New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-03
ouEsTrnNrNa ar RANDOM.


to enlighten those who are so far benighted
that they take an interest in what ''In-
quirer' desires to know.
Taxation and representation are not
necessarily inseparable, but in our form
Of government they are assumed to be.
Therefore, every man is represented in the
Legislature Of the State and in the Coun-
ell Of the city, as these bodies have been
constituted for the last four years, by
parties who were either directly elected by
the people or by their chosen agents. In
the City Council of New Orleans three of
the Administrators and the Mayor were
chosen at the election last year, and four
Administrators were chosen by the repre-
sentatlves of the people 1t is not neces-
sary that the people should choose all
their officers in order to satisfy the de-
mand for a representative government,
else we should have to elect the President,
the Supreme Judges, foreign ministers,
postmasters, collectors Of the customs, and
every other public agent by direct bal
lot No party has yet demanded the en-
largement Of the rule to this extent, and
yet it has never been affirmed that we have
existed SO long as a non-representative
republic.
AS to who the present Administrators
represent, that is easily answered. Four
of them personate the people as much as
the supreme judges do, having been
chosen in the same way, while three Of
them persOnate the people directly, having
been chosen directly by the votes of the
city.
All taxation in excess of what is neces-
sary to defray the expenses of the city is
not robbery, for if it is not required it re-
mains in the custody of the public Treas
urer for the benefit Of the people, and is,
therefore, their own property, to be done
with as they may direct. If it is expend-
ed it was probably considered necessary.
The people should take every means to
protect themselves from robbery, and one
of the ways to do this is to excuse the au-
thor Of such foolish questions as Inquirer
propounds from having anything to do |
with their money, for a fool never knows
how to guard a trust
The Legislature has no right to seize
upon private property without making
compensation therefor. This is an article
Of the constitution, and no such thing has
ever been done.
Property is valued for taxation accord
ing to the sworn report of three disinter-
ested citizens as to its worth A watch
that pays no revenue to its owner, a piano
that is a source of amusement, n horse
and carriage that are matters of expense,
vacant lands held for rise in the market,
houses that the landlord obstinately de-
mands top much rent for, are not exempt
from taxation because they yield no reve-
lue. The rule is that all this property is
taxed because it all requires protection.
1t might be considered that that tax
alton which consumed all the revenues of
al that property in the State amounts to
cOnfcation, but as there is no such condi-
ton Of affairs existent in this country, we
nave nothing to do with any question of
his sort. If the taxes were as excessive
Is this suggestion would imply they were,
he auctioneers would be forced to close
heir offices, for no man would buy real
state.
There is a point at which the people |
nay feel justified in forcibly resisting the
aX collector, but we can not see how we
an raise such a question, since we, the
eople, make the government that i'm
oses the taxes. The remedy is in our own t
ands, to elect men to the Legislature who t
'lll abolish the taxes altogether. Until {
'e have tried our legal remedy Of abating t
lxation by voting not to impose any, S
-bich We can do at any time, it is all
onsense to talk about taking up arms 2
5ainst an officer who is simply executing c
ar own commands. {
There can be no public prosperity dis V
with the prosperity of the in t
lvldual members of the community, and '
Walton never limited that Il
ere could be. There may be a rich and Il
l abundant prosperity in the same State p
here there are beggars, sluggards, is
upids, drunkards, misanthropes and ii
COTS This is our state at present. u
echanics and laborers are well paid, II
Oney draws remunerative interest, S
'operty is profitable as a general thing, Il
e crops are good and the farmers are p
rifty. Mr.. Walton said truly that the b
ate could be prosperous, and yet hold al
thin her borders siatterns and woe Ell
'gones that never will be better off than
ey are. W
The city will lose by the depreciation of p1
4 credit IN proportion to the discount G
l her obligations In fact, she will lose Ii,
greater proportion for the uncertainty ga
ii nave to be counted in. If she buys a Of
Dund of nails at ten cents the dealer will 81
large fifteen cents if he knows he is TO be in
.id IN a certificate that he can only sell hi
r seventy cents. If she proposes to re- al
il bridge, or build a wharf, OF pave a CO
rect, the contractor will estimate so as pa
cover the known discount on the war be
hts or bonds in which he is to be paid. til
as is plain. ~
We have answered all the general ques- ca
,ns which Inquirer" has propounded to at