New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-12

Executive Department, ,
New Orleans, March Il, 1878. }
Whereas Reliable information has reached me-
that certain evil disposed or misguided persons
propose to combine or 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 the further avowed evil purpose OF overthrow
ing the said State government, by preventing u
from receiving, Though the collection OF taxes
the means for its support; and
Whereas 1t is of the first importance to restore
the credit of the State ard city, now impaired oE
the revolutionary conduct of certain pretenders 70
official station in this State, by the dtfacatlonS
and derelictions of duty Of tax collectors under
the late State administration by the acts OF the
Tax Resisting Association of New Orleans tan Or
canlzati0n which has been in existence for mora
than eighteen months past, and by other causes
and
Whereas Experience shows that tax resisting
associations result in the weather. classes ESCAPE
ing pa yment of their taxes while poorer men are
not only compelled to pay their taxes but add.'
tonal penalties and costs, and In addition thereto
q much heavier rate of taxation than would oo
requisite if those better able to pay promptly met
their just obligations to the State: and
Whereas The delnqu snt tax lists of the State.
a. sho vn by the Auditors books. amount 10 the
enormous sum of s2,33 ,32l 6O-the proportion OF
the city of New Orleans alone being li72 225 ?5-
said taxes having accrued apd !allea due nnder
the late admi nstration and the greater portion OK
them being due from those best able TO pay: and
whereas, 1t is but just and right that the burden
of supportiug the State government should fall az
eouitably as 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 tn"
guse of passive re,isapee or BY any other illegal
means or pretenses and
Whereas 1t is made my Imperative duty 10 see
that the taxes duly and promptly collected.
and that all persons who cOnspire in any way
to iniure the State credit. whether by passive OF
active resistance. shall be prevented from such un
lawful acts
Now, therefore, I, william 2. Kellogg. Governor
of the State OF Louisiana, being desirOus of avoid.
ing if possible the prosecution of any citizen. amt
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, as far as IS in my
power, to suppress all unlawful combinations. a.
socatons and conspracies for the Illegal purposes
hereiubefore mentioned, do hereby direct the taS
collectors in every part of the State to proceed
forthwith with the collection of the taxes
due the State, and to all .egs.
and to the end that the credit OF the state
may be- restored, the much needed Inter.
nal improvements be prosecuted. and tho burGeU
OF supporting the government be- more squitablT
distributed than heretofore. and the present heavS
taxation DO reduced, do hereby warn all citizens
to desst from taking part in any combination. as'
ISOLATION conspiracy having for its object the
resistance passive otherwise of the collection
of the taxes due the State. aud request them TO
comply with the la and with their duty. by the
prompt payment of their taxes; and do hereby di.
rect the Attorney General and the district and
parish attorneys throughout the State to prosecute
without delay ciyiliy crimnally and TO the fafese
extent OF the law. all defauting fax collectors
who are reported such. after the publication Of
this proclamation.
Given under my hand and the seal OF the State
hereupto attached. this thirteenth day of March.
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sew.
enty. three. and of the independence OF the United
States the ninety seventh.
WILLIAM =. KELLOGG.
By the Governor:
r. u. DESLONDE,
Secretary of STATE. mill 20