the provisions of these acts. This sum would
no doubt be considerably augmented if the machinery
of these States is to be operated by the Federal Government,
and would be largely increased if the United States,
by abolishing the existing State governments, should
become responsible for liabilities incurred by them
before the rebellion in laudable efforts to develop
their resources, and in no wise created for insurrectionary
or revolutionary purposes. The debts of these
States, thus legitimately incurred, when accurately
ascertained will, it is believed, approximate $100,000,000;
and they are held not only by our own citizens, among
whom are residents of portions of the country which
have ever remained loyal to the Union, but by persons
who are the subjects of foreign governments.
It is worthy the consideration of Congress and the
country whether, if the Federal Government by its
action were to assume such obligations, so large an
addition to our public expenditures would not seriously
impair the credit of the nation, or, on the other
hand, whether the refusal of Congress to guarantee
the payment of the debts of these States, after having
displaced or abolished their State governments, would
not be viewed as a violation of good faith and a repudiation
by the national legislature of liabilities which these
States had justly and legally incurred.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, July 18, 1867.
To the Senate of the United States:
In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of
the 8th instant, requesting me to furnish to that
body copies of any correspondence on the files of
the Department of State relating to any recent events
in Mexico, I communicate a report from the Secretary
of State, with the papers accompanying it.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, July 18, 1867.
To the House of Representatives:
In compliance with that part of the resolution of
the House of Representatives of the 8th instant which
requests me to transmit to the House of Representatives
any official correspondence or other information relating
to the capture and execution of Maximilian and the
arrest and reported execution of Santa Anna in Mexico,
I inclose herewith a report from the Secretary of
State, from which it appears that the correspondence
called for by the House of Representatives has already
been communicated to the Senate of the United States.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1867.
To the House of Representatives:
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