Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-27
S2,792,4l9
sl.77O.sO2

SulsAA oNeSAtAoh' Inv INAieSiA'ioiy uHuSi
the old regime cost the State little over
81, 900 year; it was nearly self-sustain-
ing. Under Radical rule 1t has cost
nearly seventy thousand dollars
year, exclusive of the claim of the late
late lessces of nearly $500, 600. If the
courts shall allow this claim, the cost will
be near one hundred thousand dollars
year When it is remembered that this
institution should be self-sustaining, the
Radical management of the penitentiary
cannot but be regarded as outrageous.
Another item which shows reckless mis-
management or something worse, is the
cost of State prosecutions, which in four
and half years of Radical rule exceeded
that of the ten years previous to the war
BY nearly 100000. The Comptroller, in
his report to the Legislature, tells a tale
in regard to this item TO which we wish
to direct especial attention. He says:
at is not my purpose to weary the
Legislature with remarks, Tut / con-
slider il my duty here, at the close of the
table showing the receipts and disburse-
ments of the Treasury for the last two
fiscal years, specially to call the attention
Of the Legislature to the costs of State
prosecutions. The table shows that there
has actually been paid out of the Treasury,
ince October /, 1867, 1926, 947 SO on
account of State prosecutions. This does
not, however, give the whole amount that
las been presented, audited and warrants
lrawn for, inside of that time. The true
AMOUNT is 1868, 888 81, being $751;
9l9 lO4 for each year.
'It will be observed that, at the close
Of the fiscal year ending September 80,
1869, there were warrants outstanding to
the amount of 1927, 8l5 II; $67, $50 So
of the unpaid warrants, therefore, are for
costs of State prosecutions. Add tC this
1868, S3S 81, (the cost for the last two
years Sl75, 2S4 SO, (the amount that
was actually paid during the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1867, and we have
SJ39, 1913 o. for three years ending Oc-
tober /, 1869. OF this, Knoxville has re-
ceived S2l, 456 So; Nashville, 500, 1872 o.;
Memphis, $ll6,859 40.
''This statement shows a gradual in
crease of this item of expense, while the
resources of State reyenuedO Otincrease,
and when there is an actual falling off In
the amount received from the railroads.
Il am sure this subject deserves, and l
hope il will receive, the early and effect
i've attention of the Legislature. To me
It has been a subject of infinite labor and
| veXaiion; for have carefully examined
| these claims against the State, and have
paid only what | could not avoid paying.
Il have thoroughly studied it; and al
though some good might be done by
making certain changes in the criminal
| law, vet | think | am not at all mistaken
when | say to your honorable body, that
| the only means available 10 you, and by
which The situation can be purified, is 10
| close the door of the State Treasury ut
| once and forever against this 1COrSe than
! nuisance, and send its demands for money
| back to the county where its claims were
manufactured for the purpose of getting
money out of the State Treasury.
''There can be no possible reason why
| State prosecutions should cost the State
more than $4,000 per annum. But
think | understand the appliances resorted
| to, unlawfully accommodating costs
against the State, too well, not to know
| that il will not avail the State Treasury,
should your honorable body conclude land
rest the matter in that cOnclusion) that q
change of rulers or a change of Judges
will remove the evil complained of. We
are not living in the long ago, when
men had other thoughts than thoughts Of
robbing the Treasury; nor are we living
in the future, when we hope men will
worship an object higher than mann
! mon, but are living in the year of grace
1863, when men lean on money instead
of grace.
''TO prevent the unnecessary accumu-
lation of costs of State prosecutions,
! therefore, the bills must be settled by the
counties, with money taken directly out
of the pockets of the people.
The people of the States who pay the
taxes viii be surprised to learn that the
cost of State prosecutions in the last two
years has fallen only $4,000 short of
the cost of such prosecutions for the ten
years preceding the war. There is agross
abuse in this item which the Legislature
or the Constitutional Convention should
remedy.
Then the Radicals have thrown away
over a half million of the peoples money
on State guards 'loyal militia" The
power to thus squander the taxes wrung
from the people TO alone advance party
ends should he placed beyond the reach OF
a political party temporarily in power.
1t was a gross outrage upon right and
decency, that this '1oyal militia
| should have been called out and quar-
tered upon q people where a civil
officer could execute any sort of process.
The whole thing was simply to pension
for few months few regiments Of elee-
mosvnary, clamOrous Radicals. If party
holding and controlling the government OF
the State before the war had been guilty
| of such an outrageous usurpstion OF power
as is involved in this "loyal militia" bust
ness. the taxpayers of the State would
have risen in a mass and hurled the
usurpcrs from place and power. Let 1t be
so fixed in the organic law of the land that
in all the mutations of the future no pc,
H,ical party can pcrpetrate so foul wrong
with IMMUNITY.
Another act which was intended TO ben,
eft that class of Radicals who had to be
supported 4, the public expense was thai
to ascertain the losses Of "loyal citizens
during the war, with the avowed purpose
of getting Congress to make an
appopriation to Temuneratc them.
! Claims 10 the extent of several mil
! lions of dollars were filed with the
commissioners under this act, but nc
Radical Representative or Senator in Con
press from this State has had "cheek'
enough 20 present these claims to Con
gress and ask an appropriation to REIN
! burse these "loyal" citizens of Tennessee
who suffered so terribly during the war
Rut the ascertaining the amount OF these
losses cost the taxpayers of the STATE