Rebforever
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2012
Really hard times.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, March 11, 1865.
General R. E. LEE:
SIR: I have felt with great sensability the delay and disappointment experienced by our brave defenders, in the receipt of their pay. I repose, however, with confidence upon their intelligence and partiotism to bear these additional trials with fortituted. They contribute to the sum of those sufferings demanded by our inexorable enemy as the price of liberty, and of which their heroic endurance has rendered the Army illustrious. It shall be the object of my unceasing efforts to repair this deficiency as early as possible. I believe it to be unavoidable. In the efforts to replenish the Treasury Congress had but two courses it to be unavoidable. In the efforts to replenish the Treausury Congress had but two courses open to it. One was to enlarge the issue of Treasury notes and the other to draw upon the source of taxation. Had they resorted to the first the notes would have become worthless, and the pay of the soldiers been a mockery and delusion. They patriotically preferred the nobler course of imposing heavy taxes upon property and incomes, and maintaining, at the expense of the whole country, the values in which the soldier is paid. The collection of taxes requires time, and until accomplished the resoureces of the Treasury must necessarily be straitened. It is a subject of profound regret with me that our gallant troops should participate in the general inconvenience that results. Every effort shalll be made t give them relief, and no claim upon the Treasury shall have preference over theirs.
I remain, sir, with sentiments of profound respect, your obedient servant,
G. A. TRENHOLM,
Sec. of Treasury
https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/100/0713
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, March 11, 1865.
General R. E. LEE:
SIR: I have felt with great sensability the delay and disappointment experienced by our brave defenders, in the receipt of their pay. I repose, however, with confidence upon their intelligence and partiotism to bear these additional trials with fortituted. They contribute to the sum of those sufferings demanded by our inexorable enemy as the price of liberty, and of which their heroic endurance has rendered the Army illustrious. It shall be the object of my unceasing efforts to repair this deficiency as early as possible. I believe it to be unavoidable. In the efforts to replenish the Treasury Congress had but two courses it to be unavoidable. In the efforts to replenish the Treausury Congress had but two courses open to it. One was to enlarge the issue of Treasury notes and the other to draw upon the source of taxation. Had they resorted to the first the notes would have become worthless, and the pay of the soldiers been a mockery and delusion. They patriotically preferred the nobler course of imposing heavy taxes upon property and incomes, and maintaining, at the expense of the whole country, the values in which the soldier is paid. The collection of taxes requires time, and until accomplished the resoureces of the Treasury must necessarily be straitened. It is a subject of profound regret with me that our gallant troops should participate in the general inconvenience that results. Every effort shalll be made t give them relief, and no claim upon the Treasury shall have preference over theirs.
I remain, sir, with sentiments of profound respect, your obedient servant,
G. A. TRENHOLM,
Sec. of Treasury
https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/100/0713
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Bringing the