The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-06-06

collected ne money sFeciLea therein, have
been n the hab.. VI sending letec--Tss .
I examine tIe books u lie parties who mace
the returns with e view 0f detecting .-er-.s
Judge Smally has decided that. when al
assessor Las accepted Ie-urD, -e cannot
/ repuCiate Z. It's seems ~ e common
sense. = an assessor has reason - SIS
/ meet the truth OF 2 return made 20 bin. <
I hin r ect il or hold i n aJevance. AMI BE-
/ fore transmitting =. 70 lie collector mace
lis Inquiries anu exaLll-2,.0ls. By al-er
te has accepted =, e 1as 10 right .
question Il unless lie Is prepared 70 tr-g .
specific charge Of perjury against - al
thOrs. Il : Impossible % exaggerl-e tue
practical evils o. lie present system O de-
tect.ves Jones. le- Is saT. IS Z 1.s.l.er,
and las tee1 making returns % he le-
par-ment regnlarlv ever since re-G-rs we're
required. They have always been received.
Transmitted 10 the collector. and bv I'm
presented iOr payment and paid. Nov ap-
pears on the scene Robinson who saws lie
e a Government detective. and desires 20
examine Jones books FOR the as two wears
20 see whether he has Lnders.ate1 hls ore
ratiOns. Every one who : engaged u
business VII understand tll- -mltA and
Brown who are competitors ~ Jones n ne
same trade, could aiior'f 20 give so. 600 20
know exactly nov Jones business stands,
how much wn.skev lie las made, - wnOm
be has sold j., and a. What p.css. A. this
Information the le.ec-Te Robinson latG-
rally acquires 5v the virtue n NE Office. Is
the Revenue Department supplied VIII le-
tectives OF such tried virtue that il can Je
sure Robinson viii not sell his Information |
10 Smith and Brown, or more likely still, |
accent 4 GOnceur from Jones for keeping
bis eyes shut during the examination Of the |
books.
Il Is very important indeed that Govern |
ment should not be cheated IN the cOllec-
ton Of the revenue. But-strange as j,
nav seem 70 the revenue orticers-there |
are things more important still; and one
Of these i, that citizens OF the United |
States shall not lie subjected 70 j govern |
meut OF spies and iniOrmers The privacy |
OF the bed chamber is not more essential !
10 the Individual than the privacy Of his |
ledger 20 a merchant Government must |
not venture 10 violate the one Or the other |
II il does 90 il does il AZ its peril TIE
government Of the Emperor NapOleOn-
which we denOunce as despOtic-nO more
dare send detectives 70 inspect the books |
Of a Paris merchant, under the pretense Of
seeing 4 ne had not cheated Tie revenue, |
than IL dare lombard New York without |
declaration Of war: and we are not, after |
all. very much more long suffering than the |
French.
Revenue officials, and COngress-which |
VII have this matter OF the taxes before Il |
at The time these lines are read-must |
steadiastly remember that the country Is |
now cooling down from the enthusiasm
which existed during the war While the !
war lasted, every objection urged against |
the acts Of Government was tantamOunt 10 |
aid and comfort to the enemy and loyal
men bore and forebOre, rather than aggra- |
vate The necessary endorsements OF the
Administration. That season has passed |
away. Neither the existence Of the Nation |
nor the success Of our arms are now IN
question. People have leisure % think OF
their private concerns. They can afford 20
demur to any official proceeding which they
deem unjust, without compromising their
character as loyal men. Congress must
therefore beware ofaSsumiug that, because
the acts Of the revenue officials met with
acuuiescence during the war. they viii not
ne questioned now. II thew he questionable
Government and the revenue are very IN
pOrtant things. But, as Mr. Lincoln we'll
said. The ship Is made Tor the carry ny
and preservation of the cargo The peO-
pie have some rights as wei as the Gov
ernment. And while Congress will tut DO
It's duty in securing proper revenue for
Government. il should not forget that /
had better leave Government without any
revenue whatever than secure that revenue
al tie cost OF the private rights and Loer-
tee ofthe people Of the United States.