The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-22

| only effective remedy for it's suppres
sion; and, in view OF its' CESSATION and
resumption OF hostilities at different
times, OF its extent and power, anil that
IN several OF the States where It exists.
the courts have not held terms at which
the cases can be tried, We recommend
that the power conferred on the Presi-
dent BY the fourth section OF that ACT
be extended until tho end OF the next
session OF Congress-. Ip view, also, of
ehe large number of indictments found
IN the several courts under this Act,
which yet remain untried, and OF the
evident encouragement derived from
the belief that the present United States
courts cannot possibly reach and try
them within any reasonable time. we
recommend suoh an increase OF the
judiciary Of the United States by dis
srlcts and circuits in the States shown
70 be affected by these disorders as In
the Judgment OF Congress- will secure
speedy and certain justice to be admi-
nistered. and leave no hope of impunity
TO criminals by the laws delay. The
continuance of disabilities is the only
cause not yet considered. No man
under disabilities has avowed himself ns
either committing or encouraging out
RACES Tor that reason, and no member of
lhe organization has justified their acts
on that ground. It is one of the pre-.
texts made BY those who were willing To
urge any plausible excuse for ontraoas
which admit OF none; but to remove
alleged impediments 10 the local govern.
ment encountered by the existence of
disabilities to hold Office. and be;no
satisfied that there should be n general
removal OF them, with proper conditions
aud exoeptiODs, we recommend the
passage OF law for that purpose. agree
ing ln the recomme endatiou made by the
President to exclude from its benefts
any great criminals distinguished above
all others for the part they took in oppo.
sition to the Government. In this con.
nection, we wish to say that as disregard
Of law has been the evil 30 LARGELY com-
planned OF and so widely extended in the
lnte insurrectionary States. no encon.
ragement should be given to those who
have accepted Office in defiance of the
existence OF these constitutional disabili.
ties, or have elected to Office men whom
they knew to be excluded by them.
The report Of Representative Steven.
son, from the subcommittee on dabts
and election laws Of the late ipsurrec-
tionary States, says: "Ex- Governor Bul.
LOCK, OF Georgia, sent letter more re-
marknble for argument aRainst tbs pro.
ceediugs of the subcommittee "a a
brench OF State rights than for the facts
furnished, and Governor Reed. of Flo
rida. declined to answer at all. though
he has forwarded to O member OF the
sub. committee several of his messages.
DE protested against the invasion OF the
rights OF the State Of Florida. Geuer.
ally where their inquiry has been resent
ed, evaded, or ignored, they discovered
reasons for concealment, which con
vinced them that officials are more con.
cerned about their own dignity than that
OF the State. In South Carolina. the
Governor has answered promptly, but
sent such contradictory statements TINT
they could give little weight to any.
The report concludes with statement
OF the general tnancinl condition of the
eleven States. as follows: Debts and lin
bilities in 1860, S1O2, 516,778; in 1866.
S222, 848, 132; increase since 1860. 3l2O.-
331 1854. When the late insurreotiopa,y
States entered the rebellion, they held
in trust funds, assets, and balances.
$40, l47, TAT; these funds and assets were
on deposit or in stocks of banks. mil
roads, and other internal improvements:
their contingent liabilities were secured
by mortgages on lands. in stocks, bonds.
and interests in lien, or on turnpikes.
railroads. and canals. The banks had a
capital OF over S6l, 900. 900; coip, over
$l8, 600, 900; circulation, over S5l ,OOO,-
600. There were 8. 944 miles of railway.
which cost S237. .376 O97; the assessed
value of property was 81. 363, ,O3O, 347:
the estlnated or assessed value OF slaves.
VI ,634, los, BAL; value of property, ex.
elusive of slaves. 80. 72S, 1925, ,OO6. Ac-
cording to the estimate of Secretary
Belknap. the Confederate debt on the
lot OF April. 1865, was about S2,345,.
297. 82S; the total asoertnined loss by the
rebellion in property, assets. and debts,
State and Confederate. s., 2G2, ,303, ,554
There were debts due the merchants of
the North from those Of tho South for
goods purchased aud consumed and
money loaned, estimated when the war
began at $500. .000.0 900. Add interest to
1868 and the sum would be 34OS, ,OO0, 900:
total State debt and disabilities existing
and prospective and Confederate debt
and commercial debt, 81, ,976, 145, ,955. 90.
Here was burden which must have
crushed the people Of the South, and
reduced them to general bankrnntov