The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-01
WORD TO phopEaTY-HolUERs.

A WORD TO Pb 0PERTY- HOI DERS.
We have had occasion to express our
modification, and the qualification OF
all supporters Of the Nichols govern
ment. at.the promptness with which
the taxpayers OF this city, notwith-
standing the almost intolcrable burdens
which they have been laboring under,
havo come forward to extend to that
government the material support re-
uuired for It's successful operation. The
payment of taxes to the Nichols gov
DrnMent at a time when. In the opinion
of many people In whose minds the
recollection of prior unconstitutional
Federal Intervention In our State affairs
was yet fresh, the status Of that govern
ment was far from being free from uncer-
tainty, was an act Of pure patriotism,
and did more to strengthen the hands
Of Gov, Nichols and the Legislature
than any amount OF "undying re-
solves" could have done.
But there are some taxpayers who.
while protesting entire willingness to
pay the amounts assessed against their
property, yet hesitate to make the con-
trtbutions asked OF them for fear lest,
In the event, which they readily concede
to be hardly possible, Of the recognition
OF the Packard government" they
might be called upon to pay the same
tax second time. We might suggest to
these persons that IL the mass OF the
property holders of the city had shown
the same timidity and nervous dread OF
the loss Of few dollars which seems to
animate them, 1t would have been almost
impossible for the Nichols government
to acquire that strength and consequent
dignity which causes 1t to be recognized
by the country at large as the only
government competent to maintain
order In this State. to exercise
the proper functions of govern
ment and to sustain itself. But we
are 80 we'll satisfied with the progress
already made In the collection OF taxes
that we are not disposed to upbraid
those who have been remiss In their
duty to the State. We can make every
allowance for what is generally called
the tlmidity, but what may properly
be called the selfishness and greed. OF
capital, and rather than be considered
TOO oensorious, we will undertake to
reach the reason OF these timorous peo-
ple and to convince them that, II they
will promptly pay what is justly ex-
pected Of and due from them, they need
not be disturbed by any fear OF future
cxaotion from them Of the same con-
tributions by any other authority.
1t would be useless to begin by as
sorting that the Nichols government is
the only rightful government OF this
State. and must be recognized as such.
That would be simply begging the ques-
ton. To make the point we aim at es-
tAblishing. we are compelled to assume,
Tor the sake Of argument. that Packard
will be recognized by the Federal Ad-
xninistration and ultimately become
Governor of Louisiana. The practical
question, then. to be answered is, as
suming Packard to be the rightful Gov
rrnor. what will be the situation and
liabilities of those taxpayers who have
paid the taxes assessed against their
property into the hands u the agents of
Che Nichols government For an an
swer to this question we will refer
briefly to the annals OF history
Our readers will recall the remarkable
incidents of the War Of the Roses In
England, which was waged with tre-
mendous pertinacity and varying for
tunes by the royal Houses OF York and
Lancaster. The throne OF England and
the executive power Of the nation was
held alternately, during this long con-
ut for a kingdom, by the heads Of
these two houses, but the transfer OF eX-
ecut.ve authority from one TO the other
aid not affect in the least degree the
natural relations subsistipg between
che subjects of the crown and the
nDvere On OF the land, or alter in
any respect the reciprocal obliga-
tions growing out of the relation
n subject and sovereign. The great
BODY OF the people pursued their
ATTY avscations without regard to the
,chnnrcs which occurred 20 frequently
80 tho administration ot the govern
ST.