Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-07-19
Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.
From Washington.

From Washington.
Nessogesof the President Erpenses Of Re
construction Debts ofthe Southern States
An Important Consideration, &c.
WASHINGTON, July 15.--In reply to a
resolution of the Senate, the President to-
Gay sent in to that body the orders, CORES
pondence, &C., with military commanders,
&C., &C., and the War Department esti-
mates regarding the amount necessary to
carry out the reconstruction measures.
In answer to that portion of the resolution
which inquiries whether the sums of money
heretofore appropriated for carrying these
acts into effect is probably sufficient, the
President refers to an accompanying report
Of the Secretary of war, and says: ut will
be seen from that report that the appropria-
tiQn Of $500, 900 made in the act approved
March 80, 1867, for the purpose of carrying
into effect the 'act to provide for the more
efficient government Of the rebel States,
passed March 2, 1867, and the act supple
mentary thereto, passed March %, 1867,
has already been expended by the comnan-
ders of the several military districts, and that
in addition, the sum of 81 ,64S, PIT is requi-
red for present purposes
1t is exceedingly difficult at the present
time to estimate the probable expenditure
of carrying into full effect the two acts of
March last and the bill which passed the two
houses Of Congress on the 18th. If the ex-
listing governments Of ten States of this
Union are to be deposed, and the entire ma
chinery is to be placed under the exclusive
control and authority Of the district COM
manders, all the expenditures incident to the
necessarily be incurred by the federal gov
eminent 1t is believed that, in addition to
the two millions one hundred thousand dol
lars already expended, or estimated for, the
sums which would be required for the pur-
pose would not be less than $4,000, 600,
the 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 operated by the federal government,
and would be largely increased if the United
States, by abo)ishng 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 no wise created for insurrectionary or
revolutionary purposes. The debts of these
States, thus legitimately incurred, when ac-
curatey ascertained, will, it is believed, APP
proximate 800, 600 600, and they are held
not only by our own citizens, among whom
are residents Of the portion Of the country
which has ever remained loyal to the Union,
but by persons who are the subjects of
foreign governments
It is worthy the consideration of Congress
and the country whether, if the federal gov
eminent, by its action were to assume such
obligation, SO large an addition to our public
expenditures would not seriously impair the
credit Of the nation or, on the other hand,
whether the refusal of Congress to guarantee
the payment Of the debts of these States, af-
ter having displaced or abolished these State
governments. it would not be viewed as a
violation Of good faith and reputation by
the national legislature of liabilities which
these States had justly and legally incurred.
ANDREW JOHNSON.