The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1875-02-20
The Financial Record OF
Reconstruction.

We believe that this should have
been made the prominent feature
Oh the part of the citizens of Louis
lana in the Investigations before the
Congressional Committee. 1t is a
chapter in the history of Recon-
construction which cannot he de-
Tended, not even paliated, and from
whose investigation the so called
Republican leaders shrunk with
the consciousness of guilt. It is Il
history,which'is more than sufficient
to justify all the resistance and La-
tired which the South has ever eX-
bibited agains: it, sufficient to have
warranted them in resisting it by
all the means which God has given
them. 1t is not that Reconstruct
ton has been forced upon them at
the point Of tho bayonct, nor that
the negro has been entramchised in
violation Of all constitutional law.
There is no constitution to the con-
quercr but the sword and however
much the people [of the South were
opposed to these terms when they
accepted them, it was their duty to
respect and abide 10y them. But
outside and beyond all this there
is Il chapter in the history of Recon-
struction,>ln comparison to whose
wrongs the pretended oppression of
the negro and ostracism of Radi-
cal Innocents, sink into utter insig-
nificauce. That which ought to
have added more Importance to this
chapter is that it is written in fig
ures, andss Statutes which no preju-
dice can dis,ort and no perjurcr can
falsity; and it is passing strange
that it should have been overlooked,
or il not overlooked, left in the
back ground. The history of the
finances Of Louisiana under Recon
struction, is but its history in South
Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia and
ArkSnsas- In Louisiana the State
tax without Il single public improve
ment, rose from ! of one per cent
or from y mills Oh the dollar to q
mills. The Parish taxes even out
stripped the State, and in Natchito-
cl,cs Parish reached the enormous
taxation of GU mills on the dollar.
Our State debt rose from about
$40 900 GEO to over $40 600 900.
The expenses of our legislatures in
creased from so 900 to an aver
age Of half million per annum.-
The cost Of our Public printing
rose from $3C 600 to $3.50 or $lOO-
600 per annum. Tnhcard of mon
opOlicS defAce the Statute books
Salaries fixed by the Constitution
are doubled, and Guadrup]ed under
the guisc Of Clerk salaries, and con
tingent expenses as Illustrated from
the following extracts from the bill
for appropriations for general cx-
pcnscs made in 1874, p. 90.
For sa'ary Of TIE Governor, article
tifty-six of tho constitution, eight
thousand dollars.
For the salary Of the Governors pri
vate secretary, section 1868, Revised
Statutes. two thousand five hundred
dollars.
For salary Of the clerk in Governors
office, one thousand eight hundred dol
lars.
For salary Of corresponding clerk in
Governors office. Que thousand eight
hundred .!ol.als.
For salary of two messengers in
Governors ottie. at six hundred dollars
each, one thousand two hundred dol
lars.
Eor contingent expenses of the Gov
crnor, ten thousand dollars.
For salary of Lieutenant Governor,
article fifty seven of the constitution,
three thousand dollars.
Contingent expenses of the Lienten-
aat Governor, two thousand dollars.
For salary Of Secretary OF State. ar
tic.e seventy one of the constitution,
three thousand dollars.
For contingent expenses OF the Sec
:etary of State, two tousand dollars.
For salary of Assistant Secretary OF
State, act No. PA Of 1868, two thou
sand dollars.
For salary of one clerk in Office Of
Secretary of State, one thousand eight
hundred dollars.
For salary of messenger Of Secreta-
~ Of State, four hundred and eighty
dollars.
For salary Of page for Secretary of