Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-07-16
I Tho President on Reconstruction.

10 the Senate oftte United States:
I transmit herewith reports from the oecre-
tary Of War and the Attorney General, con-
tanning the information called tor by the reso
luton OF The Senate Of the Sd Instant request
ING the President ''to communicate TO the
Senate copies OF all orders, instructions, clrcu-
lar letters or letters of advice issued to the re-
spective military officers assigned to the com
mand Of the several military districts under
the act passed March 2, 1867, entitled IAN act
to provide for the more efficient government OF
the Rebel States, - and the act supplementary
thereto, passed March 23d, 1867; also, copies
of all opinions given to him by the Attorney
General of the United States touching the
construction and Interpretation OF SAID acts,
and of all correspondence relating to the opera
lion. construction or execution or said acts
that nav have taken place between himself
and any OF said Commanders, or between HIM
and the General Of the Army, or between the
| latter and any OF the said Commanders touch"
ing the same subjects; also, copies OF all orders
! issned by any OF said Commanders in carrying
out The provisions OF said acts or either OF
them: also, that he inform the Senate what
progress has been made in the matter Of regis
| tration under said acts, and whether the sum
of money heretofore appropriated Tor carrying
them out is probably sufficient.
IN answer to that portion of the resolution
which inquiries whether the sum OF money
heretofore appropriated for carrying, these
acts into effect is probably sufficient, reference
is made to the accompanying report OF ,tie
Secretary Of War 1t will be seen irom lhat
report that the appropriation OF live hundred
| fba
March go 1867, for the purpose OF carrying
into effect the ''act to provide for the more
efficient government Of the Rebel States,
nassed March 2, 1867, and the act supplement
tary, passed March 90, 1867, has already been
expended by the Commanders OF the several
military districts, and that in addition the sum
of 81, Gas, or is required Tor present PURPOSES
It is exceedingly difficult at the present
time, to estimate the probable expense OF car
rying into fall effect the two acts OF March
last. and the bill which passed the two Houses
Of CONGRESS On the thirteenth instant. II the
existing Governments OF ten States OF the
Union are TO be deposed, and their entire
machinery is to he placed under the exclusive
control and authority Of the respective District
Commanders, all the expenditures incident to
the administration Of such Governments must
necessarily be incurred by the Federal Govern
ment. 1t is believed that in addition to the
two millions one hundred thousand dollars
already expended or estimated tor, the sum
which would be required for this purpose wonid
not be less ttrn fourteen millions OF dollars, the
aggregate amount expended prior to the rebel
lion in the administration Of their respective
| Governments by the ten States embraced IN
| the provisions of these acts. This sum would,
no doubt, be considerably augmented IT the
| ,n,chi,nrv IF these States Ia to be operated by
the Federal Government, and would be largely
increased if the United States, by abolishing
the existing State Governments, should be-
come responsible for liabilities 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 lcgtlmately
| incurred, when accurately ascertaincd will, 1t
is believed, approximate hundred millions OF
dollars, and they arc 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
iects of foreign Governments. 1t is worthy
the consideration of Congress and the country
whether, if the Federal Government, by It's
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 other hand, whether the
refusal Of Congress to guarantee the payment
of the debts Of these States, alter having DIS
placed or abolished their State Governments ;,
would not be received as a violation OF good
faith, and i reputation by the National Leg,
islature Of liabilities which these States had
Justly and legally incurred.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. g., July Is, 1867.