New-York tribune., 1867-07-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

-..r 't .. 49, - eIf rf.rIfrn
THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS SAID TO NAME THE
UNITED STATES RESPONSIBLE PoRTHE DIETS
or THE soUrH-A DEBT or Slpo,oooooo ne
BE ENTAILED on THE COUNTRY.
sY5rrIEsxAPH rRiBUsn
WASHINGTON, July l5-The following is tho
message transmitted to-day, addressed to tho
Senate of the United States.
transmit, herewith reports from the Secretary OF
War and the Attorney General containing the m-'
formation called for by the resolution Of the Senate,
of the Sd instant requesting the President 10 com
municae TO the Senate copies OF all orders insunc-
tons circulars letters, letters of advice, issuod
to the respective Military officers assigned to tho
command of the several Military Districts under
the act passed March 2, 1851 entitled An act
to provide for the more efficient government Of tho
Rebel States, and the act supplementary thereto
passed March g. 1867 - also copies Of all opinions
given to him by the AttorleyGeneral of the United
States. touching the construction and interpre-
tation of said acts, and of all correspondence
relating to the operation, construction. OF exc
cution of said acts and such as may
have taken place between himself and any
of such commanders, and between him and the
General of the Army or between the latter ana any
of the said commanders touching the same subjects;
also copies of all orders issued by any of said COM
either of then also that he inform the Senate What
progress has been made in the matter of registration:
under said acts and whether the Of money here
tofore appropriated for carrying them ont so 10 prob
ably sufficient. In answer TO that portion OF tho
resolution which inquiries whether the sum OF money
heretofore appropriated for carrying these acts into
effect is probably sufficient reference IL made TO tho
accompanying report OF the Secretary OF War. It
will be seen from that report that the appropriation
of $4,000 made in the act approved March ~, iso''
for the purpose Of carrying into effect the act 10 pro-
vide for the more efficient government OF the fopei
States passed March g. 1851 and the act supplement
tary. passed March 81 1867, has already been en-
pended by the commanders Of the general Military
Districts and that in addition the sum of $l64521
is required for present purposes II is exceedingly
difficult at the present time TO estimate the probabio
expense of carrying into full effect the two acts OF
March last and the bill which passed the two Rouses
of Congress on the 18th inst IL the existing Govern
ments of the ten States of the Union are to he de
| posad and their entire machinery is to be placed
uuder the exclusive lcontrol and authority o5 the
respective District Commanders, all the ,e,pendi-
lures incident the administration OF such oo'erb-
ments must necessarily be incurred by the federi
Government 1t is believed that III addition 10 tho
600 already expended, an estimate for the sum
which will be required for this purpose
| aggregate amount expended prior to the Rebellion
in the administration OF their respective govern
mens by the ten States embraced i'll the PROVISIONS
| of these acts The sum expended would, no doubt
be considerably augmented il the machinery of tbeso
States is to be operated by the Federal Government
and would be largely increased if the United Statef'
by abolishing the existing State Governments shonld
become responsible for liabilities inenrred by them
before the Rebellion in andable efforts TO develops
her resources aud in nOwise created for nsnecton-
ary purposes The debt of these States thus legt-
matey incurred when accurately ascertaned. will. It
is believed Approximate hundred millions OF dollars,
and they are held not only by our own c'tizens,
among whom are residents of portions of the country
which have ever remained loyal to the Union, but
| by persons who are the subjects Of foreign Govern
| ments. II is worthy the consideration of Congress
and the country whether if the Federal Governmebt
by action were to assume such obligations 10 largo
an addition to our public expenditures would NOT
seriously impair the credit of the nation Or on th"
other hand whether the refusal Of Congress TO guar
antee the payment of the debts of those States after
having displaced or abolished their State Govern
ments would not be viewed violation Of good
faith, and a reputation by the National Legislature
of liabilities which these States had justly and
legally incurred. ANDREW JOHNSON
Washington, ID. c., July is, 1857.