New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-22
ADDRESS
OF THE


When in a community Judges and Justices OF the
peace are indicted police jurors charged with mai
easance in office and their secretary indicted fof
embezzeme nt such a state Of demoraIizatlon snu
corruption is shown to exist at to demand the '''
mediate atte ntiOn Of the people.
The taxpayers Of Jefferson parish. len oank
conecious that their individual action against the
rings of spectators who attempt to control the
affairs of this parish would prove insufficient to
protect their rights and interests have organ zea
and united against the common enemy
There is nothing of political character in our
association, which, resemblir the Orange move
ment, is nothing more than a union Of taxpayers
for mutual protection Our object is to '0etend
ourselves and our neighbors against oppression
and ext ortion to e1t tend to the humblest citizen
irrespective of race or color in the vindication Of
his rights, the assistance Of q powerful organiza
,on; to uphold and sustain every officer in the
fearless dis charge of his duties, and to denounce
to the courts those who have prostituted their
Offices for mercennry purposes.
The laws of the land are sufficient to protect
every man in his rights and property, and trust
to the purity of motives, to the justice of our
cause and to the support of the entire community
for the vindlcation of our nights.
Eternal vigilance is the price Of liberty, and no
people desi rOus to be free who dare not assert at
any cost, the rights of freemen, among which we
hold that one of the most sacred is, to bs taxed
only by representatives elected by themselves.
We are not opposed to public improvements but
are unwilling without dollar in the treasury,
with the credit of the parish ruined, to undertake
any improvements before having first restored our
finances and the credit of the parish. We hold
that it would be sheer folly to pay in deprecated
currency ten times as much as the Improvements
would cost in cash.
That the public may fully understand the rea-
sons that have rendered our action necessary In
September. 1871, the old board, presided over by
William Mithof, ST., ESQ., turned over to the ap-
pointees OF Governor o. j. Dunn known as the
Aaron Smith board, the books and records of the
parish. at that time free from debt and having a
large balance of taxes to collect.
In less ( han one year of the administration of
that board, $21 1853 of warrants were issued with
out complying with the requisites Of the law. and
other debts contracted.
During their entire administration only 81 60
appear by the books as having been collected.
Moreover they entered into a contract for build
ing railroad at an estimated cost to the parish of
$50 900. All that had to come out Of tableau Of
assessment of 100000.
So lOpg as the warrants Of the parish are re-
ceived in pay ment of taxes not dollar will come
in the tire asury, and the police jury can only pay
current expenses by usual of new warrants now
worthless increasing thereby ten times the ex-
penses Of the parish.
Unless we have q police jury, indorsed by the
people, and the ASST stance Of the courts il IS I'M
possible for to extricate ourselves from the
position in which we have been placed by rings
that now control the parish and attempt now to
force upon the community q board of police jurors
representing only their interests, and denounced
by the taxpayers.
While decided to act for ourselves in our own
affairs. invite the cooperation of all those who
are opposed to corruption and fraud The people
the parish all interested in resisting the intlu-
ence of rings. and in exacting from public off GERS
faithful discharge of their duties, and are
ready to receive delegates from all parts OF the
parish.
Our Association will meet on the first Sunday in
July at Waggner's Brckyard, and we invite al
those who sympathise and are willing to join LIB
in movement to attend the meeting
The Executive Committee will meet every Satur.
day at five o'clock, and will examine all charges
laid before them, take evidence in support Of them,
and prepare the for trial. and will be thank
ful for any suggestions to promote the public good.
r. F. SPANGENBERG, Chairman.
+. c. HESTER, Secretary.
L. SONAIT, Treasurer.
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