The Donaldsonville chief., 1873-04-19
Proclamation by the Governor.

Proclamation by the Governor.
Whereas, reliable information has
reached me that certain evil disposed
or misguided persons propose to COM
bine, or have combined, into associa-
tions, 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 overthrowing the said State gov
eminent, by preventing it from receiv
ing, through the collection Of taxes,
the means for its support; and
Whereas, It is of the first impor-
tance to restore the credit Of the State
and city, now impaired by the revo-
lutionary conduct Of certain preten-
ders to official station in this State,
by the defalcations and derelictions
Of duty of tax collectors under the
late State Administration, by the acts
Of the Tax Resisting Association Of
New Orleans, IAN organization 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
wealt}'ier classes escaping payment of
their taxes, while poorer men are not
only compelled to pay their taxes,
but additional penalties and costs,
aDd in addition thereto much heavier
rate Of taxation than would be re-
quisite if those better able to pay
promptly met their just obligations to
the State; and
Whereas, the delinquent tax lists
Of this State, as shown by the Audi
tors books, amount to the enormous
sum Of 81 1891 ,:2l 6O-the proportion
of the city Of New Orleans alone being
81 ,492 ,255 S5-said taxes having ac-
crued and fallen due under the late
administration, and the greater portion
of them being due from those best
able to pay; and
Whereas, it is but just and ii ght
that the burden of supporting the State
government should fall as equitably
as 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 10y COM
binations and associations under the
guise Of passive resistance, or by any
other illegal means or pretences and
Whereas, it is made my imperative
duty to see that the taxes are duly and
promptly collected, and that all per-
sons who conspire in any way to in
.jure the State credit, whether by pas
sive or active resistance, shall be pre-
vented from such unlawful acts;
Now, therefore, |, William =. kel-
logg, Governor Of the State Of Louis
lana, being desirous Of avoiding, if
possible, the prosecution Of any citi-
zen. and being anxious to restore the
public credit, and to inaugurate an
administration of retrenchment and
reform in the financial affairs Of the
State and city, and being determined,
as far as in my power, to. 0.slppress all
unlawful combinations, associations
and conspiracies for the illegal pur-
poses hereinbefoIe 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 use all
legal measures to insure obedience to
this order; and to the end that the
credit Of the State may be restored;
the much needed internal improve
mcnts be prosecuted, and the burden
Of supporting the government be more
distributed than heretofore,
and the present heavy taxation be re-
duced, do hereby warn all citizens
to desist from taking part in any com
association or conspiracy
having for its object the resistance,
passive or otherwise, Of the collection
Of the taxes due the State, and request
them to comply with the law and with
their duty, by the prompt payment
,f their taxes, and do hereby direct
The Attorney General and the district
md parish attorneys throughout the
State to prosecute, without delay, civ
lily, criminally and to fullest extent
,f the law, all def,ulting tax collec-
5ors who are reported as such, after
he publication of this proclamation.
Given under my hand and the seal
'f the State helennto attached, this
9th day Of March, in the year of our
4ord, eighteen hundred and seventy
,hree, and Of the independence of the
United States the ninety seventh.
VIM. p. KELLOGG.
BY the Governors:
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