The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-05-21
The Robbery OF thc sumsIa.

The editors Of Radical papers, and
the leaders Of that party, have Been en-
gagged, dming several years, informing
the people that their measures for the
reconstruction Of the Southern States
had proven b ncticial to the peoIl> there
and we're just what they needed to CT.
sure their prosperity.
The Committee ON alleged outrages in
those States has declared in so many
words, that two hundred and fifty mil
lions of dollars have been stolen from
ten States that had been previously des.
olated by four years of civil war.
\ better idea may he formed OF the
nature and extent Of the Wholesale plum.
der which was perpetrated,hy separating
a sing lie illustration from the mass, and
contemplating the spectacle Of ruined
and wrecked community, but recently
prosperous, and enjoying the highest
credit at home and abroad Let us take
North Carolina for the present example,
and exhibit its condition in the changes
of single decade:
Taxable property of the State of North Carroll
ma in 1860, S292,237, ,T02
in 1870 13O,37s,6 ,6as
Taxation for State purposes in 1860, 543,643
Taxation for State purposes in 1870, 1,l6U,4l3
Taxation for county purposes in 1860, 255, II
Taxation for county purposes in 1870, 923,624
Average cost of conducting the State
government for three years, QS5S,
1869 and 1867 137,917
Average cost for three years, QS6S,
1869 an>i 1907 57673S
Public debt of n. Carolina in 1861, 9,699500
Public debt of N ICarolins in 1871, 34,S67, ,465
1t appears from these figures that the
taxable property Of 1870 was much less
than one half what it was in 1860, while
the actual taxation for 1870 was more
than double that Of 1860 The taxation
for county purposes increased over four
fold. and the cost of carrying on the
State government augmented in the
same proportion. The debt of the State
from being nine millions in 1861 rose to
thirty-four millions in 1871!
These are visible results which cannot
be disputed, and they serve to demon
strate the effects of reconstruction all
over the South, for every one Of the
other States is in the same gloomy cate.
CORY, and furnishes q record bristling all
over with facts that are equally astound-
ing. The systematic manner in which
these odtrases were contrived.and car.
ried on, proves preconcert Gni ong the
political agents, who were prompted and
patroniEed by the Administration, fol
the purpose of building up party in
the South to support Radicalism, which
lis now used as an instrument to promote
the re election of Gen. GRANT. From
North Carolina to Texas the same means
were employed, and the same character
of emissaries enlisted in the Federal ser
vice.
These alien adventurers appointed tc
rule over eight millions of brave and in
telligeHt 'white freemen," as they ars
called in bitter irony, were selected with
apparent reference to previous?potofiety
, for un6tness ana want Of integrity OIL
social standing. The ocry cutters Of Tx
NORTH vere dragged to find Gosernors
collectors, postssastsrs, judges and othe'
officers for the Southern States. This
partiality for the refuse of Eastern
cities was doubtless manifested on nc,
count of the edious duties which they
were expected to perform. Honorable
men would not undertake such service
from its degrading functions. Only the
base and mercenary Ishmaelites, agains
whom the hands of all honest men wer.
raised, could or did, as rule accep
these offices. They went armed with al
the authority which the President coult
confer, to enforce his despotic commands
and with protecting commissions to spo
late at discretion.
And now the world is furnished will
official proof, that the complaints of thi
!. outraged people, bowed down by tria
and adversely and prosecuted with ever.
form of malignant. torture, sink into in
significance when contrasted with the &C
tual and awful reality. History furnish
es no parallel to the wrongs inflicted
upon this conquered country, peoplec
with our flesh and blood, and bound t.
us by all The tender ties of kindred ant
affection. The crimes Of WARREN Has
TIKGs. made famous by an episode, whicl
will endure while public virtue and con
msndisg eloquence are cherished, mer
examples of moderation and merit, a
they stand side by eide with the blacl
deeds of devastation, and the wanto
wickedness that describe the career 0
that vulgar and venal crew Of thievin!
knaves, canting cut-thrcsts, and snivel
ing scoundrels, who have reTeled an
rioted in the South under the shelter Q
Radical rule.
General GRANT and his Administrd
ton are responsible for this inhumanty
They are aaSwerable for these crimes
For, beyond the admitted outrages whR
are now recorded, they demanded, at tn
instigation of these rogues and ruifians
new powers from Congress, in order t
Cypress still more communities alread
crushed under load of poverty and dc
spair, and at this very day are drivin
peaceful people from their homes il
South Carolina, to glutthe vengeance O
,vo,i,