The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-28
PRICE-FIVE CENTS.

them half way; and he thought these wants
should be made known.
DR.. Brickel was then introduced, and after
a few preliminary remarks, read the following
resolutions:
Whereas, the rights of local seif-goverIs-
ment and municipal liberty lie at the founda-
tioa of constitutional freedom, they are mat
tiers of absolute right, not to be taken away
by any legislative body, but as sacred from
despotic encroachment as personal liberty or
the rights of private property;
Whereas, the al-impoltant right to levy
taxes lies in the people or in their representa-
tives chosen for that purpose, who being re-
sponsible to the people for their acts, can not
righttully or legally transfer this power to
to others;
Whereas, the transfer by the Legislature of
the power Of levying taxes to the lrresponsi-
BILE Police and School Boards-bodies not
elected by or responsible to the people, but
appointed by the Governors clearly in VIC
lation of the American system of government
as we'll as of the inherent rights of the peoples
Whereas, the consequences of the persist
ent violation of these principles have been
the most disgraceful ignorance and corrup-
ton in public affairs;
l. The police, which should be used exclu-
sively to protect person and property, have
been, to the exclusion of their legitimate
duties and in defiance of the plain letter of
the Constitution of the United States, con-
verted into standing army, drilled, uni
formed, armed and organized into infantry
cavalry and artillery, and employed to sub
serve partisan purposes.
| As efficiency is not rewarded. nor lnefh'
cheney punished, this body, instead of being
conservators OF the peace, are themselves the
! FREQUENT disturbers thereof, whilst the IRE
| quency of undetected crime has either DEM
onstrated their inc Efficiency or confirmed the
truth of general report that many of them are
| in oollusion with the worst CRIMINALS. For
more than seven years this worse than inefh"
cient body has been maintained at an average
yearly expense exceeding $500. 600. when an
efficient police would have cost less thsn
$3.50, 600 per annum.
2. The public schools under this illegal
and irresponsible system of State centraliza-
ton have been prevented by School Board
composed in great part OF incompetent and
corrupt men to mere personal and poltlcai
purposes, and the efficiency of the schools IN
great part destroyed, while the cost through
mismanagement has been greatly in excess OF
what is essential in their efficiency.
3. Under the present illegal and vicious
system of governing the city the municipal
authorities are the mere instruments OF OPP
preston, with no power, if statutes are fol-
| lowed, to relieve the people of their burdens,
which have become SO excessive as to render
pronortv of no exchangeable Value whilst
capital has been absorbed, expelled, business
of all kinds paralyzed, labor has ceased to
have its reward and poverty threatens to be
| the lot of all.
Under this condition OF things, it is alike
the interest of the people at large and OF the
holder of the valid obligations ofthe city, that
these legalized robberies shall cease, expenses
| 70 MONT consistent
with the existence of government, and that
the payment of the interest on the pubhc debt
be Temporarily Suspended, to the end that
property may recuperate and capital be re-
stored to business.
In view of the foregoing indisputable facts
be it
Resolved That we, the people of New Or
leans, in mass meeting assembled, do hereby
indorse and approve the wise, patriotic aud
statesmanlike message OF the Ion onas D.
Leeds. Mayor, to the City Council, on Decem-
Der 81, 1875, and we demand of our represen-
tatives in the City Council that they carry
out the recommendations of the Mayor, and
that they suspend the levying and collection
of the interest tax until thorough inyestlga-
ton be had of the whole debt, and that they
refuse to levy, collect or pay over any school
tax, police tax park tax. or drainage tax, uh-
til local selfgovernment is restored, and the
police, schools, park and drainage are re-
mitted to the control of the City Council
chosen by the ciiz sns of New Orleans, ire
sponsible of party, to administer their own
local affairs.
Resolred, That if the Council will pursue
the course recommended by the Mayor, and
lead the citizens in demanding OF the ap-
preaching Legislature an abatement OF our
grievances by the enactments OF such laws
as may enable the people to govern them
selves, we are assured from past experience
that the moral power of whole community
SO led, and demanding of the Legislature
Justice only, and that robbery and oppression
shall cease, will be irresistible.
Resolved That if the City Council adopt the
suggestions embodied in the Mayors mes
sage, we hereby pledge them our unqualified
support let tho consequences be what they
may.
ResOl,ed, That committee OF fifteen be
appointed by the chairman OF this meeting,
with power to fill vacancies IN their own
number, whose duty it shall be to communl-
cate these resolutions to the City Council.
and to devise and organize the ways and
means to afford to the NJ iyor and Council, in
pursuing the course recommended, such sup
port as may be necessary, and to obtain from
the Legislature, by any honorable means be-
coming a free people, the exercise of the
rights and privileges and freedom from the
burdens contemplated in these resolutions
Under the above the following committee
was appointed:
DR.. D. Warren Brickell, chairman; T. N.
Ogden, John Payne, Jas. Buckner, Samuel
Chopin, H. N. Ogden, L. b. Peasants, Jas
D. Hill, W. G. Raymond, j. Dickson Brunsr
Arch. Mitchell, Mat. Lagan, z. Malochee,
Felix Limet, G. T. Beauregard.
The committee was requested to meet at the
office of DR.. Brickell on Carondelet street.
opposite the Exposition Building.
Mr.. Mogel made speech and cleared the
hall, and a motion to adj ourn was not mecca
sary.
New ORLEANS MERCHANTS IN SAN FRAN
CIsco-Two well-known merchants OF our