Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-07
THE COsT OF EXPERIMENTATION

NONA vi
An important document is the com,
munication from the Paymaster General,
sent to Congress on the 24th ult, by the
Secretary of War, submitting an estimate
Of the amount required to meet deJici-
ercies in the appropriations for the exc
cution Of the reconstruction acts in the
five military districts of the South for the
remainder Of the fiscal year, ending June
80 1868 From this document we quote
as follows:
In the First District, deficiency $4,000.
Amount required for holding election
upon the rejection or adoption Of the Con-
stitution, and for the registration of voters
prior to such election, SIS, 900.
For the administration Of justice by
military commission, to December /, 1868,
$4,000 Total, $4,000.
In the Second District the deficiencies
are $l27s9S % required to jane 80,
1869, $4,000. Total, $l5l, 1913 %.
Third District-Toial required to June
80, 1862 100000.
Fourth Observation-Disclosures to June 80,
1863, $50 200; 10 June 80, 1859, SOS, 4SO.
Total Sl6l, $50.
Fifth District Deficiencies to June So
1868, $4,000; TO June 80, 1869 $50, 900
Total $685. 600.
Making for the Eve districts a grand
total OF S63l, SIS %.
These are figures, says the indianapolis
Sentinel, that the people would do well
to consider They can get from them a
slight glance Of what Radical reconstruc-
ton has cost and is costing the country
but the glance is only a very slight
one. The peoples money has been
squandered without stint TO keep up a
military despotism in the South, to en-
force negro superiority there, and to feed
and clothe the lazy negro population.
Hundreds Of millions have been spent in
this way, and viii continue to be spent
every year, as long as Radicalism is in
power. And yet the money spentin carry
ing into execution the reconstruction acts
and supporting the military and the
horde If ofice-holders which these acts
render necessary, is not the only, or by
any means, the heaviest loss to the peo~
pie, The deep distrust and the want Of
confidence which these oppressive laws
have begotten in the minds Of the South
ern people, have crushed the industry
and seriously retarded the prosperity of
that section, and the South is poor to-
day, unable to assist the Northern peo~
pie to pay their share Of the taxa
ton assessed by the governments,
solely and entirely because the wither-
ing and blasting hand of Radicalism
has lain heavy and crushing upon the
energies and industry of the people
Had there been no standing army IN the
South to carry out the prosecuting edicts
Of Radical shoulder straps had there
been no military despotism, alarming to
the people, and preventing immigration
had there been no Freedman's Bureau,
backing up the negroes to vice, idleness,
and insolent characterization 10 their
white employers had their been no at.
tempt 10 force negro suffrage and negro
superiority upon the white people Of that
cauntry-In short If our legislation had
not been the offspring Of hate, malice,
revenge and vindictiveness, the S1nth |
would have measurably recovered from |
the desolations Of the war by this time, |
and would have been making rapid and |
giant strides 10 that prosperity and |
wealth which, before the war, constitu-
ted her the chief source from which the |
national wealth was derived aud, be
sides would have rendered her able 70
help the North in paying the onerous
taxation required by the necessities of
.he government Bot Radicalism prefers
hat the negro should rule, rather than
he country should flourish and prosper,
md the people be relieved from taxation
The time has come, however, when the
,eople can say whether they prefer this
policy Of national destruction TO that
policy which seeks alene the
and Advancement OF the tohOie
'ouRtry North and South, East and
Vest