32 La. Ann. 832 | La. | 1880
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is a proceeding under section 17 of Act 119, approved April 10, 1880, instituted by the sheriff and tax-collector of the parish of Ouachita, to collect from the defendant a license-tax, State and Parish, of twenty-five dollars per month for each, imposed under the 12tb section of said act upon “ all traveling agents from other States offering any species of merchandise for sale or selling the same.”
The defendant resists the payment of this license upon several grounds, among which we find the following : ■
That the imposition of this license violates paragraph one of section two of article four of the Constitution of the United States, which declares “ that the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of the citizens in the several States.”
There was judgment for the defendant, and the plaintiff has appealed.
This provision affords one of the most important constitutional guarantees for the protection of the citizen.
It was, doubtless, intended to secure to the citizens of each State the. enjoyment, every where within the limits of the Federal Union, of those fundamental privileges which belong of right to the citizens- of all free governments, and to prevent an unjust discrimination on the part of any State against citizens of another State in the full and free exercise of these privileges.
■We gather from the decisions of the Federal and State Courts that among the privileges and immunities this provision was intended specially to secure were the enjoyment of life and liberty, the right to acquire and possess property of every kind, to pass through and reside in any State for the purpose of trade, the right to sue in any of the State Courts, and to sell or dispose of property, real or personal, and all such similar immunities. With respect to these privileges, it was designed to place the citizens of all States upon a common basis of entire and perfect equality.
The increased inter-State trade and commerce of late years has developed a class of business men, now recognized as a distinct profession or calling, known and designated as “commercial or traveling agents,” who travel throughout the different States as representatives of commercial houses, and sell goods and merchandise by orders. This class of agents is made the subject of legislation by the section of the statute above referred to. Some of them are citizens of this State, and some of other States.
The section in question imposes a license of twenty-five dollars a month on “ traveling agents from oilier States,” but exacts no license or tax upon the same class of persons who are citizens of this State. And the question again recurs, does this violate that provision of the Federal Constitution which declares that “the citizens of each State shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities of the several States ? ”
Privileges and immunities are synonymous terms. Privilege signifies a peculiar advantage, exemption, immunity; immunity signifies exemption, privilege.
When we consider the meaning of these terms, and reflect upon the important object sought to be accomplished by this constitutional provision, so essential, not only to unrestricted trade and intercourse between the States, but even to the -liberties and highest privileges of the citizens of a-common country, we are bound to conclude that a requirement of a State law that discriminates so glaringly against citizens of other States and in favor of the citizens of its own State, is designed
Cooley in his work on Taxation, page 64, says :
“ The Federal Constitution provides that the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens of the several States. Among these privileges is that of being exempt in other States from higher taxes or impositions than are paid by the citizens of such other States. Under this provision, while it is entirely admissible to levy taxes upon the business and property of non-resident traders within the State, it is not competent to require them to take out a license and pay therefor a sum greater than that demanded of residents. Different methods of procedure may be expedient in order to secure uniformity of taxation as between residents and non-residents, and these are not objectionable, if uniformity is the purpose, and they have a tendency to secure it.”
It has been held, by the Supreme Court of the United States, that the clause of the Federal Constitution referred to “ relieves citizens from the disabilities of alienage in other States. It inhibits discriminating legislation against them by other States. It insures to them in other States the same freedom, privileges, and immunities possessed by the citizens of those States in the acquisition and enjoyment of property, and secures to them the equal protection of their laws in their lawful pursuits.” Paul vs. Virginia, 8 Wall. 168 ; Ward vs. Maryland, 12 Wall. 418 ; Carfield vs. Coryell, 4 Washington C. C. 371, 380.
And again:
“ The main object of this clause was to prevent each State from discriminating in favor of its own people, or against those of any other. It secures not only absolute equality of rights and privileges with every citizen of each State, but all such privileges and immunities in any State as are by the laws and constitution thereof secured and extended to her own people ol the same class.” Davis Pierce, 7 Minn. 13.
It is with reluctance that we declare null any provision of the law establishing the revenue system of the State, but we are compelled to yield to the weight of authority on the subject.
There are several other questions raised by the pleadings, but the views we have expressed on this first point presented, which are conclusive of the case, render It unnecessary to discuss them.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the judgment of the lower court be affirmed with costs.