The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-20
The Presidents Message, with the ac-
ton of the House Thereon.

The Presidents Message, with the ac-
ton of the House Thereon.
The President sent in message to the
Congress on Monday last, in relation to the,
expenses incurred in the work of reconstruc-
ton, in which he went out of his way to make
the following observations
at is exceedingly difficult, at the present
time, to estimate the probable expense of
carrying into full effect the two acts of March
last, and the bill which passed the two
houses of Congress on the 18th inst. If the
existing governments of ten States of the
Union are to be deposed, and their entire
machinery is to be placed under the exclu-
sive control and authority of the respective
district commanders, all the expenditures
incident to the administration of such gov
eminent must necessarily be incurred by the
Federal government. 1t is believed that IN
addition to the So, 100000 already expended
or estimated for, the sum which would be
required for this purpose would not be less
than fourteen millions of dollars-the aggre-
gate amount expended prior to the rebellion
| in the administration of their respective gov
ernments by the ten States embraced in
the provisions of these acts. This sum
would no doubt be considerably augmented
if the machinery of these States is to be op-
Grated by the Federal Government, and
would be largely increased if the United
States, by aboishing the existing State gov
ernments, should become responsible for liza
bilities incurred by them before the rebellion,
in laudable efforts to develop their resources,
and in nowise created for insurrectionary or
revolutionary purposes The debts of these
States, thus legitimate incurred, when accu-
rately ascertained, will, it is believed, ap-
proximate hundred millions of dollars, and
| they are held not only by our own citizens,
among whom are residents of portions OF the
country which have ever remained loyal to
the Union, but by persons who are the sub
jects of foreign governments. 1t IS worthy
| the consideration of Congress and the coun-
try whether, if the Federal Government by
its action were to assume such obligations,
so large an addition to our public expendl-
lures would not seriously impair the credit
of the nation: or on the other hand, whether
the refusal of Congress to guarantee the pay
ment of the debts of these States, after hav-
ing displaced or abolished their State gov
ernments, would not be viewed as violation
of good faith, and reputation by the Ma
tional Legislature of liabilities which these
States had Justly and legally incurred"
Thereupon the following was introduced
into the House and at once passed under a
suspension of the rules:
1.-THE doctrine avowed by the President,
that the abnegation of the rebel States binds
the nation to pay their debts incurred prior
to the rebellion, it is at war with the princi-
piles of international law, stab at the ma
tional credit, abhorrent to every sentiment of
loyalty, and pleasing only to traitors, their
allies and sympathizers by whose agency
alone the governments of the said States
were oyerthrown."
This is the most singing and blasting re-
Duke ever administered to any President by
the peoples representatives. The great
body of our loyal people will feel that it is
deserved.