New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-10


Wbereas Reliabls information has reached ne
that certain evil disposed or misguided persons
propose TO combine or have combined, into assoc
ations for the purpose of resisting the payment Of
taxes due the State with the avowed object OF
bringing the State government into disrepute, and
with the further avowed evil purpose OF overthrow
ing the said State government, by preventing -
from receiving, through the collection OF taxes
the means for its support; and
Whereas 1t is of the first import ance to restore
the credit of the State and city, now impaired BY
the revolutionary conduct of certin pretenoers 70
official station in this State by the defalcatons
and derelictions of duty of tax collectors under
the late State administration, by the acts OF the
Tax Resisting Association of New Orleans tan Or
ganlzation which has been in existence for more
than eighteen months past), and by other Causes
and
Whereas. Experience shows that tax resisting
associations result in the weslthier classes escap
ing payment of their taxes, while poorer men are
not only compelled to pay their taxes but sdd'
toual penalties and costs and in addition thereto
q much heavier rate of taxation than would be
requisite if those better able TO pay promptly met
their lust obligations to the State and
Ubsreas. The delinquent tax lists of the State.
aa sho Wn by the Auditors books, amount 70 the
enormous sum of 81, ,33l ,32l 6o-the proportion Of
the city Of New Orleans alone being i l,4'z,IIS S-"
said taxes having accrued and fallen due UNDER
the late adm nistration and the greater portion ct
them being due from those best able 30 pay; and
Whereas 1t is but just and right that the burden
of supporting the State government should fall "s
eouitably as possible, under the law, upon al
classes of the population and that no one cLasa
should be allowed te evade the payment OF taxes.
either by comb nations and associations under The
guise Of passive resistance, by any other Illegal
means pTetenses; and
Whereas, 1t ID made my imperative dnty 10 see
that the taxes are duly and promptly cohecteo'
and that all persons who conspire in any way
to injure the State credit whether by passive or
active resistance shal! be prevented from su'h u'
lawful acts;
Now, therefore, I, William P. Kellogg. Governor
Of the State of louisiana being desirous o: avoid
ing if possible the prosecution OF any citizen anti
being anxious TO restore the public credit. and 70
inaugurate an administration OF oGretrenchment and
reform in the financial affairs Of the State ab6
city, and being determined. far as IS IN my
power. to suppress all unlawful combinations. as'
sociations and conspracirs for the illegal purposes
bereinbefore mentioned do hereby direct the tax
collectors IN every part OF the State TO proceed
forthwith with the collection OF tho ta1eS
due the State, and TO use al FsA
measures to insure obedience to this order:
and TO the end that the credit OF the state
may be restored, the much needed inter-
nal i'm mprovements be prosecuted. and the burden
OF supporting the government be more egultaDly
distributed than heretofore and the present heavy
taxation be duced do hereby warn all citiLenn
to desist from taking part in any combination. as
sociation or conspiracy having for its object the
reslstauce, passive or otherwise of the collection
of the taxes due the State. and request them &c
comply with the la W and with their duty. oy the
prompt payment of their taxes; and do hereby O..
rect the Attorney General and the district and
parish attorneys throughout the State I" prosecute
without delay. civiliy. crmnally and to the faIess
extent of the law. all detaultins tax coiectors
Who are rep Ored as euch. after the publication os
this proclamation.
Given under my hand and the seal Of the State
hereunto attached this thirteenth day OF March,
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and seV
enty-three. and Of the independence Of the United
States the nnety.seventh.
WILLIAM 2. KELLOGG.
By the Governor:
p. q. DESLONDB,
Secretary of state. fh'S ~