Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, JULY IS, 1867.
Presidents JOhnSon's Message Con-
corning the Southern Debt.

Notwithstanding the Presidents out
spoken objections TO all measures of
Congress tending 10 the restoration Of
the rebel States to the Union, he has
throughout the reign OF ill.feeling be-
tween himself and the majority of that
body had many friends, who insisted that
he was equally loyal as the members OF
the national legislature and WAS equally
anxious for the welfare OF the general
government and its restoration to its
rightful authority over the rebellious
States. But we believe even these
friends will now In great measure
bear us out in the assertion that the
grounds taken by the President In his
message to the Senate on Monday last
would come with much better grace
from the traitor Davis or his rebel Secre-
tary OF State than from the Chief Magis-
trate OF the people who unspsringly
sacrificed blood and treasure to put
down the rebellion wased by Southern
slaveocrats against the government to
which they owed their bounty and pres
tige. Indeed, it is just such message
and expressed in precisely such favor
able language to the South as 1t might
contain did Davis, Toombs or Yancey
dictate its writing; and though we are
willing to confess that we expected lit
tie better of johnson, his admirers can
not fail OF being disappointed, and must
class it as the most unwise OF his many
inconsistent acts. 1t is virtually the
last feather upon the camel's Back, and
his supporters must fall under it.
The message was sent to the Senate in
Pursuance of resolution passed by that
body on the third instant, requesting
the President to communicate to the
Senate copies of orders, instructions,
circulars, letters, letters Of advice, is
sued to the respective military officers
assigned to the command Of the several
Military Districts, under the act passed
March 2, 1867, entitled 'An act to pro.
vide for the more efficient government
Of the rebel States, and the act sup,
Elementary thereto, passed. March 23d,
1867 ~ also copies Of all opinions
given to him by the Attorney-Genersl o.
the United States, touching the construc-
tion and Interpretation Of said acts, and
Of all correspondence relating to the ope-
ration, construction, or execution of said
acts, and such as may have taken place
between himself and any of such CON-
manders, and between him and the
General of the army, or between the
latter and any Of the said command
ers, touching the same subjects.
After furnishing the information asked
for in the resolution, the President
gravely takes the liberty Of informing
the Senate that 'if the existing Govern
ments of the ten States Of the Union
are to be deposed, and their entire ma
chinery is to be placed under the exclu-
sive control and authority Of the re-
spective District Commanders, all the
expenditures incident to the administra-
ton of such Governments must neces-
sarily be incurred by the Federal Gov
eminent"
He adds;
"The debt of these States thus legiti-
mately incurred, when accurately ascer-
tanned, will, it is believed, approximate
hundred million of dollars, and they
are held not only by our own citizens,
among whom are residents OF portions
of the country which have ever re.
manned loyal to the Union, but by
persons who are the subjects Of foreign
Governments. 1t is worthy the con-
sideratiOn of Congress and the country
whether, i, the Federal Government by
action were to assume such obligations,
so large an addition to our public eX-
penditures would not seriously impair
the credit of the nation. Or, on the
other hand, whether the refusal Of Con-
gress to guarantee the payment Of the
debts of these States, after having dis
placed or abolished their State Govern
mems, would not be viewed as a viola.
tion of good faith, and reputation by
the National Legislature of liabilities
which these States had justly and le-
gaIly incurred.
This certainly is strange logic, and
could have matsred in the brain of none
olher than Andrew Johnson. That the
government, after ten States of the
Union had exhausted themselves in en-
deavoring to rend it assunder, and then
allowing them to 60 scot free Of punish
ment, as well as using all means under
its control to restore them to their pris-
tine yigor and glory, should assume one
hundred millions of their old debt, is an
idea as original as it is psepostrous, and
the people will not be surprised to know
that not one Democrat could be found
in the Senate to sustain the Presidents
ridiculous reasoning.
According to the President we have
pla ced ourselves in a terrible dilemma
bv the establishment of military gov
- la- ,-t