New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-18
Communicated
A Judicious and WeIl-Timed Suggestion

In the inaugural message of Governor
Kellogg occurs the following significant
paragraph, which will bear many repeti-
tions:
There is no subject of greater moment to
the people of this State than the prosperity
of the city OF New Orleans. AS the me
tropolis of the State, the entrepot of the
valley of the Mississippi, her interests are
the interests of the State. What she most
needs are railroad facilities which will
place her in closer relations with the vast
trade of Texas, as we'll as the trade of the
distant portions of orr own State, to which
she is bv right entitled. This great pur-
pose it will be the duty of the Legislature
60 foster and encourage. Prompt action
should also be taken to remove from the
city many oppressive burdens imposed upon
her by the legislation Of the past. The city
should have the control of her own finances,
and should not be compelled, as she now is
by legislative enactments, to incur annually
heavy and unnecessary expenditures, much
beyond her current resources.
New Orleans pays fve-eighths OF the cost
of the State government and Of the interest
on the State debt, besides the expense of
her own municipal government and interest
on the city debt Sixty-fve per cent of all
the assessed property in Louisiana is stu
ated in New Orleans. Every section of the
State is connected with the city and bene-
fitted by her prosperity, as well as injured
by her msfortuneg. But legislators from
CaddO. Carroll, Livingston or Calcasieu
can not know the wants of the city as they
are known to her own people and repre-
sentatives. The people of New Orleans are
the best able to judge of the amount they
need and of the amount they can conve-
niently collect for local purposes. Peculiar
local wants and an exclusive knowledge Of
the nature and extent of such wants, as
well as Of their means and resources, con-
stitute the essence and soul of the chartered
franchises granted to cities in all times and
countries These franchises, growing out
of necessities, though very often enlarged
to meet peculiar requirements, or modified
az to details, are always held sacred by
wise lawmakers and enlightened rulers.
None but tyrants, drunk with pride, power,
avarice and blood, take away civic rights
and rob ancient corporations OF their treas
ure and their cherished privileges.
Forming an essential part of the State,
New Orleans must bear a share OF the pu0-
lie burden of State government and partlcl-
pate in like proportion in its benefits. Our
citizens have no disposition to eyade such
duty nor to grunble at any fair measure OF
State taxation when revenues are honestly
and judiciou6ly used. But for local pur-
poses peculiar to cities, her charter should
enable her to provide means, to limit and
regulate the amount collected and to pre-
scribe the method of employing them.
Hence Jaws for New Orleans should he made
by the General Assembly only in obedience
to the known will of her citizens; only at
the Se9uest and suggestion of her leading
men and trusted representatives. only to
help her in her own chosen way, only TO
promote her prosperity, only to add to her
stability and enlarge all her resources.
Ancient privileges and franchises estab
lished by solemn Legislative covenant Sane
toned by old customs and regulated by ne
cessity and equity, become vested rights OF
all citizens, entering into the value OF all
real property and attaching to every Rpe-
cies OF business. The citizens of New or.
leans are joint owners OF that credit
in financial circles which benefits all.
It 10 beyond the lawful sphere OF
our Legislature 60 damage such
credit They are joint heirs of an
inheritance from wise. capable and honor
able rulers; the Legislature has, no sight
to impair that inheritance. They are joint
proprietors OF an honorable reputation
which attracts capital amt enlarges buss
ness: the Legislature has no shadow of
right 20 Io aught that may injure such
reputation. New Orleans has acquired by
prescription a right 80 enjoy franchises
older than an average lifetime, and never
disputed in the course Of fifty years of
friendly legislation these franchises should
be fully restored now and ever afJerward
be eft untouched CITIZEN.