New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-05
PROCLAMATION.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, }
Executive Department,
t,,-7,o. IT,ra6 IQ 1879

STATE OF LOUISIANA
Executive Department,
Sew Orleans March l3, 1881
Whereas Reliable information has reached me
that certain evi. disposed or misguided persons
propose 10 combine, have combined into assoc.-
atoms 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 :he further avowed evil purpose OF overthrow
ing the said State government. by preventing II
from receiving, through the collection OF taxes.
the means for its support; and
Wherea.. r. 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 IL this State. by the defalcatlons
ard dCreiictloAs Of duty of tax collectors under
he late State administrator. by the acts OF the
Ia. Resisting Association OF New Orleans tan or
gan.ZatOE which nas been in existence for more
thar eighteen months pastl, aid by other causes
aGd
Whereas. Experience shows that tax resisting
associations result i'll the Weather classes escap-
.,g payment Of their taxes. while poorer men are
not only compelled to pay their taxes, but add.
t.9na! 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 10 the State and
Whereas. The delinquent tax lists of the State.
shown by the Auditors books amount 20 the
enormous sum of S2.33l ,32l 60-the proportion OF
the city of New Orleans alone being $l472225 %
sad taxes having accrued and fallen due under
tEe late aGm LisTati0n, and the greater portion OF
them being due from those best able to pay and
Whereas. II is but just and right that the burden
OF supporting the State government should tail as
eqUitably possible. ;Inder the law. upon al
classes OF the population. and that no one class
should be allowed te evade the payment OF taxes,
either by comb! nations and associations under the
guise OF passive resistance. or by any other Illegal
means on pre.enses; and
Whereas. /. IS made my imperative duty 20 see
that the taxes are duly and promptly collected,
and that al persons who conspire in any way
10 injure the State credit, whether by passive OF
active resistance. sha he prevented from such III
lawful! acts:
Now tleIe'cre. J. William P. Kellogg. Governor
oi The State OF Louisiana. being desrous OF avoid
Il pOseiD- t. the prosecution of any citizen and
being anxious 20 restore the public credit, and TO
.raUgurate az administration of Tetrenchment and
reform II tie financial affairs Of the State and
cltv. and beng determined. far as is IN ny
power 20 suppress ali unlawful combinations. as.
sociations and conspraces for the illegal purposes
Lerei1betore mentioned, DO hereby direct the tax
collectors IL every part Of the State to proceed
forthwith with tie collection OF the taxes
due :Ee State. and TO use al legal
measures 20 insure obedience to this order;
and 10 the end that the credit Of the State
may be restored, tie much needed inter
nal Improvements 6e prosecuted. and the burden
OF supporting the government be more equitably
distributed than heretofore. and tie present heavy
taxation he reduced. 90 hereby al! citizens
20 desst from taking part il any combination, as
sociatioH conspiracy having for its object the
RESISTANCE passive Otherwise Of the collection
Q: the taxes Gle the State. and request them. TO
| comply with the "a ard with their duty. by the
prompt payIreI: of their taxes; and do hereby d
-ect the Attorney General and the district and
parish attorneys throughout the State to prosecute
without delay. civiy crimLal.y and to the fEllest
extent O! the Jaw. al defauting collectors
who are reported such. after the publication Of
this proclamation.
Gwen .rder my hand and the seal Of the State
LereuEto ATTACHED. this thirteenth day of March.
Il the year Of Our Lord eighteen hundred and sew.
euty-.hree and of :he independence of the United
States :he u-uety.seventh.
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG.
By tne Governor:
?. q. HESLONDB,
Secretary q mhl3 2p