New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-04
SOUTHERN COMPLAINT or UNION PEN

SIOAS.
General Bradley II. Johnson, who is dis
tinguishcd and representative Soushencr, has
written letter to "Tho Baltimore Sum on
the subject of pensions, which deserves serious
attention as q sign of the times. General
johnson has been studying the last report OIL
the Commissioner of Pensions, and finds that
the aggregate sum paid ont for pensions since
1865 is S87O,OOO,OOO, the annual aggregate
having now risen, in 1887, to S74,S1o,45G.
Assuming that the population OF the South Is
about one third that of the Union, he reaches
by a short cut the amazing conclusion that the
Soutb is paying an annual subsidy OF about
S25.OOO,OOO a year for pensions TO Union
soldiers. Capitalized at per cent this repre-
sents. he says, "a fund Of S833,OOO,OOO,
which is the indemnity for the Civil War actu-
ally levied on the Southern States" This, he
complains is, taking population and accumu-
lated property into account "a heavier war
tribute than that levied on France by Ger
many" indeed. tribute never before " eNactcd
by the conqucror in war since the time OF Alex
ander." lie protests that he is not opposing
pensions to Union soldiers nor favoring pen
sons to Confederate soldiers. but he insists that
which receive them through tax on incomes
The pensioners would be "safer' this way Tor
"no country will stand any such cXaction any
longer than is necessary, and the development
and progress Of the South is so greatly checked
md held down by this great tribute that an
other adjustment must shortly take place."
He pictures the fOrlorn condition of the South
after the war; says that the freeing OF mo
slaves and the reputation Of the Southern
war debts were "two great crimes against
property and public faith which are certain to
he avenged in time" and declares that pensions
TO Union soldiers "paid by the conquered" IN
stead of those whom they served, "bccome
war tribute"
The first answer to be made to all this is that
General Johnson's arithmctical calculation is
so foolish as TO be puelile The pensions are
not paid by direct taxation. If they were there
might be some approach to justice in the claim
that each section paid according to population,
but they are paid out of the proceeds OF GUS
tom-housc duties and internal revenue taxes.
These arc eventually paid by the consumer OF
the article taxed, and just how this consump-
ton Is distributed over the Union, both In
quantity and in value, it is obviously impos-
sble to say but it is plain that the distribution
docs not take place in proportion TO population
A test much more reasonable would be accord
ing to the assessed valuation Of property
which may BIO supposed to represent in way,
the ability to pay for imported articles and
those taxed under the internal revenue system
According to the census of 1880, the total as
sessed value of both real and personal property
Il CtofoS
the totI in the thirteen Southern States was
S2,37O923, 26S-or less than onc-scyenth OF
the whole. 1t is far more likely that the South
pays onc-sevcnth of the pensions, or less, than
onc-third, ten millions rather than twenty-five
and this sum is diminished by S1,724,1l5
maid in pensions last year to Union soldiers
living in Southern States.
Tho fallacy upon which the rest Of General
JOhnson's argument is based is, II anything
still more absurd He talks of the war as II IL
had been q conflict between two equal Powers
of the peace as if it were an agreement between
independent and separate nations, of the South
as if il were still the Confederate States OF
America. II ought not to be necessary to say
that the losses that fell upon the South were
the inevitable result of failure in reasonable
attempt to break up the Union. Every man
who carried Confederate musket or bought
q Confederate bond knew the risk he was TAX
ing. When the South became again part OF
tho Union and took its place once more under
the flag, it became responsible for some share
of the cost Of defending it.
And, by the way, talking of burdens how
about the Norths six-scvcnths share OF the
enormous cost of a war that was forced upon 1t
bv the South And what are we to think Oh
this bold exhibition of impatience with Union
pensions on the part of leading Southerner?
EYTRlDITION NTH ENGLAND.