New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-28


repealed or amended. They were nearly
all the production Of the previous govern
ment and signed by the man who had made
himself the immortal example-the judge
said he was about to use harsh name, but
contented himself by saying, I'VE do not
love him." Bu, they are part Of the law
which has its seat in the bosom Of God.
He concurred with and praised the speech
of Mr.. Ogden. The city was entitled TO
the government of its own police, because
it held the purse to pay. Under the pres
ent system the taxation was burdansome.
The expenses were 100000 for the men,
100000 for the officers and 5000, 600 for the
board, and in seven years amounted to
S. 600, 600. The State should not have a
body of jauissaries to be used as body
guard for the Governor. The judge then
detailed the affair of 1.-THE City Park-the
old City Park he meant-where the city
had spent SGS3,C00 and had nothing; the
old commissioners were supplanted by a
new board, under the law of 1870, and four
of them met. The fifth was up town,
erty, bought it, and offered to sell it to the
commissioners for s 100000. This was
more than they could stand, and was esti-
mated at $S00,000. The board was forced
by the law to assume 100000 OF bonds
issued by the old board, and the will
derness up the river would have
cts: Sl,l3O,OOO. Would the city have
had control. Then the drainage law-the
city is pretty well drained-the report of
Mr.. Delavine to tho Union details it all. He
referred to the Roman sewers of the EN-
peror Traian as not to be compared to those
Of New Orleans in cost. Act No. 30 of 1871
changed the law and gave the drainage TO
the Mississippi and Mexican Gulf Ship
Canal Company, and they were to receive
fifty cents yard for excavating and fifty
cents yard for levees. The work cost
twenty-five cents for both. There were
already ,0O0 of city warrants out. He
denounced the decision of the Supreme
Court giving the work to Van Norden. 1t
had been assigned to irresponsible parties.
The city was compelled to issue tifas against
the owners OF property, who had to aban-
don 1t because 1T was assessed for more
than its value. 1t the tax was not paid the
consequence would be that it would remain
as a mortgage. The law must be repealed
or amended so that three or four prices
should not be paid. The judge closed by
expressing, as a Republican, his belief that
we were advancing, and as an American
was SO constituted as 10 be supposed TO be
free, and if there was tyranny it was their
own fault.
Dr. Br;ckell was then introduced 10 read
series Of resolutions. He said if he sup
posed the pc ople were not going to support
the Council If 1t sustained the Mayor, he
would rather die than read them. They
were founded on the principles announced
by Judge Ogden. He spoke of the despot
at the State House, and of the forms of law
he might use TO constrain the City Council;
of the unsigned law hanging over them and
trusted there would be no dissenting voice
to the following resolutions
WHEREAS, The rights Of local selfgov-
ernment and municipal liberty lie al the
foundation of constitutional freedom, they
are matters of absolute right, not 10 be
taken away by any legislative body. but as
sacred from despotic encroachment as per-
sonal liberty or the rights of private prop
erty.
Whereas, The all-important right to
levy taxes lies in the people or in their rep
resentatives, chosen for that purpose, who
being responsible to the people for their
acts, can not rghtfully or legally transfer
this power to others.
Whereas, The tranfer by the Legislature
of the power OF levying taxts to the ire
sponsible Police and School Boards-bodies
not elected by or responsible TO the people,
but appointed by the Goyernor-is clearly
in violation of the fundamental principles
OF the American system of government, as
well as of the inherent rights of the people.
Whereas, The consequences of the per-
sistent violation of these principles have
been the most disgraceful ignorance and
corruption in public affairs.
Flrst-The police, which should be used
exclusively to protect person and property,
have been, to the exclusion Of their legiti-
mate duties and in defiance of the plain let
ter Of the constitution of the United States,
converted into standing army, drilled,
,Azr. ,4I
fantry, cavalry and artillery, and employed
to subserve partisan purposes.
AS efficiency is not rewarded, nor inetf-
cheney punished, this body instead of being
conservatOrs of the peace, are themselves
the frequent disturbers thereof, while the
frequency of undetected crime has either
demonstrated their inetficency or confirmed
the truth of .he general report that many of
them are in collusion with the worst crimi- |
nails. Fer more than seven years this worse |
than inefficient body has been maintained |
at an average yearly expense exceeding |
$S00,000, when an efficient police would |
have cost less than s2j0,000 per annum.
Second The public schools under this |
illegal and irresponsible system of State |
GENERALIZATION have been prevented by
school board composed in great part of |
and corrupt men to mere per
sOnal and political purposes, and the eff
cheney of the schools in gre at part destroyed, |
while the cost through Encouragement has
been greatly in excess OF what is essential |
to their efficiency.
Third-Under the present Illegal and
vicious system of governing the city the
authorities are the mere instru-
ments of oppression, with no power, if
statutes are followed, to relieve the people
Of their burdens, which have become SO ex-
cessive as to render property of no ex-
value, whilst capital has been
expelled, business OF all kinds par.
alyzed, labor has ceased to have it's reward
and poverty threatens to be the lot of all
Fourth-Under this condition of things,
t is alike the interest of the people at large
and of the holder of the valid obligations
If the city, that these legalized robberies
shall cease, expenses be reduced to the
very lowest point consistent with the exist
,nce of government, and that the payment
If the interest of the public debt be tenn
,orarily suspended to the end that property
nay recuperate and capital be restored to
business.
In view of the foregoing indisputable
acts, be it
Resolved, That we, the people. of New
orleans, in mass meeting assembled, do
lereby indorse and approve the wise,
'atriotic and statesmanlike message of the
Ion. Charles ]. Leeds, Mayor, to the City
'ouncil, on December 81, 1875, and we de-
nand of our representatives in the City
,Ouncil that they carry out the recon-
lendations of the Mayor, and that they
uspend the levying and collection of the
interest tax until a thorough investigation
q had of the whole debt, and that they re-
Ak, police tax, park tax or drainage tax
ntil local selfgovernment is restored, and
be police, schools, park and drainage are
emitted to the control of the City Council