however much they may consider them of
partisan nature. The people know, or
are commencing to know and to suspect
very strongly, that their principal danger
comes from entirely different sources.
They commence to believe that some of
their own patriotic and self sacrificing citi-
zens are, with eommendable zeal, endeayor-
ing to get through certain tax bills in
order, as matter of course TO raise State
and city credit to par, and at the same
time realize small remuneration from the
securities which they may have bought at
thirty or forty per cent discount As
matter Of course these patriots do not
care that an additional tax of
ten per cent be imposed, for is
it not done to raise State credit
Snpposing the people do declaim against
this additional tax, what viii ii all amount
TO They will simply be told that this
additional tax is the natural result Of hav-
ing passed aprinting bill and other enor-
mites. This information will be furnished
the taxpayer gratis, but he will never be
told the amount Of wire pulling that the
patriotic note and bond holders had re.
source 10 in order to elevate State credit
Such undiluted patriotism and love Of
country is certainly very gratifying in this
very selfish age. II fortune smiles upon
lneir efforts 10 improve State credit and |
NJ their own pockeis at the same time, why |
should they desire the people to believe |
.Las .patit was ior the support Of Radicalism |
that the aforesaid taxes we're levied I |
These same patriots do not wish people |
70 believe thatthey have any collusion with
Radicals; certainly not, Tor they are known |
as honorary members Of some Dem
ocrasic club, and they also sub.
scribe to the support Of some negro
Democratic club, in order to provide he |
aforesaid poor colored mem With suitable i
Chinese lanterns. They want the vote Of |
svery negro man in order to drive out Or \
Ibe Legislature and State Offices the men
hat are expressing their tello w-citizens by
iaxation for the support and perpetuatlon
Df Radicalisn.
The val is too easily seen through.