The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-09-13
State debt
Sj0,0GO.477
S2lS.ll6.I44


Startling, however, as this exhibit may
seem, showing these impoverished commu-
mites TO have been plundered Of $l6S, 057,-
0lO in three short years of attempted re-
storation, 1t only represents q very small
part Of the injury inflicted. The enhanced
cost of conducting state administrations
has fully kept pace with the unprecedent-
ed imitation of debt, while taxation has
gone, in many instances, to the extent of
stripping the people of all means ofliving.
Thus, in Arkansas, the annual cost of con-
Quoting the government was In 1860 S2O4,-
O99, while in 1871 it is shown to have been
81, l4O,372. The tax rate before the war
was 81 mills; 1t now exceeds 40 mills.
Florida shows like increase of the gen.
eral tax rate from 20 cents on the 500 to
81 20, producing $4,000 of taxes than as
against S47l,sll of extortion now. In
Georgia the expense of administration was,
in 1868, S325,6OO; in 1871, $924,4l3, with
tax rates increased from Ct cents TO 81 10
on the 500. The tax rate in Louisiana
has gone up from 8 mills to l4A mills,
whilst in Mississippi the conduct of affairs
which cost annually about 100000 in
1860, is reported at $4,000 in 1870
showing an increase of 500 per cent. AL
ALBANIA, likewise, has been victimized
frghtfully. The tax return there in 1860
was 1851, III; in 1870, 81 ,9s2, 1892, with an
increase in the rates from 20 cents to 50 on
the hundred. North Carolina, in like
manner, has been necessitated to multiply
four or five times her taxation to meet ex-
penses, passing from 40 cents to 81 30 on
the hundred. South Carolina has been
for the carpet-baggers "a field of cloth and
gold'-the tax levied for state purposes in
1861 only 100000, whilst last year it is
reported by the congressional committee
as over 100000. Texas, the last of
these nine states, has now n tax rate for
state and county purposes OF 50 II, whilst
q committee appointed to investigate the
alarming increase of taxation reports that
there was collected from the people last
year as general taxes the enormous sum
OF S5,36l ,OoO-an extortion from an unre-
sisting community unprecedented in the
history of the world.
Bear in mind, too, that for this vast in
Fiction of debt, and this exhaustive an
nual drain, the formerm ortgaging the life
work OF more than one generation of men,
and the latter making the rich poorer than
the poor, there is absolutely nothing in the
shape OF return to show. 1t has been
stealing-literally stealing, and presi-
dent Boosting ofa policy, an administra.
ton calling itself republican, a party
claiming to be upright aud honest, know
ing fully to all the facts, has sustained by
force of arms and threats of military re-
occupancy such rule.
But consider still further the additional
exhibits wish TO present from the same
source, showing how local pillage has
equally kept pace with the moro elaborate
system of general plumber, and how 1t has
the effect virtually to destroy all values in
property. 1t is said of some parts of South
America, where justice does not pretend
to dwell, that only something which can
be swallowed or ridden-a diamond or a
mule-will command price, and truly it
would seem II the same was about TO be.
come true Of many of our southern states