The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-16
TAXATION.
To the Editor Of the n. o. Bulletin

vital importance.
In your issue of Saturday there appeared
we'll written and dispassionate communication
opposing my views in regard to the duties OF
the Council. The writer in part mlscon-
ceives my views, and where dissenting from
them, argues from different premises, and OF
course inconclusively. l will merely state in
rejoinder that nothing I said could justify the
implication that am opposed to the payment
Of taxes, or that any government, national
State or municipal, could perform its duties
and functions without money.
He substantially says, that the Council
must impose these odious taxes, oppressive,
crushing and ruinous:as they are, or be sub
ject to the penalties of expulsion from Office
for disobedience Of law. I say to the Coun-
Gil, Gin the interest of the people to whom you
owe the highest obligation, disregard the law,
reduce taxation, and thus save the people. and
risk the consequences" That is the gist of
the matter, and as your correspondent has
now discussed the only point at issue-the
expediency or inexpediency of the Council
taking the position 1 suggest-there is really
no room for argument between us. In this
connection will take occasion to remark
that the members of the present Council
were elected to office for no other purpose
than to relieve the people of their burdens:
if they fail to make an effort, on no other
ground than an apprehension of being ex-
PEELED from office, they will be execrated as
unfaithful servants who violated their trusts.
In my former communication said nothing
upon the widespread evils OF taxation, as I
thought them too obvious to require elucida-
ton But as there seems to be great deal of
misapprehension and ignorance existing on
the subject, propose to make few observa-
tons, principally drawn from standard
authors upon political economy, which hope
will not be without influence in ditfusing
knowledge on this important subject.
In advocacy of the propriety Of the Council
compelling tax delinquents to pay up in full,
clamor against the injustice of granting in
diligence to others which was not extended to
them. In regard to this argument will re-
mark that in very large experience among
taxpayers and tax-resisters have never heard
this plea urged against delinquents, nor heard
Of it except by those who were presumed to
have other motives than those alleged-own-
ers of, or interested in bonds, foolishly sup
posed to be in jeopardy by resistance to un-
taxation.
As the taxes are not allowed to be an hon
est levy on an equitable assessment OF prop
erty, and are known in part to be illegal and
excessive the argument that because they
have been eXtorted from some, they should be
extorted from all, seems SO logically absurd
that its statement causes its own refutation.
Because have been robbed b. the burglar or
am I to consider myself ag
grieved and wronged because my neighbor
successfully resisted the like aggression
against his property: II the tax is a fair and
moderate levy TO defray the necessary ex-
penses OF government should pay II, on
the contrary, it is excessive and unjust. /
should not be compelled to pay, no matter
how many have succumbed 70 the demands OF
the tax collector.
Bur. surprising that this elamor Of the TAX.
payer agains. the deinquents really exists,
there is no difficulty in showing that it is as
uUNIS6 us IL Is
Il is not wha: a man pays himself in taxes
however excessive, that principally affects him.
1t is what other people pay that saps his pros
perity and brings him to poverty. The abb
sorption Of tteir means by taxation diminishes
and e1pels capital, drives away population,
paralyses business, and thus either deprives
him Of tenants or decreases his rents by the
diminished demand for tenements The
amount raid to meet an increase of taxation,
grievous as it is, is incomparably less than the
loss sustained by the decreased revenue Of
the property on which it is levied.
In regard to the effects of taxation when it
is excessive, J. B. Say, the great French eco
nonist, says THUS all taxation may be
said to injure reproduction, inasmuch as it
prevents the accumulation of productive capt
tai The effect is more direct and serious
whene Yer the taxpayer is obliged to with
for the purpose OF enabling him to pay the tax,
in which case, as Sismondi has shrevdly OBJ
served, it resembles the exactions of 1.-THE at
seed time, instead of at harvest 'Tnus, tax |
alton must be proved indispensable to the
existence OF social order; every step it takes !
beyond these limits is an actual spoliation /!
or taxation, even when levied by national
consent, is in violation of property, since no
'alue can be levied but upon the produce of
he land. capital and industry OF individuals. |
If these sound v.@vs We're observed, 4 |
thousand scheme. concocte,! under tbs. spec
GUS prete1: Of comforting some great advan- !
age on the peopl. would be rendered ai,or.
i've.
Adam Smith. the founder of the science of !
political economy, says in speaking o: excess
i've taxation-'' when in order to raise those !
axes, an or the greater part of the merchants !
nd manutacturers-tha is. all or the greater /
art OF the employers Of great capitals, come
o be continually exposed to the notifying !
'isits Of the tax gatherers. the disposition to
move will be soon changed to all actual re-
moving. The industry OF the country will
necessarily fall with the removal of capital. |!
which supported it, and the ruin of trade and
he manufactures will be followed by the de
tension of agriculture.
This conclusively shows that taxation does
lot remain where it is placed, but distributes
tself through every department of industry,
nd especially falls with crushing effect on
he working man. This great writer contin-
les a tax which tended to drive away cap
tai would so far tend 10 dry up erery othey