The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-11-21

uSblOIA VA tAC HAAkAA0 1" A'~SA
with their wishes, regardless of
he letter and intent of that law. They
virtuallg pledged themselves in
to c0nstrae the constitution OF
he State not as tits but as the people
it should be.
The lalnentable results TO- which the
.ogic ofsuch policy leads is reyoltlng
md alarming. Improperly will be Sc
cure. No rights will be sacred from
when the current of public
sentiment is arrayed against their pro
lection. The qualified interference of
the executive and legislative depart
ments in the third, and what is regarded
rs the weaker, branch of the govern
ment, which the appointing system in
wolves, may be o dangerous tendency,
but it is hardly more dangerous than
this. Even MOntesquieu recognized
the advantage OF a qualified interference
of one department over another, and
certainly this admirable division Of
governmental power never had a
shrewdcr or more Jealous advocate
than he.
THE Poll TAx.-We find an excel
lent article in the Monroe Intelligencer,
of the Goth ult, upon the poll tax for
school purposes, but it scarcely covers
the grounds. According to II con-
temporary, THE law requires every
man to pay u poll tax of one dollar
every year. Ont Of the money thus
collected, ninety per cent, that is nine
tcnthS. or ninety cents out OF every dol
lar goes into the free schOOlfu and is
used to support common schools. This
tax ought to be cheerfully paid, and We
think very few men would refuse to
pay it if the object for which it is used,
that is the support OF schools, was
properly explained to them by the col
leCtOrs. A man who owns taxable
property cannot avoid paying his poll
tux it the. collector does his, duty. The
school fund of the State ought to re-
but for some reason, only a small part
is collected"
So far, so good, and the only way to
| collect the whole amount is for tile
General Assembly to pass a law rcQuir-
ing every voter to present his poll tax
receipt ut every general election. Toe
many persons who are fully able to pay
this small tax escape because they eth,
er cannot be found when wanted or q
partisan collector fears to demand il
lest his individual interest or that Oi
his party suffer thereby. Too mucl
favOritism has been shown in this mat.
ter, so far, and it is time a. stop were
put to it. With the. taxes already i'm
posed for school purposes, and thy
$4,000 mentioned by our contemporary
there would be ample means to supper
every free school in the State, but tn
greater portion OF the latter sum is los
for the reason above given. We con
tend that very few voters are so poo
that they cannot pay the small sum o
one dollar q year for the support O
free schools, and they should be mad
to pay it by law in the manner desig
mated. We venture to assert that Il
cOlOred voter will refuse the tax whel
made aware Of its object, AND til
proper way to enforce it from ever
person is to require a showing of tn
receipt when voting. It is the -Onl
way the full poll tax can be collected
The remedy we prescribe will cover til
whole ground and compel every electO
to contribute his share to the educa
tiOnal interests OF the State.-[Sugal
Planter. ss. -.Lys s sls e.,
, PAYMENT FOR PRINTING.-Thereisn
task mOr agreeable to an honest ma
and to a journalist, than to render 3unt
:, Caesar the things that belOngsunto Casa
and to God, "the things that belongs t
God" We make this quotation be
: cause we believe it to be appropriate O
this occasion. Our readers are familis
a with the protest which we entered SON
! time since against the opinion of Paris
. Judge 3. HARRISON, in compelling us
t publish an advertisement when we q,
+ mandedseCurity f0rthe prompt paymel
OF the same, when the work was don
q To this, one of our Attorneys (Mr. v
4 W. Leakel took exception, and wou1
+ neither give us security nor pay for tt
advertisement, cash, according 10 OF
terms. Hence the mandamus from IL
q Parish Court, Judge 3. HARRISON, pE
Z siding, compelling us to do it. OfcOur
the legal fraternity were astonishe1
n this opinion, but it was the opinion
q the Court, and remained such, until o.
4 able and talented District Judge, .Ho
n ThOs. Fl. Hewes, took tile case in han
6 and decided that the Printer was II
Y only justifiable in demanding seeuri
for any work done, but had the right
demand Cash, it no good or solve
security was offered. This is not only
a just and legal opinion, but it is 81
q which should not be overlooked by Il
legal fraternity of the entire State
e is based upon law, justice and equnt
and must be aeQniesGed in by all co
cerned, as the learned and talent
Judge remarked, the "Lab0reris wortl
d Of his hire, and no law. can be enact
to force him to perform work again
his terms or Wishes"