New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-11

doctrine was openly advocated, in prin
and speech. that the taxes were, as th'
Tines prints il. "e1horbitant.' and who'll.
without consideration. It was recon-
mended that the taxpayers should no
contribute to the supper. Of ''usurpa
tom: and a qualification Of this advice
was made by one anti-Repub!ican jour
nal. that inasmuch as The city was unde
control Of = Democratic administration
some payment Of city taxes would l.,
allowable to sustain that exemplary inst;
tuition. This refusal to pay taxes Ia!
resulted in the large amount G: bac,. taxe:
now due.
The REPUBLICAN ha, never objected te
| :. man OK an association who took .ega
measures to ties: the legality 0: !. tax. Or
the contrary the Republican party has
enacted laws for the legal scrutiny Of
every obligation of the government. II
has resulted in the reliei Of the treasury
from many false and fraudulent claims
and has avoided the difference between
.ifty-three million dollars Of apparent
Obligations and fifteen million dollars,
the present debt Of the State. 1t can not
then be said the RErUDI1c.: condemns
the Property Holders Association because
1t inquiries into the legality Of the taxes.
We condemn it because, according 70 our
belief, derived from its own avowals, that
the association refuses payment OF a.!
taxes. We have condemned the nrcu-
ment made on behalf OF the association
that because a public debt was in the
opinion OF the citizen without con-
sidezation, the citizen was thereby eAor-
Grated from moral obligation to pay
tax for its liquidation. We have
justified this position by authorities
which the Times chooses 70 der;ae. We
have said the sovereign has a right to
take the property Of the citizen and to
place the person Of the citizen in the i'm
minsnt and deadly breach of battle. Such
is the eminent domain possessed by the
sovereign people as we'll as by the SOW
ereign prince. We specified the limita-
ton imposed on this power by the peo-
pie of the States and Of the Union. Il. is
found in the constitutions, and protects
persons and property from that unlimited
which is despotism. We but
res.ate what we lad written before. The
right of the States to command the prop
erty or person Of the citizen is then TO F.!
be tested by the tribunals appointed by
The constitution. The legality of :. tax !
can not be rightfully decided on the ale
CATION Of the citizen that the tax is
'exhorbitant." and upon his determine
ion to evade or nullify the law by con-
oined resistance. This has been decided !
Il the Pennsylvania whisky instruction.
The Times says:
No government in the civilized word has
he right to lay exhorbitant taxes for the
ufpoct CT organs and superhuous officials.
The government, subject 70 the Emita-
ions stated, the adjUdications O: the
ouEtS ana the construction OF the Legs
ature. can impose 3 tax 20: any purpose.
t is said
The RICH. 20 levy a tax q t"o or tire.
er cent does no: iiEp;y the :!gi.. 10 sxac:
N per cent.
II the principle laid down he correct.
le government has the same wight to levy
Il indirec: tax of forty per cen. on ron
nported that it has for the smallest rate
imposed. II the Tines doctrine be cor
,ct, the federal tax or whisky wculd .
and repealed ipSo .t'oclo. as to the excess ,
Dove 1.-TWO or three per cent. The dis
,rtation concludes with this inquiry: |,
But suppose this limit Of power ia Nc. &c .
'gnized by the Legislature Mus. Vie
.opie, then, pay whatever rUlnOus rate the "
legislature authorizes O. permits! The
gan says, yes.
The two or three per cent limitation Of
'wer laid down by this jurist must be
dyed BY the courts o: the Legislature. !,
he people are represented in the Leg;s-
tUre and bound by their constitutional
journals. The people mus: pay what
Ct rate Of tax their Legislature imposes
ION them, and which the courts may :.
judge to be constitutional. The Tines
IS the association denies this obl:sa-
N. /. thus confirms our Interpretation :,
the position occupied by the assccia- :,
II. Its the doctrine we have opposed. a
{ US hear what the Tines thinks Of the =,
legation Of the people to obey :!la;r l.
7: law and their Own courts. !,
We repes: our approval Of ever: legal =,
t to every obligation, State and city. .,
. wish to see taxation equal. We have =,
wish or interest in the collection Of an >.
gal tax, and still less in the oppression +,
the smaller taxpayers. We have bu. re
,Eed principle Of political obligation y,
on every citizen to obey the laws of his X
'ntry, good OK bad, as he may think !,
IN. We DO not like to see doctrine h,
'ccated by which one man may avoid
7ment Of taxes on block Of build y,
$. because he says the taxes are O;
and another may escape c.
gallows Or the penitentiary By simply ,b
aiding that he denies the right Of capt. O
punishment, in the one case. and The y,
1t of property in the other. p,