The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-04-24
Non Payment Of Taxes.

PAL ann Is TO refuse payment of an
more taxes. The paper is remarkabl
we'll written.
we, the undersigned citizens q
Louisiana, agree and mutually pledc
ourselves to pay. no taxes whateye,
until we possess a Government which
represents the people, and is admins
tered to promote their material welfare
In explanation of this (perhaps) ex
traordlnary proceeding, we make tn,
following statement, confidently an
pearlns in our justification to tn,
moral sense of the world.
Taxes, State or municipal, on rea
estate alone-whether improved o,
not-lave reached the unprecedented
figure of 81 per cent, being greatly il
excess of the whole yearly rental o.
all city property. This exaction has
been rendered still more oppressive by
an extravaganza assessment, which on
real estate is at least on an average
three times its marketable value. Tn.
deed a very large portion of city prop
erty is utterly unsaleable having M
exchangeable value whatever.
In addition, taxes are imposed unon
every profession, trade pursuit and
calling, upon incomes, furniture and
capital in trade; upon carts, wagons,
drays and all other vehicles. Besides
these, wharfage and market dues of
The most onerous character are exacted.
until the public burdens, crushing in
their effects, have diminished repro
duction, whilst trade, commerce, arri.
culture and manufacturing industry
are paralyzed, capital driven away.
and the whole community, in every
position OF life, are suffering under,
oppression, without parallel.
Our grievances are reduced still
more CALLING by the knowledge that
they were not imposed by representa-.
tives legally chosen, nor even for the
ostensl0le interests. of the people, but
openly and avowedIy for the purpose
OF enrlching an unprincipled executive
and an infamonsly corrupt ring of leg
lsIators and other public plunderers.
In further justification of our course.
we submit that it is an ihdisputable
truth, that all taxation in excess of
what is sufficient to defray the necessa-
~ expenses of a government exercis-
ing only its legitimate, functions. is
simply robbery and as such it is the
luty of the people to resist it with all
heir might, otherwise they make them
selves and their children the slaves Of
The money-lender.
1t is also a principle, coeval with
government that taxa
ion can only be rightfnlly imposed BY
he consent of the people taxed or their
egal representatives. These simple
nd acknowledged principles forming
he basis of our republican form of
have been grossly viola
ed, and have resulted in the almost
ntire prostration of our material in.
srests.
We cannot appeal to the ballot for
eilef, as the elective franchise has
cen virtually destroyed by an un-
rlnclpled and inscriptions executive:
OF to the Judiciary, as that is under i
is corrupt influence. Therefore We
re compelled, by a sense of self pre. ]
'rvatlon, to resort to the only means t
to save ourselves and the
hole people from utter financial ruin.
AS citizens of property, nothing but
overwhelming necessity could
rive us to this step. Knowing that e
e-must have some government, we
edge ourselves, until the people are
'operiy represented, to police the
ty, to support the Judiciary, and to v
fray all necessary expenses of gov
nment exercising its legitimate func- II
)ns. "
1t is understood that this agreement I"
all not be binding nor go into
feet, until it is subscribed to by two IL
irds Of those who pay taxes directly, Il
d who are citizens or residents of G.
sw Orleans. @,
All expenses incurred in resisting n
g public robbery, to be betrayed by te
prorata assessment on the SUBJ
'ioers, each contributing in the pro-
rtion OF his yearly taxes.-[New IN
leans Bee. sa
<~~- -- CT