Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-18
PLACES OF HOLDING ELECTIONS.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

Fourteen Millions Required per An
mum for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AS
sumes the Debts of a Conquered PeO-
pie, etc.
The following message has been trans.
mitted to the Senate of the United States (:
| transmit herewith reports from the
Secretary of War and the Attorney Gen
eral containing the information called for
by the resolution of the Senate of the Sd
inst, requesting the President to communi-
cate TO the Senate copies of all orders, in
structions, circular letters or letters of
advice issued to the respective military
officers assigned TO the command of the
several military districts, under the act
passed March I'd, 1867, entitled an act to
provide for the more efficient government
of the Rebel States, and an act supplement-
airy thereto, passed March 23d, 1867; also,
copies of all opinions given by him, by the
Attorney General of the United States,
touching the construction and interpreta-
ton of said acts and such as may have
taken place between himself and any such
commander, or between him and the Gem
eral of the army, or between the latter and
said commander touching the said subject :;
also, copies of all orders issued by said
commander in carrying oct the provisions
of said acts, or either of them; also, that
he inform the Senate what progress he has
made in the matter of registration under
said acts, and whether the sum Of money
appropriated for carrying them out be
probably sufficient.
In answer to that portion of the resolu-
ton whether the sum of money appropri-
ated for carrying these acts into effect is
probably sufficient, reference is made to the
accompanying report of the Secretary of
War. 1t will be seen from the report that
the appropriation of 100000 mace in the
act approved March 80, 1867, for the pur-
pose Of carrying into effect and to provide
for the more efficient government of the
Rebel States, passed March 2, 1867, and the
act supplementary, passed March %, 1867,
mas already been expended by the general
military districts, and that in addition
the sum of 81 ,647 ,277 is required for the
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 Congress on the 18th inst.
If the existing governments of the ten
States Of the Union are to be deposed, and
their entire machinery to be placed under
the exclusive control and authority of re-
spective district commanders, all expendi
lures incident 20 the administration of such
governments must necessarily be incurred
by the Federal government.
lis believed in addition to the $780,
600 already expended, and estimate for the
SUM which will be required for this pur-
pose would not be less than $4,000, 900.
The aggregate amount expended prior to
the rebellion in the administration Of their
respective governments, by the ten States
embraced in the provision of these acts.
The sum expended would no doubt be con-
siderably augmented if the machinery Of
these States is to be operated by the Federal
government, and would be largely increased
II the United States, by abolishing the ex-
isting State governments, should be respon-
sible for liabilities incurred by them before
the rebellion, in laudable efforts to develop
their resources, and in no wise created for
insurrectionary purposes.
The debt of these States, thus legitimately
incurred. when accurately ascertained, will,
It is believed, approximate hundred mil
lion dollars, and they are held not only by
our citizens, among whom are residents of
portions of the country which have ever
been loyal to the Union, but by persons
who are subjects of foreign governments.
It is worthy of the consideration Of Con-
qress and the country whether, if the Fed
sral government by action, were TO assume
such obligations, so large an addition to our
public expenditures would not seriously
impair the credit Of the nation, or, on the
the other hand, whether the refusal Of
Congress to guaranty the payment Of these
States. after having displaced or abolished
their State governments, 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.
TSigned1 ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1867.