The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-24
"RadIcaI Robbery .

Under this title, the Washington
Patriot collates the facts and figures
of the finances of several Southern
States under Radical rule. The result
is astonishing. For instance, Ten
nessee has dher public debtincreased
by $37, ,527, ,494 O3, since 1851. The
value of the property of the State has
diminished seventy-eight and one-half
millions in value, and yet the aug
mented debt is seven fold. In 1851,
the rate of taxation was fifteen cents
per one hundred dollars, and thirty.6ve
cents on each poll. In 1871, the rate
of taxation is sixty cents per one hun
dred dollars on property, and fifty cents
on each poll for school purposes. at
is hardly possible to regard this ex-
posure with patience" says the Patri-
OF, "even in the presence of the cold
but astounding fgures." In Texas, as
our readers are already well aware, the
Radical robbing" is on far more
gigantic scale. Instead of sixty cents
to the hundred dollars, the Comptrol-
ler assures us. that two dollars and
twenty-five cents to the hundred dol
lars is imposed by the Davis-Alexan-
der administration upon the people of
Texas-more than three times as much
as the infamous old blackguard,
Brownlow, extorted from the people of
Tennessee. We suppose that our rob-
bers and tyrants are determined to so
impOverish our people as to render it
impossible for them to throw off these
robbers as the Tennaseeans have done.
We have not space to-day for a
synopsis of the injustices perpetuated
upon the people of South Carolina,
Georgia and North Carolina, but will
take an early occasion to do SO. We
conclude in the forcible language of
the Patriot :l ad .e .,g
70 expose effectively the organized
system of plunder and outrage, with
which Radical rule has effected the
South, wherever a foothold was even
temporarily obtained, requires patient
and careful investigation. In some of
these States the plunderers have striV-
en- TO cover up their tracks; in others,
to authorize corrupt abuses by the
form of law, and in others still, they
have boldly seized upon the treasury
and taxes, with the simple "stand and
deliver of a highwayman. Recon
struction has been the great element
of strength, in perfecting political
conspiracy, which had plumber for its
exclusive object. And loyalty" has
played SO efficient part, that the worst
confederates and cut t-throats, against
whom every honest mans hand was
raised, are to-day the representatives
of that sentiment of Congress, or the
chosen instruments of Federal despot-
ism, for the persecution of the South
ern people.
We have already exposed tue bare
faced and monstrous robbery OF South
Carolina and Texas, by crew of rogues
aud thieves, such as no penitentiary
contains to-day. They and their in
struments, and the means employed to
oppress, pillage, and torture people,
already outraged by Federal tyranny,
are the foulest blot on modern civili-
lization. The worst forms of Commun-
ism in France have been rendered re-
spectacle by contrast with these "loy-
al' knaVes. There was at least the
excuse of hot passion and violent re-
venge for the Communists; but the
carpet-baggers have in cold blood,
and with calculating malice, matured
crimes, which are all the more infa-
nous for having been perpetrated in
the name of "moral ideas"