The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-03
THE oulER SIDE OF rIGE CASE.

The Southern papers make much cutlery
over the hardship Of taxing ex-rcbel soldiers
10 pay pensions 20 The FeGcrals who fought
against them" We have pointed ont that
ii, as these papers claim, there were only
Goo. GOO men IN the whole rebel army, Of
whom more than 100000 are known to have
been killed or died, there cannot be many
Of those ez-rehcls alive to bear this ouerous
burden But there IS another view Of this
case which seems TO have entirely escaped
the attention Of these papers.
Every Stale in the South, except Kentucky
aud West Virginia, has made more or less
liberal provision for the pcnsioning and care
Of ez-rehel soldiers.
Georgia pays from s. 10 $25 month, ac-
cordns to disability, to every ex-rcbel, and
besides has a Home near Atlanta, which it
is expected that the State will soon take
charge Of
Alabama pays $4,000 year in pensions,
Arkansas has a State Home at Little
Rock, and at its last session the Legislature
passed a bill giving every ox-rebel who was
totally disabled by a wound 500 a year.
So year TO such as have lost leg above
the knee, or an arm above The elbow; $50
year 20 an who have lost hand OF foot
and S25 a year 10 all who have lost an eye,
and 10 all widows Of rebel soldiers or sailors
and to "all other Confederate soldiers and
sailors who are Otherwise disabled TO perform
manual labor by reason Of wounds received
while in the Confederate service"
Florida pays $4,000 a year in pensions.
Mississippi has a large pension list
Missouri is providing fund Of 100000
+ for her ex-rebels.
! Maryland has a Home at Pikcyille, which
costs the State $4,000 a year.
Louisiana has a State Home, besides pays
/ pensions and grants land warrants.
North Carolina pays pensions, and has
/ State Home.
South Carolina pays $4,000 year for
I pensions.
Texas has a State Home, ana grants land
warrants.
Tennessee has established Home at An
drew Jackson's old residence, The Hermit
age" TO which the State contributed i75
acres Of land and $4,000 for improvements,
besides an annual appropriation for its sup
port. Besides this, the State pays pensions
ranging from $3.50 to SIS month. Last
year $4,000 were appropriated for pensions
Now, the point that has been entirely
ignored is the great injustice that is being
done to the Union people in the South in
taxing them to pay these pensions TO the
men who fought 10 overthrow the Govern
ment.
During the war the Border and Southern
States furnished 100000 white and 5000
colored soldiers 10 the Union army. All the
survivors Of these now resident in the South
ern States are taxed to support these Con-
iedcrate Homes aud TO pay pensions TO the
men who fought against them.
The thrifty, industrious Union people Of
East Tennessee pay large proportion Of the
generous assessment 10 support the men who
burned their homes, rayaled their farms,
shot OF hung TIER fathers and brothers, and
forced others into the army to fight against
their principles.
The last census shows that there are
4 5000 900 negroes in the South. These form
a large proportion Of The wealih-producing
element Of that section. They are all
heavily and directly taxed 10 pay pensions
aud support tie men who fought to keep
them in perpetual slavery, and deprive them
Of al the rights and privileges Of manhood
and womanh0od.
Tens Of thousands Of Union soldiers have
gone from the North to the South since the
war and entered actively into the work Of
building Up the country. They took with
them and attracted from others in the North
an immense amount Of capital, which has
been Of signal service in enriching the coun.
Try. The orange groves Of Florida and ,h,
splendid growth Of Atlanta, Ga; Birming
ham, Ala, the East Tennessee country, and
the Piedmont region Of Virginia are part d
their work. Yet every dollar they tool
South with them, CT have made since thcy
have been there, and every dollar That they
, have induced their friends to invest is taxed
10 support the men who fought against th,
Government
{ Nor Is this merely technical and uufd
L burden, such as The tariff is. j. is direc
d tax, added to tie already heavy State taxes
and taken straightway out Of the pockets O
IS the taxpayers without rebate or discount.
4 Let our Southern friends take these fact
D into consideration before they again 20 int
I commissions over the taxes that the "Con
a. III 80 ..r--s.... - - -.