Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-16
EFrnor- OF fLUhDEaana rnn

EFFECF- OF PLUNBERHEG THE
SOUTH.
The report Of the minority Of the. Kt..
Klux Committee, submitted to Congress
several weeks ago, exposed, in detail, the
results of reconstruction and Radical rule
during three years, In the stupenaous
plumber of eleven Southern States, amount
ing in the aggregate to two hundred and
twenty-six millions of dollars. Enor-
nous as this sum is, it only represents
the forced and fraudulent issue of
bonds, under pretext of railroad and
other improvements, not one of which was
ever seriously intended to be constructed or
carried out. These projects were concoct-
ed, as mere cover for the venal designs of
plundering conspirators. There is aDun-
dant proof before the Ku-Klux Committee,
to show how the frauds were perpetrated,
and that system Of robbery was organ
lied, which extended over the whole re-
constructed South. An illustration from
North Carolina will disclose the process, as
developed by one of many witnesses:
Question. How have the financial afFai s
of your State been managed?
Answer. The State has been plundered
openly.
Question. In what ways
Answer. The Legislature that was
elected In 1865
Question. Under this same military re-
.constructio
Answer. Yes, sir; under the same
military direction. A set of men we're
elected that had no interest in the State at
all, OF very little. .
They would just vote out the bonds of
the State with the understanding that a GER
tain part Of them would be divided among
them. was a director of this Whining
ton, Charlotte, and Rutherford railroad, A
message came IN a cireuitous way to the
Board of Directors, I'VE needed funds to
finish the road, that If we would ask for
tenmillions of dollars of bonds. .they,would
let as have them, provided they received 5
or 10 per cent. on them; they would vote
ten Millions of bonds TO this railroad COM
pany provided certain managers we're al
lowed to retain either 5 or 10 per cent
have forgotten which it was.
Question. That proposition came direct
ly from the Legislature?
Answer. 1t came from certain parties in
the Legislature in such way that we were
assured it was a proposition, and that it
would be carried out. 1t was in that way
our present State debt has been made.
Question. None of the bonds were ex-
r,av,aad l., ha a., 80 l.
Answer. None. That Legislature was
so corrupt that when the three commits
sioners, appointed to draft the laws, ten
dered to the Legislature several chapters for
passage by the Legislature, they swore that
they would not vote for them at all unless
they were paid for it.
Such is a specimen of the Infamous policy
which Radicalisn devised and applied to
the South. Congress and the Executive
eonspired, by odious legislation and the
abuse Of military power, to hold these States
as conquered Provinces, and to deliver them
over to hands of the spoilers, upon condi-
ton Of returning Senators and Representa-
tiYes who would obey their Northern
masters and advocate the reelection Of
Gen. Grant. Hence, these scandalous
wrongs have not only been tolerated, but
their criminal authors have been sustained
by Ku-Klux and other bills, and by the
presence of Federal troops, in order to
crush out all redress, and to force the car
pet-bag knaves and thieves upon an op-
pressed and impoverished people. a
part of the system has been to
fabricate "outrages" by melting local strife,
and then to make witnesses of the
very instruments of their diabolical tyran-
ny, so as to excite prejudice in the North
eIn mind. The people are to be asked to
continue this state of affairs, by re-eIecting
Grant. Mr.. Greeley opposes this infamous
n oliev toward tho South