The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-14
THE TINES ON CITY TAXES, >ECURE
TIES. ETC.


TIES, ETC.
To the Editor Of the New Orleans Bulletin
In the Times Of Thursday there il elaborat e
and desperate effort made to write up the credit
OF city securities. After much absurd reasoning
it proceeds to account for the extraordinary de-
probation Ct per cent. gold bonds, by the rldlc
ulous statement that it is caused by the ad-
ventnrers and croakers TO further then private
ambitions who have seen tit to strive TO over
throw our local credit and prevent the influx Of
capital here" 80 Brefess lawyers, hail-tralned
politicians, braines- statesmen and orators have
alternately Illuminated such impracueabe here
sizes and impossibities as tax Resistance and re-
pudiation.H
This fiippant, abusive and shallow pated scribe
continues in utter disregard Of truth. to assert
.It not true that the people sanctions TIE non
payment Of taxes, a. for the reputation pro
gramme, which has its origin only with indivi.
dual politicians OF desperate fortunes" All this
il 80 n0torOusy untrue, that il useless 70 waste
words in its refptaton, as fact is better known
than that the organized resistance 10 taxation
proceeded from the spontaneous action Of a large
number of gentlemen Of established responsibility
not one OF whom was ever an aspirant for office OF
took any part IN political affairs, except to use his
influence, IS became good citizen, in behalf Of
good government They knew, every body
knows, that much the greater part Of the city
debt was contracted not by the Legitimate repre-
sentativps OF the people, nor expended to pro-
mote their interests. They knew that taxes were
excessive beyond parallel, and were rapidly de-
stroying the marketable value of taxable property,
and, in their reactiOnary effects, were destroying
all business likewise
They knew that tax Of five per cent. on prop
erty assessed at twice its value. must necessa-
rily end in the ruin Of all interests: the law OF
taxation il distribution, seldom, except in ex-
tremity remaining altogether where 1t is placed.
They knew that under this enormous exaction
New Orleans would inevitably be ruined, and
therefore with the most enlightened and praise
worthy patriotiAnl, threw themselves right in the
way and across the path Of oppression, by appeal
ing to the judicial tribunals Of the State, in de-
Tense Of ther own and the peoples rights, by re-
sisting the must terrible exacti"ns that ever i'm
poverished q community. If a Hawkins and a
Supreme Court 1.-The corrupt creatures and instrl-
mentst Of corruption, forming the most odious
part Of the chinery Of oppression, decided
adversely % the just and legal rights Of those
who nobly resisted the payment OF illegal and
exorbitant taxes, their canse has not been dis
paraged thereby in the opinion Of any man Of
sense or integrity.
The writer Ia the Times has been equally dis
regardful Of truth in what he says in relation to
those who openly and directly advocate repuiia-
ton OF all public debts. They composed
almost exclusively OF that class who have never
participated in political action farther than ex-
ercising the right Of suffrage. They have been
g0aded to It by an overwhelming conviction Of
its necessity, that choice OF evils alone remains
to this people, Tvpliidtion or ruin; and they
assert, with self-eyident truth, that exorbtant
taxation, the fruit of public debt, must eventu-
ally end in Reputation, from the entire destruc-
ton Of values just effectually and certainly
it was caused by legislative enactment but
with this difference latter viii surely and
immediately be followed by public prosperity,
whilst the former will be caused by the irremedi-
able destruction Of every material interest Of the
people. To the bondholders public creditors
after brief season. it makes no difference what
ever, whether they are not paid from the ma
bility Of the people to pay, or from indsposition
to dc 20. Excessive taxation, ostensibly to meet
the interest Of his bonds, will, equally with re-
pudiation, render bis bonds worthless.
With these facts, established by experience
and the Deductions OF political science with the
certainty of mathematical demonstration, the
tn, eat Of the United States Judiciary compelling
tax to be levied to meet these fancied obliga-
tons can only excite mirth from their obscu1ity.
II the exorbitancy Of present taxation has rem
dered property almost valueless, would an in
crease Of It restore its value? Entirely waiv-
ing the means which city government.
administered in the interest Of the peo-
pie might employ to render nugatory UNI just
and impertinent interference with the functions
Of q municipal government. The writer in the
Tines in his zeal in behalf OF oppression, forgets
that the power Of the United States, which he
holds IN lsyyorma over reluctant municipalities,
has It's limits, and can not effect moral physi
cal impossibilities. There is no protection from
robbery 30 aAectual as destitution Hence the
WATERFOWL case, SO frequently Haunted in the
mission TO robbery, has no terrors for them.
This heartIess and shallow-pated scribe makes
it subject Of felicitation that 81 800, 600 have
been, in Aix weeks, wrung from tins impoverished
people. How calamity like this, involving the
destruction Of 90 much alue-greatly in excess
If the injuries inflicted upon the State by the in
undatiOn, in regard to which much maudlin
and sentimental sympathy has been invoked
whilst evils Of misgOyernnent, ten times more
destructive to the maternal prosperity Of the
people are permitted to pass unnoticed-
can by any perversion Of sense bc construed into
a matter Of 'oongratulation is utterly incompre-
hensble. The reflection that this immense sum
especially in our depleted cOndition-has been
drawn from the industrial pursuits and private
stores of the people, to be consumed by unpro-
ductive labor, or sent to the distant bond holders
is truly dreadful the ruinous effect it will have
upon trade and business it is impossible to esti
mate.
1t is useless for the Times to vast. it's ink in
endeavOring to write up bonds that are not based
upon any subtantial values. Taxation has alb
sOrbed the whole of the revenue of city property,
and Of course destroyed all its marketable value
taken in the aggregate. Capital. with prefer
natural eagacity is quick and certain in its Judge
ment, and can neither be deceived by the unprin-
cipled carpet-bagger who, for his own aggrandze-
nlent, boasts prosperity that has no existence:
nor BY the croaker, who looks upon the future as
full of portehtols gloom. In the interest Of all
bond holder and citizen reject all fraudulent OBJ
ligatiOns--csty and State, reduce current expen-
see 70 tue lowest point consistent with the exist
ence Of government. exercising only its legitimate
functions and administered with honesty-sus-
pend EneSsssAry the payment of interest on the
valid debit 6htil property recuperates when pros
peiity viii again dawn upon this oppressed and
impoveriHhod people.
1heHddp6s2offhe Democratic State Committee
fills the bill, and cOmmends itself to all whose
public spirit s. paramount TO considerations of
mere personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, or those, who in
tAeif q TO- reach the unattainablc, lose
SIGHT Of that which is possible.
.ea.,t' ! Pro Bono PUBLIco.
The contsihQ Sons received at the Mayors
of6oe Jusya9, amounted to s., AS 45 making
Q total to date Of 9205, O9l l2.
Nav O0ybON. 1.-The first bale OF cotton of