The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-06-22
ISSUES OF THE CANVASS
wAsTEFUL EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC
MONEY BY THE cARPET-BAG HARPIEs-
CASES IN POINT.

01lSSlSSippi, will the SACCpAoA "a AAS
knaves who traded with the common
enemy, and protesting to be on one side
levied contributions on the other for
services rendered as spies-had been
brought to the lowest depths of poverty.
The merchants finding their means all
swept out of existence by the war, were
compelled to compromise with their cred
itors on terms that under other circum-
stances they would have considered
disgraceful The owners of landed es-
tates found their labor all gone-their
fences burnt or rotted to the ground-in
many cases their dwellings destroyed by
the torch, and invariably their gin houses
if within reach of the enemy-and their
plantations gone to waste. They had
neither means nor credit.
A large class of the destitute persons
were the wives, mothers and daughters
of men who had fallen in the struggle. .
OF the emancipated classes it may be
truly said that their condition was no less
deplorable. They were not only without
means, but the responsibilities of freedom
had been thrust suddenly upon them
when they were incapable of bearing
them. Traditional slaves, they had no
idea of the meaning of freedom" except
that it acquitted them of the hardship of
labor and licensed them to follow what
ever propensity they might choose to
indulge. The government recognized the
dependent condition of this class by ma
ing them the recipient of all its benefac-
tions. A department, or bureau, was
established with the especial object of
taking care of them through agencies
which were organized with almost I'M
limited control in every part of the
South.
While all classes were still struggling
in the slough of the common calamity,
the Radical party established its govern
ments through bayonet agencies in the
Southern States, Mississippi among the
rest. Men of its own dictation were put
in possession of the reconstructed gov
ernments. The various departments
were filled for the most part, as the New
York Tribune has admitted, "by rascally
adventures and refuse of Northern soci-
ETY. who came South out-at-elbows to
make their fortunes"-by ignorant negro
dupes, many of whom did not know the
first letter in the alphabet-and by the
scurvy renegades and thieves who were
native to the soil and readily became
participants in the work of gathering up
the wreck" as one of the crew has appro
priately described their occupation.
These reconstructed governments
launched at once into the widest schemes
of proAigate expenditure. They multi
piled Offices with enormously increased
salaries-created jobs-and imposed high
er taxes.
In Mississippi though two-thirds of the
aggregate value of the property of the
State has been destroyed, five times the
amount in taxes are levied and collected
than before the war.
We have shown how 81, 900 were
on the Governors Mansion.
How $4,000 were dedicated to a
Secret Service, for the expenditure of
which the agent entrusted with it is
to no power on earth.
How half million or more of dollars
worth of labor belonging to the State
S120, 900 for the purchase of material to
operate it with-and $4,000 in actual
cash-were appropriated on account of
the Penitentiary when there were re-
sponsible parties offering to pay the State
a liberal sum of money for its use
How 1928, 900 per annum see Mus
groves report are expended on account
of the Judiciary which, when such jurists
as G. p. Smith and w. L. Sharkey were
on the bench, cost the State s35, 200.
How $195, 900 [see Musgrove's report
are expended for assessing when formerly
the same service was performed for
10000.
How SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
we're appropriated in a single act with
put specification of items to show for
what purpose the money was to be drawn.
And many other things which would oc-
,upy columns, might be cited.
ILLUSTRATION.
Now, in further illustration Of the
orofigacy and extravaganza of these
ldventurers and public robbers, let US
ook at the expenditures incurred in fit
ing up the Representatives and Senate
and other apartments in the
.apitol. We will premise that these
ooms were all amply provided with fur
liture for the accommodation of members
f the Legislature and others who are fill
ng the Offices. Throwing aside the old
furniture, the yellow men-both of them
arpet-baggers-in charge of those cham
and charged the State
nth bills of furniture, which were al
owed, as follows:
/