New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-15
PROCLAMATION.
STATE OF IOrIs;sNA, }
Executive Department, :
New Orleans, March Is, 1873. J

STATE OF IorIs;sSA,j
Executive Department, :
rev Orleans, March Is, 1873
Whereas, Reliable information has reached ME
That certain evil disposed or misguided persons
propose TO combine, or have combined, into associ.
atlons TOR 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 it
from receiving, through the collection Of taxes.
the means for its support; anI
whereas, 1t is of the first importance 20 restore
the credit of the State and city, now impaired by
the revolutionary conduct of certain pretenders to
official station in this State by the defalcations
and derelCtiOns of duty of tax collectors under
the late State administration, by the acts OF the
Tax Resisting Association of New Orleans ian or.
sanlzation which has been in existence for more
than eighteen mOaths pas). and by other causes;
and
Whereas. Experience shows that FAX resisting
associations result in the Weather classes escap-
ing payment of their taxes while poorer men ale
not only compelled to pay their taxes but adGi'
tional penalties and costs and in addition thereto
much heavier rate of taxation than would be
requisite If those better able TO pay promptly met
their just obligations to the State; and
Whereas The delinquent tax lists of the State,
shown by the Auditors books amount 20 the
enormous sum of So 1871 ,32l 60-the proportion of
the city of New Orleans alone being 5 l472 225 95-
said taxes having accrued and fallen due under
the late ADM nstration and the greater portion of
them being due from those best able to pay; and
Whereas, 1t is but just and right that the burden
of supporting the State government should fall as
equitably possible, under the law, upon all
classes of the population, and that no one class
should be allowed to evade the payment of taxes,
either by comb nations and associations under the
guse of passive resistance. by any other Illegal
means or pretenses; and
Whereas 1t is made my imperative duty TO see
that the taxes duly and promptly collected,
and that all persons who cOnspire in any way
to injure the State credit. whether by passive or
active resistance. shall be prevented from such
lawful acts:
Now. therefore, I. William P. Kellogg. Governor
OF the State OF louisiana being DESTROYS of avoid
ing if possible. the prosecution of any Citizen and
being anxious TO restore the public credit. and to
inauSurate an administration of retrenchment and
reform in the financial affairs of the State and
city. and being determined. far is in my
power. to suppress all unlawful combinations
sOcatons and conspiracies for the illegal purposes
hereinbefore mentioned do hereby direct the tax
collectors in every part of the State to proceed
forthwith with the collection of the taxes
due the State. and to all legal
measures to insure obedience to this order;
and to tine end that the credit of the State
may be restored the much needed inter.
nal Improvements be prosecuted, and the burden
of supporting the government be more equitably
distributed than heretofore, and the present heavy
taxation be reduced. do hereby warn all citizens
to desst from taking part in any combination, as.
sOcaton or conspiracy having for its object the
resistance. passive otherwise of the collection
of the taxes due the State. and request them to
comply with the la W and with their duty, by the
prompt payment of their taxes: and do hereby di.
rect the Attorney General and the district aud
parish attorneys throughout the State to prosecute
without delay, civiliy. criminay and to the talest
extent of the law. all defaultinS tax collectors
who reported such, afte. the publication of
this proclamation.
Given under my hand and the seal OF the State
hereupto attached, this thirteenth day of March.
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sew
enty-three. and o. the independence of the United
States the ninety seventh.
WILLIAM y. KELLOGG
By the Governor:
p. G. DESLONDE.
Secretary of State. rllf; ~