The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-16
Tn. Revenue Service.

II ,b.ra WA a branch OF the OLD GOVERN
meut service that vas conspicuous d. al 1'A''
for ;,s efficiency au1 sallantry, 1t was the heVe-
,o ..r>,,cs It's duties required the science, II
not a greater degree Of practical seamanshp'
than the Navy, for the sphere of Its operations,
200 ,he attended end dangerous sea-coast OF
.hs | nitei States-a coast that never gives
A., sailnr that sea-room" which makes his
vocation comparatively easy, and which ex-
,oses him con inually to that most dreaded OF
all nautical ev i;--s lee shOre-so pathetically
referred to by JACK 5 poeucal wife at Ports
mouth IN her ..na.nena of the Admiral:
You've sent the ship IN gale to STA,
on Il Iee-snUre 10 De JanlIncd,
ii give You q piece OF my mlnd old Turk,
FQ.t Admiral. you % ID.
A knowledge Of tho revenue laws is re-
CURED il. addition, which of course is not ex-
pected Vi Lay al oficers, and al equal aptitude
ia the manag omcht Of guns and small arms.
Ne were never more surprised Than to hear
mat the possibility Of rot recognizing this
branch OF the old national service had ever
entered Into any body ) mind. Il 1t vas neces-
sary 10 prevent smuggling by revenue cutters
under the old regime, it viii be tonfold more
| 90 under the new. Moraover. as have already
| revenue vessels, whilst We have few CT none Of
the old navy proper, most Of the revenue cutters
| IN the South having fallen into the hands of
{ The Cent? larate Gov ernment.
| We asa the attes,Ii1- ~ .A9 E07tederate
| Congress to The following statement o. facts
| n the R:onmond Eramifer. We know that
he most valuable services have been rendered
| a. the Norfolk Navy Yard, and at the various
| batteries, By revenue oihceIs VINO ressgned at
| An early period their positions under the oiu
| Government. We may mention the names OF
| Cant PETERS, veteran and accomplished
revenue oE1e7z .. ss-sst nerlt' ana Lieut. MIL
| iIsAN, al entcrptisiLg ahd saiiass sea+-aL;
vino, IL addition to otner most valuable ser
wees, has l1yeu led set OF signals which are OF
vast IMPORTANCE. Tncso ofIceGs are ct THIS tlne
| In Richmond, engaged IN urging on TIE attention
! Of Congress memorial tiom themselves and
their Lra,hren 0f the revenue branch, the OBJ
| ioct of which is TO have CCngfvss r,S2gnszo
| specifically and by name the revenue ser
| ,;,. in the act which extended the inv itation
| "a Federal oficeIS Sin the army and navy and
| marine corps" TO reign AHA taae astyi-e
under the independent Government Of the
South.
From the Examiner
The su5iect u this memorial bring to light
| 8 seIiCuS INJUSTICE. 1t appears that, IN "On-
temptation OF the invitation extended by Com
gress, number OF officers in the Federal reve
nue. service resigned their places, and haYs
since beer in the most active and efficient
vice OF the Confederate States. Besides the
general invitation referred 10, Virginia had
passed On ordnance on the subject or resigna-
lions from the Fedora; -srvice and the rein
statement Of her citizens to equal GaaR, in
which the Federal revenue service was men
toned particularly and by name as coming
within The provision OF reinstatement. The
surrender Of Virginia of her Aavy TO the Con
tederate Government, was, OF course, neces-
sary part OF the negotiation through which
she en- tered the ConfedeTacy.
1t has been under these circumstances that
g. number of officers resigned from the old
United States revenue service, have entered
that of the CoAtederacy. There was, of
course, no revenue service in the South to
which they could be transferred. They have
| been generally engaged. however, in the same
duties that our naval officers have been trans
terred TO. In some instances they have been
engaged III battery duty in others, in the
transportation OF ordnance, and in others in
the signal Of.tce.
! We unders tand, however, that the Eavy
Department has refused 10 recognize the re-
signed revenue officers, as not coming by the
name of "a revenue service within the pro-
visions OF the act OF Congress referred TO- and
| that the Treasury Department has equally re.
fused TO recognize them, or 10 pay them, on
the ground that the Confederate Government
has no revenue service Under this construc.
| ton OF the law, an appeal has been made TO
Congress to recognize the claims of this SER
vice as cooperating With the navy in all of
the land duty to which naval CiIicers as well
as revenue officers have, in the absence OF sea
| service been assigned.
| At present, there is but little sea service OF
| any kind. The officers res gned from the Esd
| eral Revenue service have, in instances that
| we are informed OF, performed the same
| duty as Cficers OF the Navy detailed on shore
duty. Under these circumstances the ius tice
OF their recognition as all organized branch OF
the pubic service appears obvious. If
VS. are not mistaken, under 81 old United
States law not repealed, the Revenue ser
wee was required 10 cooperate with the
Navy - in time of war" The United States
Navy was not organized until 1904, while The
revenue service was organized in 1899 The
latter mas always been considered, in time OF
war, branch OF the public defence. In the
Mexican war II did effective service and in
the present war the do eernment at Washing
ton IS using II as an arm of defence.
Our Government will, of course, at some
Time, need a Revenue service. What Is 10
prevent 1t from recognizing the resigned oft
GERS from this branch of the Federal service
ana transferring Them to shore duty as we'll
DIS naval oInCerS, until future opportunities of
sea service, We cannot see. At least Congress.
shouih IN some manner perform the justice OF
nor allowing the sacrifices and services of
these Cfiicsrs to be overlooked