The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-05-31
Proceedings of the Mass Meeting

At a called m Getting of the citizens of
the Parish of Rapides, in the Town of
Alexandria, on the 9th day of May, to
consider what steps should be taken to
resist the collection of the unjust and
onerous taxes imposed upon the people
by the Legislature of Louisiana,
On motion of Colonel p. Clarke, Mr..
r. G. Hynson was appointed Presi-
dent, and Messrs. Josiah Chambers
and j. S. Butler Vice-Presidents of the
meeting.
On further motion F. Seip and w. s..
Bringhurst were appointed Secretaries.
A motion being made that the chair
appoint Committee of three to draft
resolutions, the chair appointed as such
Committee Colonel =. Clarke, chair
man, Judge T. C. Manning and Captain
j. G.. White.
In the absence of the Committee the
meeting was, upon invitation, ably and
eloquentiy addressed by Judge Ryan
land w. A. Seay, Esq, and afterwards
by Judge Manning, of the Committee.
The chairman Of the Committee on
Resolutions having reported, the fol-
lowing resolutions were read and on
motion unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the taxation of LOU
isiana has reached such an amount as
to be confiscation in disguise, and is
blighting with mildew and decay eve
~ department of business.
Resolved, That this taxation is not
the result of the necessary expenses of
the administration of the public af-
fairs, or for any purposes of public i'm
provement, but the result of gross po-
litical venality, as shown by the sud-
den fortunes of many members of the
Legislature, of huge monopolies and
by the resistance of the Auditor of
Public Accounts to many of the illegal
appropriations of the last Legislature.
Resolved Further, That for the pur-
pose of making an organized effort to
resist the collection of illegal and I'M
constitutional taxes now imposed upon
the people of this State, this meeting
now suggest to their fellow citizens
throughout the State, that Conven-
ton OF the tax payers of Louisiana be
held in the City of New Orleans on the
second Saturday of July next, and that
this Convention consider and adopt
such organization and measures as will
most effectually secure a relief from
the unjust, illegal and oppressive taxa
ton now resting so burdensomely upon
the land, and recommend to the tax
payers such future action as may
shield them against the wrongs of the
present corrupt and venal govern
ment.
On motion of Colonel Clarke the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That Committee of sew
en- be appointed by the chairman of
this meeting, representing as far as
practicable every interest affected by
the CALLING taxation to which we are
subjected, and from every part of the
Parish.
The chair appointed the following
named gentlemen as the Committee of
seven: James G.. White, Colonel Pow
hatan Clarke, James C. Wise, Josiah
Chambers, John w. Prescott, Lewis
Texada and James S. Fish.
That this Committee shall appoint
its own Chairman, Secretary and Treas
urer, and shall have it's domicil at
Alexandria.
That they shall have an Executive
Committee Of as many members as they
may deem necessary for the transac-
| ton of business.
That this Committee shall meet as
soon as convenient after the adjourn
ment of this meeting, and that they
shall obtain a list Of the names of those
who have not paid the tax claimed as
due for 1866, 1867 and 1868; provided
that no notice be taken of the names of
those whose taxes do not amount in
full to ten dollars for any one of the
years named.
And further, That the Committee
shall hold these lists as means of pro-
viding funds in a manner and for a
purpose hereinafter named.
And be it further Resolved, That
this Committee be instructed to re-
quest one of the members of the bar to
become the Attorney of the tax payers
of this Parish, who shall at once pro-
coed to contest the legality of all taxes,
State or Parish, claimed to be due
by us.
Further Resolved, That the before
named Committee shall arrange with
the Attorney so appointed for the fees
charged by him for his services, as well
as for all expenses attening the matter
involved.
And further, That by the LIST of Jan
uary, 1872, or as soon thereafter as pos
Sihfa hut not eon,,or %bo,, Tho 1st To-,