The Portland daily press., 1865-09-02
SMUGGLING A CRIME.

We have sometimes heard complaints, orig
mating with those whose practices have
made them nervous ON this subject, that the
custom officers at this port were enforcing
the laws against smuggling with uncalled-for
severity. For the benefit of all such, as wei.
as for the information of honest men, we make
the following extracts from law and a recent
Circular from the Treasury Department.
The law touching this matter is as follows: {
"That ifany person shall knowingly and wiz
fully, with intent to defraud the revenue Oh
the United States, smuggle or clandestinely in
troducet into the United States any goods
wares, or merchandise subject to duty by law
and whichsshDuld have been invoiceti. without
paying or accounting for the duty, or shall
make out, or pass, Or attempt to pass throus III,
the custom house, any false, forged, or fraud Z
ulent invoice, every such person, his, her, OF
their aidefs and abettors, shall be guilty of
misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall
be fined in any sum not exceeding five thou
sand dollars, or imprisoned for any term of
time not.exceeding two years, or both, at the
discretion of the Court. "-Act Of SQh AaJatst,
1912, section Is. RI go
Upon this subject the Circular to which we
have reference, holds this language;
Smuggling is therefore MIsDEMEANoR,
and the smuggler, upon conviction liable to
pay fine OF FAVE THOUSAND DOLLARS,
or be IMPRISONED Two YEARS, or
BOTH.
This law all Officers of Customs are expect
ed to enforce; and Courts in different parts of
the country are enforcing it with c0mmendable
Vlgor, several persons lately convicted OF
smuggling having been sentenced to both fine
and Imprisonment 81 .laTlh va =
1t is not to be credited that any large por-
ton of the people of the United States should
permit their sympathies to be enlisted in favor
OF those who are engaged In smuggling; and
yet some do so to such an extent as to give
them aid and countenance: to conceal them
and their goods from the Officers of Customs !;
to give false Information to the latter, and no
tice to the former when in danger of being
detected. ''3=o
Smugglers are violators of the law, and are
making war upon the country as truly as did
the rebels, though not to the same extent
But suppose every man should assume the
rlgnt 10 violate any law that did not suit him,
what would be the condition of the country?
we should be in a state of anarchy and law
lessness, in which none but pullies could live
IN safety, and even they would be in "a con-
slant state OF warfare no taxes could be collect
ed, nor could government be carried on g
Inc peopie OF this nation have now heavy
but sacred debt resting on their shoulders;
the interest Of this must be paid, and in due
time the principal; to enable the Government
70 meet its liabilities, Congress has established
certain rates of duty upon foreign goods i'm
ported into the United States, and has also
levied certain internal taxes Now, If the
Government fails to collect duties upon for
eign goods, then the deficiency must be made
up by internal taxes upon the people; so that
1.-THE people lesson the revenue from customs
by encouraging, fostering, and protecting
smugglers, they must pay higher rates of in
Surely they cannot fail, then &c see that
smngglers are their enemies, warning upon
Them as well as the Government, which is no
thing but their servant. B---fs'i ai iaFDA