New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-18
PROCLAMATION.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, }

New Orleans, March l3 1875
whereas, Reliable information has reached me
that certain evil disposed or misguided persons
propose TO combine, or have combined into associ-
atoms for the purpose of resisting the payment OF
taxes due the State with the avowed object of
bringing the State government into disrapute 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; and
Whereas, 1t is of the first importance 20 restore
the credit of the State and city, now impaired By
the revolutionary conduct of celtcin pretenders to
official station in this State, by tae defalcatiOns
and derelictioAs of duty of tax collectors under
the late State administration, by the acts OF the
Tax Resisting Association of New Orleans tan
ganlzaton which mas been in existence for more
than eighteen months past, and by other causes
and
Whereas, Experience shows that tax resisting
associations result i'll the Weather classes escap.
ing payment of their taxes, while poorer men are
not only compelled to pay their taxes, but add
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
as shown by the Auditors books, amount to the
enormous OF s2,33l ,32l 6O-the proportion of
the city of New Orleans alone being SLAP 225 95-
said taxes having accrued and fallen due under
the late adm nistraton 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
guise Of passive resistance by any other Illegal
means or pretenses and
Whereas. 1t is made my imperative duty to see
that the taxes are duly and promptly collected
and that all persons who eonspire in any way
to injure the State credit, whether by passive
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
inaugurate 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,
sociations and conspraces for the illegal purposes
hereinbefOre mentioned, de 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 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 red uced, do hereby warn all citizens
to desist from taking part in any combination as
sociation or conspiracy having tor its object the
resistance. passive or 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 iii.
rect the Attorney General and the district and
parish attorneys throughout the State to prosecute
without delay. civiliy, criminay and to the fdlest
extent Of the law. all defauitins tax collectors
who are reported such. after the publication of
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
snty-three. and cf the independence of the United
States the ninety seventh.
WILLIAM ?. KELLOGG.
BY the Governor:
P. G. DESLONDE,
Secretary OF State, gnhIS IN