The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-07-25
MESSAGE From the President,

The following message was transmitted on
the 18th, addressed:
To the Senate ofHe United States Il trans
nit herewith reports from the Secretary OF
War and the Attorney General containing
the information called for by resolution of the
Senate of the Sd inst, requesting the Presi-
dent to communicate to the Senate copies of
all orders, instructions, circular letters or let
tiers of advice issued to the respective militia
ry officers assigned to the command of the
several military districts under the act passed
March 2, 1861 entitled "an act to provide for
the more efficient government of the rebel
states" and an act supplementary thereto,
passed March % 1867; also copies fall opin-
ions given him by the Attorney General of the
Uuited States touching the construction and
Interpretation of said act, and all correspon-
dence relating to the operations, construction,
or execution ofsaid acts, and such as may have
| taken place between himself and any such
commander, or between him and the General
| TO the army, or between the latter and said
commanders, touching the said subject; also,
copies of all orders caused to be issued by said
commanders for securing the carrying out OF
! the provisions of said act, or either of them /;
also that he inform the Senate what progress
! has been made in the matter of registration
under said acts, and whether the sum of mon
/ ey appropriated for carrying them out be prob
ably sufficient.
In answer to the portion of the resolution
whether the sum ofmOney appropriated Tor
carrying these acts into effect is probably suf-
fcient, reference is made to the accompany
ing report of the Secretary of War. 1t will be
seen from that report that the appropriation
OF S5O0,O0O made by the act approved March
80, 1867 for the purpose of carrying into effect
the act to provide for the more efficient gov
| eminent OF the rebel States, passed March 2,
1867, and the act supplementary thereto pass
ed March %, 1867, has already been expended
by the Commanders of the general military
districts; and that, in addition, the sum OF
s., 645'2f1 is required for present purposes.
1t 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 Con
gress on the 18th inst. If the existing Govern
mentS of the ten States of the Union are to
be deposed, and their entire machinery to be
placed under the exclusive control and author.
lty OF the respective District Commanders, all
expenditures incident to the administration
OF such Governments must necessarily be IN
cnrred by the FedeIal Government. 1t is be
lieved in addition to the 81, 100 900 already eX
pended, an estimate for the sum which VIII
be required tor this purpose would not be less
than fourteen millions, the aggregate amount
} expended prior to the rebellion in the admin
istration of their respective governments, by
the ten States embraced in the provisions O
these acts.-The sum expended would ne
doubt be considerably augmented il the ma
CHlH6TN Ol lueSG states Is 10 DC OpeTdteu DN
the Federal Government, and would be large
ly increased if the United States, by abolish
ing existing State Governments, should be
come responsible for liabilities incurred by
, them before the rebellion in their laudable eff
forts to develope resources, and in no wist
created for discretionary purposes. The debit
of these States thus legitimately incurred
will, it is believed, approximate to hundred
million of dollars, and they are held not only
by our own citizens, among whom are resi-
dents of portions of country which have eve
been loyal to the Union, but by persons who
, are subjects to foreign governments. 1t il
worthy OF the consideration of Congress anC
of the country, whether, if the Federal Gov
eminent, by its action, were to assume sucE
obligations, so large an addition to our public
expenditures would not seriously impair thu
credit Of the nation; or, on the other hand
whether the refusal of Congress to guarantee
the payment of these liza blities, after having
displaced or abolished their State govern
ments, would not be viewed as q violation o
good faith and reputation by the Nationa
Legislature of the liabilities which these
States had justly and legally Incurred.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, July 10, 1877.