The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-11
THE DUTY OF THE COUNCIL.

| Editor Bulletin:
Every rejecting man appreciates the diff
culries in prospect for our newly elected Git
Council Their predecessors leave them
legacy Of woe, in government actually broker
down overwhelmed with debt, bankrupt il
means, bankrupt in credit; and worse than all
the source Of supply almost destroyed by ex
cessive taxation.
To add to these embarrasslnents, obligation
are imposed on then. by laws, which, ifobeyed
effectually preclude either the possibility O
their carrying on the government, or givin:
any relief to this impoverished people.
| Under these trying circumstances, our AID
ministrators should have brought to the
task which they voluntarily assumed not onl,
a practical sagacity of the ordinary kind
suitable for ordinary occasions, but an intelli
gent appreciation OF our Frustrated condition,
and comprehensive grasp of mind to enable
| them to perceive the causes and the remedies
to be applied, united to moral courage and
an honest dete rmination to do their duty by
relieving the people, let the consequences be
what they might But failing in these high
| qualities which under our vicious system of
nominating candidates it was perhaps unreal
sonable to exrect-the people had right to
believe that they would have exhibited that
ordinary intelligence which would have ena-
bled them to profit by the gross and palpable
errors of their predecessors.
In cherishing this expectation the people
have been wofully disappointed, as their first
| act Was to issue an address to the tax payers
| which, without one word of sympathy for, or
| the expression OF desire to alleviate the con-
dltlon OF people groaning under the burden
OF taxation excessive beyond parallel, threat
ened to bring all the terrific vengeance of the
| law to extort taxes which they knew to be
! not only exorbitant, but in great part Illegal
| and manitestly unjust, not being levied by
| the representatives OF the people, nor eX-
pended in their interests and under their
control. In all things they acted as their pre-
decessors had DONE whose policy has culmi-
| mated in total failure. As threats. new and
stringent laws, stringently executed, followed
by seizure and sale, and all the dread ma
chinery OF law had been invoked by their pre-
decessors to fill the Golfers of the public
treasury and all without any result except
enriching horde OF sheritfs, attorneys, depu-
ties, clerks, and accommodating bill OF costs
| against the city, to be transferred perhaps at
some future day against the poor unfortunate
delinquent. 1t might have been assumed.
that ii they were no more than blind. IN
reasoning eXperimentalists. they would have
adopted any other course than that which had
50 disastrously failed
l shall not dwell On the notorious errors of
fact in that address in the implication that
tax dellnquents are except in occasional in
stances, able but unwilling to pay; nor the
cool assurance with which they counsel sub
mission. and Il 6. cheertul acquiescence in what
is really in great part robbery however dis
guised by the softer name Of taxation. 1t is
difficult to consider this subject with compo-
sure, but as my purpose is not vituperation,
but the hope Of awakening our Council to the
necessity OF adopting some other policy will
refrain from further comment, but will merely
say that in the absence of proof, which is
open and notorious, might it not be assumed,
reasoning deductiyely, that such are the ter
rors Of the law, especially when invoked in
behalf Of those who make and execute it. that
nineteen persons in twenty would rather pay
almost any tax, however excessive OF unjust,
if they possessed the means, than subject
themselves to the veXations, expenses and
risks of a contest with law making powers.
This consideration, in the absence of facts
known to all, should induce the Administra-
tors to pause before attempting to enforce
odions laws to the annoyance and oppression
Of the people, with no real advantage to the
treasury.
But, assuming that the people are able, is
that ground for compelling them to pay
taxes unjust or eNorbitant? With an innate
sense Of right and q manly spirit Of resistance
to oppression, the people believe that no power
on earth possesses the right to seize and contis-
cate their property under the pretext of
guarding and protecting it, and hence they
feel and are justified in resistance, whether
able or not to meet the exaction.
But what shall we do? say the Council. We
cannot conduct the affairs of the city without
money, and we have none in the treasury.
Must We not enforce payment from the de-
linquent taxpayer? Besides, we have to act
serve the people by liberal and enlightened
policy, which we might inaugurate in their
interest. Thus impoverished and restricted,
what policy do you recommend? 1t is easy
to censure our course but, under our cir
cumstances, what other can we substitute?
Before answering these pertinent questions,
I will remark that one thing is certain. The
policy of the Council. as foreshadowed by
their address-being that of their predeces-
sors-will not do. Starting with an empty
treasury and depleted community, their
course 10 uCIcF ruin WOulu D0 WIFI dCCeloTaIeO
speed. Therefore any other plan, let it be
what it may, cannot be worse, and might pos
sibly be better
Promising the self evident truth, that the
first duty and highest obligation of the
pubic official is to his constituents, or in the
the language Of the profoundest and most
of all statesmen, 1T is the
property of the citizens, and not to the de-
mands of the public creditor, that the first
and original faith of civil society is pledged.
The claim of the citizen is prior in time
paramount in title and superior in equity"
Keeping these self evident truths constantly
in view as rule OF action the duty of the |
Council is obvious.
They must reduce taxation to the very low
est point consistent with the existence Of the |
government, exercising only its legitimate !
functions; accomplishing this end by taking
steps to investigate the city debt, with the
view Of rejecting the fraudulent, and tenn
porarily suspending the payment of the inter-
est on the valid debt, until under moderate
afiop ,nara1v RI 6of,ov tho peooc.