The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-20
"A Strong Document From Gen. Fred
N. Ogden, DR.. j. Dickson Bruins,
Major f. r.. Southmayd,
DR.. G. Beard and Capt.
Il. B. Peasants.
NEW ORLEANS, June 9, 1879.


respectfully submit our views to your honor
able body, hoping, II 1t may be, to avoid q
division In our own ranks, which will Ger
tainly arise II scaling again of the face q
the debt is determined on.
we feel, too, perfectly at liberty TO thus
lay our views before you. inasmuch as no sus-
pic,on can be entertained Of our having any
personal interest In the matter as holders Of
State bonds, nor can we be charged as ever
having been other than incorporating In
our opposition to, and warfare against the
oppressive and ruinouS governments set and
held over us by Federal bayOnets prior to our
present administration. installed by the peo-
~ m y naxrs ei knowledge that very
many OF our own people have, since the
resolution oil the Nichols Legislature ID 1877,
and many more since che adoption Of our party
platform LII August last. adopted as being
finally settled the. State debt as at present
State bonds, we think 1t would be an injustice
10 such TO now disturb the principal OF the
said debt. 1t was not only considered o patri-
otic act to invest In these bonds, In order to
give Hat denial to the charge OF Packard and
his retainers, that the recognition Of the
funding act and the debt hereunder; but
these of us who were unable ourselves to
make such investments. strongly recon-
mended 1t others upon this ground, % also for
the reason that We considered lta profitable n
our people invested their savings and trust
funds lii these securities.
we do not think 1t can be denied that had
W. III 1876 and 1877 asserted that upon the sue
cess III our ticket we would have taken any
report Of the majority OF your Committee
upon the State Debt our ticket would GER
fainly have been defeated; for we would not
only have had q large vote and influence
against us In this city, but we would
have nsada enemies o. large sentiment
standing with us, compelled the non-interfer-
ence of the Federal administration, and led
10 Its final recognition Of our government.
The foregoing would Of themselves be good
enough grounds on which to base . strong
and valid argument against now disturbing
the principal of the State debt, Us passed
upon by our own Legislature, by our own
Supreme Court, and by our party; but 1t Is
also clearly to be shown that the first and
crying demand OF the people for full relief
burden of taxationl can be accorded them,
and at the same time the face OF the debt be
left undisturbed
None recognize more fully than do we the
Justice and necessity Of the demand Of the
den and we feel It's weight; and because we
felt the burden, and because We felt that relief
from Its weight could come only from the
Democratic party, we have advocated and
labored for the success OF that party, at all
times and under all circumstances.
We believe that the foundation really OF the
proposed scaling OF the debt was the need OF
the people for low taxation, coupled with
their belief that with o debt which re-
Quired 5h mills annually. for Its liqui-
dalton, tine relief needed was impos-
sible OF attainment. Our people, therefore,
drew the conclusion that the debt must be-
scaled. Some journals haveso advocated the
rights Of the bondholders as to confirm this
belief Of The people. and others ,t have go IN,
motives Of gentlemen who thought 1t proper
and necessary to reduce the principal OF the
debt, that their feelings have been aroused to
the prejudice OF the interests Of bondhoIders,
sible for the utterances OF such Journals, but
only for such propositions as they themselves
directly, or through their representatives,
put before your body.
We have reason to believe that large ma
In their demand for low limit Of taxation,
and that they will accept rate Of reduced
interest upon their bonds, which will afford
the people the relief needed.
Let The Convention, then, starting on a
basis of reduction In assessments this year
from SIT, 100000 to $780, 100000, fix the limit
of taxation for all purposes at mills, and
fixing poll tax OF not less than 50 so on
every voter, making the yearly payment OF
this poll tax the necessary prerequisite for
exercising the rightpf franchise, the revenue
six mills on $50, OOo, 900 is 100000
From poll tax 600. 600 voters). 1855. 250,0OO
Licenses from lotteries, bar-rooms,
corporations, beer and concert
saloons, etc (remitting licenses
on small trades, etC) ~ 100000