The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-28

acted by the Legislature we are bound
to obey, but what we must do is to try
to repeal those laws. What we have to
do Is to use what means we can towards
the result Of repeating unjust
laws, and attempting to raise again this
city to its former state Of prosperity.
Now, gentlemen, IL is not the present
existing executive authority which has
passed the laws under which we are
suffering, they are laws that were
passed during the administration OF u
previous Governor OF this State; they
were passed chiefly In 1871. They
leave the signature OF that
model example, was going to
use harsh term-they bear the sigma
ture Of one whom we do not love, whom
we can never esteem but, gentlemen,
they are all there, and they will stand
until we remove them. Gentlemen, we
we must obey. Now what are these
laws. Let US see. First and foremost,
there is the police law. Is it right that
they should govern the police of our
city, and not allow us to do SO? We
should govern our police for more rea-
sons than one We should govern
them simply because we hold the
purse from which they are paid.
simply because II the magistrate OF our
city should say to policeman put
down q certain riot or disturbance I'm ~
be the proper person Gentlemen, that
will never do; we can't submit to this;
we must have reform In this. Well, how
are we to get the reform gentlemen,
will tell you. It is really d matter Of
very great interest to me as u citizen to
find that now for the first time in
years q body Of citizens have at last
woke up from sleep, or what you please,
and have begun to study little into
the administration by which they ard
governed and ruled. You know, gem
flemen, that this police force is under
the control of the State Do you know
that we have about eight hundred po-
licemen here, who receive $1,000 eachp
How much is that? $4,000 paid to the
police Of the city!
Again, the officials of thisllittle army
receive 100000 more, simply $500, 600;
again, the expenses OF the Police Board
amount up to 5000, 900 more, making the
small tritiing sum for the police Of the
city OF New Orleans $SOO,OOO annually.
and this has lasted seven years. Multi
ply seven by eight and you have your
IS, ,600, 900 taken out Of the revenues OF
this city for the support OF the police
force
Following Judge Whitaker, Mr.. Ray
mond introduced DIR. Brickell, who was
to read the resolutions which had been
prepared for presentation to the meet
ing and for their Endorsement. DR..
Brickell, prior to reading the resolu-
tions, made a few telling remarks, call
ing upon the meeting to stand by the
Mayor and administration in any and
icta uh lxof IN
the usurping Governor IL he should at
tempt to GUST the present city govern.
inent for refusing to levy the taxes de-
manded by the iniquitous legislation OF
which the people complain, and urging
them to yield to no force, unless 1t be
the irresistible force Of United States
bayonets. DIR. Brickell was warmly APP
plauded. The following resolutions
were then read by Dr.. Brickell:
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The rights of local self
government and municipal liberty lie
at the foundation of constitutional free
dom. They are matters Of absolute right,
not to be taken away by any Legislative
body, but as sacred from despotic en-
croachment as personal liberty or
the rights Of private property.
Whereas, The all important right to
levy taxes lies in the people or In their
representatives chosen for that purpose,
who, being responsible to the people for
their acts, cannot rightfully or legally
transfer this power to others.
Whereas, the transfer by the Legisla-
ture OF the power of levying taxes to
the irresponsible Police and School
Boards bodies not elected by or re-
sponsible to the people, but appointed
by the Governor--is clearly In violation
Of the fundamental principles OF the
American system of government as we'll
as Of the inherent rights OF the people.
Whereas, the consequences OF the
persistent violation Of these principles
have been the most disgraceful ignO-
First-The police, which should be
used exclusively to protect person and
property, have been, to the exclusion OF
their legitimate duties and i'm defiance
Of the plain letter OF the Constitution OF
the United States, converted into u
standing army, drilled, uniformed.
armed and organized into infantry,
cavalry and artillery, and employed to
subserve partizan purposes.
As efficiency is not rewarded, nor in
efficiency punished, this body, instead
OF De1US COnSeTVdbOTS Oh Tie peace, arc
themselves the frequent disturbers
thereof, whilst the frequency OF unde-
tected crime has either demonstrated
their inefficiency or confirmed the truth
of the general report that many OF them
are in collusion with the worst crimi-
nails. For more than seven years this
worse than inefficient body has been
maintained at an average yearly ex-
pense exceeding $SOO,OO0, when an eff
cient police would have cost less than
$3.50, 900 per annum.
Second public schools under this
illegal and irresponsible system OF State
Capitalization have been prevented by a
School Board composed in great part Of
incompetent and corrupt men to mere
personal and political purposes, and the
efficiency of the schools In great part
destroyed, while the cost through mis-
management 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
municipal authorities are the mere in
struments Of oppression, with no power,
il statutes are, followed, to relieve the
people Of their burdens, which have
become so excessive as to render prop
erty 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.