The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-04-12
Judge Heads Opinion.

Judge Head of Sparta, Louisiana,
was president of the convention of
Democrats which in the city last fall
nominated John McEnery for Gov
ernor. He is editor of the Rural Times,
published in Sparta, and is more than
any other fnan in North Louisiana
looked to by the Democratic masses
for sound, conscientious, judicieus
counsel. Here is what he says to them
in his last number on the subject of
"Tax Resistance
We publish a circular from Gov
ernor McEnery, urging the people to
organize associations in each parish
for the purpose OF resisting the pay
ment Of taxes to the Kellogg govern
ment, and we have been requested to
announce that there would he a meet
ing held at this place, for the purpose
OF taking into consideration this mat
ter, on Monday, the seventh instant.
1t will he seen also that we have
copied articles from the New Orleans
Times indicating disapproval of such
a course in some quarters. 1t will
also be remembered that similar ex-
tracts have been reproduced from
other papers before. We always abide
by the action of our own people, and
whatever course they choose to adopt,
we are with them; but whenever we
feel called upon to express our opinion
on any question of fexpediency, within
the limited sphere of our influence,
we do not hesitate to perform what
we conceive to he our duty in the
premises.
A resistance to taxation is q re-
sistance to government, for govern
ment and taxatiJA are inselarable !;
and in the present instance the gov
ernment of the State Of Louisiana is
fortified with such laws, made since
the era of reconstruction, in view OF
the widespread antagonism Of the
people to the State authorities with
which they have been outraged dur
ing the last five years, as to render
resistance to taxation impracticable
without open revolution. Men of all
trades, occupations and professions
have to obtain license from the tax
collector before they can pursue their
avocations without mourning penalties
and forfeitures. The lawyer is COM
PEELED to procure such a license be-
fore he is permitted to practice in the
courts and the owners of real estate
mast pay their taxes or have their
lands forfeited, aside from the power
of the collector TO seize and sell prop
crty. In view of these facts, how is
taxation to be resisted without Selling
the reins of the government itself I
This was the only means Of successful
resistance, and in this Governor Nc
Emery and the Peoples Legislature
have acted well their part, but have
failed i'll their object. The Kellogg
usurpation is now fixed fact ; the
laws passed by that Legislature are
now in force. A term of the district
court for Bienville parish, legalized
solely by an act of that Legislature,
has been held, and its DEGREES are now
being enforced. They are in posses
sion Of the public Offices, archives aud
records Of the State. It is well that
this high-handed usurpation has been
reputiated by the people, but their
protest has been fully made out and
stands upon the record as far as it
can have any practical effect for good.
Further resistance, in our humble
Judgment, would tend to strengthen
rather than weaken the usurpation.