Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-14
aaiIg gppeaI.
COLLECTING REVENUE IN THE sB-
CEDED sTaTEs--CANITn M DONEI


COLLECTING REVENUE IN TETE sE-
CEDEB STAT II BE DOuEI
Tie collection Of the revenue in ports in the
seeded States viii, we opins, Be no easy mat
Ter, fact Of which President LINCOLN viii
doubtless be convinced when be comes to
critical examination Of the several laws ap-
pertaining thereto. It should be remembered
that TIE President has been clothed with no
new power, even by the Republican congress
sional majority. dc cannot add to the regular
army, and be cannot call cut volunteers.
Should be impartially enfo-ce the lawss as
they now exist they will, to all inients and
purposes, practically defeat all attempts to
collect revenue. For an example Of obstacles
in the way Of force, The New York Rsrald puts
the following case;
Suppose that the shir Alliance arrives at
Charleston from Hsue, with a cargo Of silks.
laces, fancy goods, manufactured articles
etc, in all, say i've hundred packages, con-
signss 70 fifty OF more persons. In entering
the harbor, the Alliance IS orerhsuled bv
ship OF war, with a collector on board The
Inss-er has nothing 10 show but bis manifest.
which does not particularize the quality OF tie
sFt'ehis shipped. Il is for the cousignees to
produce their invoices and hills Of lsding nav
the duties and receive The goods. When tue
.eoasiEnses fail to appear, the packages are to
be sent to the public store, ard in case they
remain unclaimed during a stipulated period,
tley are sold at auction on account Of TIE
Soserhment. According 70 maritime law, an
quues must bt collected within one maritime
league of the port, and bu X cannot be broken
untl the vessel has been regularly entered
within the harbor. Should lhe executive over
Tlde al these provisions, and declare that in
case lNa rrrHfa not rl.fT Hss ~
new regulations, esrgoes viii be forfeited, a
Ilesa obstacle arises. The machinery for the
collection Of the revenue is not alone executive
lhe Judiciary has something to DO with it. The
secretary Of the Treasury cannot forfeit pair
OF gloves without legal process to be had be-
fore district judge and jury OF citizens to be
empaHneled from the district where. the con-
Eignees reside. Where would the Government
hnd judge OF Jury in Charleston, Savannah,
Mobile or New Orleans?
The New York World, Republican journal,
also seems to think that tie enforcement Of
ths laWs,'' under The sxistirg state Of things,
win be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible.
It says;
President Lincoln declares. in his inaugural.
that be will take care that The laws Of the
Union Be faithfully enforced in an the States,
TO the extent Of bis ability. Under existing
iilee Nllle Ie most nNallll
cation, as the President himself virtually ac-
knowledges That, Of the large body Of United
States statutes, the laws for the col
lection Of the federal revenue are the
only ones which be deems it advisable or prac- /
ticabie to enforce in the rebel States. The
laws OF the United States are executed through
the agency Of subordinate local officers As
no man can be compelled to bold Office without
his consent, the laws become imperative from
the want Of Instruments 70 execute them. Mr..
Lincoln deems it unwiss 70 further irritate a
dissh-cted people, by sending among them a
host Of s2poiutees from ahroad, sDd the only
eXerton ef executive power be viii attempt in
the seeded States VIII Be 10 hold the public
property and collect the revenue. L may fairly l
be questioned whether existing laws are sde-
cuate 70 enable hin to maintain even this /
small modicum Of authority, and If, on exam
instion. O. should be found that they AZ not, |
the President vii have to consider the eXpedi- /
eDcT uf calling an extra session of Congress- /
The President has 10 power to enforce The I
laws except bv The methods prescribed BY ex-
listing legislation IF 2 person commits a /
crime (suuggiiHg, for example, 10 which the 1
laws Of The United States alix penalty, be /
can be tried only in The state where the crime 4
was committed, and By jury Of 'he vicinaEe. I
But u 20 perzon will hold the Office Of mar
sbsl, who vii summon the iurys II nobody 4
viii consent to BE judge, Ebo VIII bold tbe |
court II nobody VIII be district attorney, /
who VIII manage the prosecution? Or, if we /
could overlook these iIisugsrshie obstacles, 1
what Jury in ore Of the seeding States, would 4
convict his feIlow-citizen under laws to which /
tbev 7lfke sbjured their allegiance A law |
without penalty is practically null; bat how 4
are penalties to be Indicted when the whole /
machinery for administering justice is broken |
down and destroyedf
The World concludes, therefore, that Mr..
Lincoln, if be is determined to collect the /
revenue, VIII have to await congressional &C
tim