Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-11

A Radical SwiDdle-The Meter the
Cause of the Great Depression I'm the
COunfy-The Negroes the Greatest
SnfIerers-The Reetifying Business
Moore, WOOdard & Co.-Large Oman.
titles of Old whisky on Hand.
From the Sprinfeld Register, 10th.
1t is well known that the vast amount of
money which has been in circulation in
our county for the past six years, with the
exception of the past eight months, was
derived from the distilling of corn into
whisky. This whisky having gained such
high reputation for its pure qualities,
always found a demand at high cash prices,
| and the manufacturer was able to dispose
of II as soon. as taken from the worm. This
method of distilling was adopted through>
| out thsState, and the great quantity that
was being manufactured was quite sufficient
to supply the Southern trade. This, how
ever, did not suit Northern distillers They
determined to put stop to it, and did, by
lobbying, effect the passage of bill in Con-
gress throwing such restrictions around it
as were calculated to force those operating
on small scale to cease operations.
This little piece of rascality failing to
have the desired effect, and discretionary
powers being placed in the hands of the
General Inspector, another plan was readily
agreed upon and an order was issued by
Gen. Rollins requiring the use of meter
"A trifing instrument, the cost of which
would not exceed $50 or $4O-for which
the distiller was to pay from 5000 to $500.
This of course put a stop to making whisky
from sour mash, as is practiced in Robert,
hrs -Iool G,,n
Soon after notice was given that the meter
was not ready, and upon application the
dlstlller could continue operations until it
was ready, when he would be required to
purchase one.
Those outside of the ring believed this |
monstrous swindle to be the law, and know
ing that they could not comply with it |
without making heavy sacrifices did not
apply.
The distillers of Robertson county sent
Col Willie Woodard to Washington CITY |
theirrepresentative, with petition pray |
ing for liberal construction of the law. in |
order that they might continue operations, |
and were willing to pay the extravagant |
prices demanded for the meter, provided |
they were permitted to distill from sour
mash; but all to no effect. Mr.. Rollins
had good thing of it; Robertson county |
could not bid against the ring, and pay the |
tax required by law, and the ring continued
operations by making applications for the
meter, which Is not yet ready, and never
will be.
Thus the government is swindled ont of |
millions of dollars tax; thousands of labor
ers and mechanics in Tennessee and other
Southern States are thrown out of employ
ment, and their families made to suffer,
while some " "loyalist" filled his Golfers
from Radical bust head poison forced upon
the market
This is the radicaIism, Radical LOYALTY,
Radical love for the "best government the
world ever saw" Radical stealing of money
from the government and from the poor
negfo (tor labor is money! who they do so
dearly love.
This one little item of Radical rascality
has almost Frustrated business of every
character in our county, and while all
classes have suffered by it, the negroes have
come IN for the largest share. The farmers
were forced to sell their corn for seventy
live and eighty cents per bushel, when if
The dlstlllers had not been stopped, they
would have realized one dollar. This is a
loss OF from seventy-fye TO one hundred
tollars profit on each hired mans (negro)
Tear's labor, not less than five hundred
men, mostly negroes, being employed by the
month, at high wages. to work at these
till houses. Not less than one hundred
,oopers were compelled to close their shops
or the want of sale for their barrels AS a
natter of course our merchants, traders,
md all classes feel the effects of this de-
PRESTON.
The prospect is now that this state of
fairs wall not continue must longer. We
lotice that Messrs. Garrett, DIR. Draughon,
apt. Ray, and a number of other distilIers
re making preparations to commence
perations, and others are anticipating that
he next Congress will so amend or change
he law that all will have fair chance.