The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-04
9itl,n,ond 1ispatth.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1861
whislsey Frauds-Internal Revenue.

nicle on yesterday charge against some
assessor Of internal revenue Of Virginia OF
n very serious character. The name was
not given, but he is accused Of receiving
$4,000 per annum for "tacilaieS." Co.
tcmporaneously the "collector put IN
his claim for $4,000 for " facilities" his
office being of higher dignity than the as
SCISSORS, and it being necessary to quiet
both to secure the full benefit Of the " taci-
lities." In addition, the Chronicle alleges
that the distillcr paid to the assessor sc, 900,
half of which goes to the collector, for
"fnds" Uhc meaning Of which we do not
understand). Thus the distiller paid $685.
600 per annum to avoid the tax of about
100000, says the Chronicle.
The Chronicle attempts to heap odium
upon the Administration for such corrup-
ton. The fault is in the law. 1t is i'm
possible, in this country and this day, TO
prevent fraud and corruption, with a tax
of 81 per gallon on whiskey. The last
Congress passed law to prevent evasion
of the tax. This law provided that when,
ever any distilled spirits were sold for less
than 50 per gallon it should be considered
proof that the tax imposed BY law has moi
been paid upon it, and therefore it shall
abe liable to seizure and forfeiture" The
act further provided that no distilled
spirits seized and forfeited shall be sold
for less than 50 per gallon; and that II
such spirits are not sold within ninety
DAYS, because that price cannot DC Cd
famed. asuch spirits shall be destroyed"
The questions may be well asked How
much liouor has been discovered that has
been sold for less than two dollars! how
much sold for two dollars at auction ana
how much "dcstroyed?" The law, we
conjecture, has been dead letter. Thou
sands of gallons of whiskey, we under
stand. are sold for less than one dollar per
gallon. The tax is not collected, indeed,
on more than one fifth Of the whiskey that
is sold.
There is bribery and corruption every
where-manifcst and undeniable. This is
unavoidable: natural result OF the
onerous internal taxation resortcd to by
the Government. Mr.. JOHNSON may turn
out officers and put in others, but the
"margin - for bribery is SO wide that few
men are able to resist the large brides that
may be given with profit to those who pay
them. Unfortunately, there are few such
immaculate men as Judge UNDERWOOD,
who, aided by his moral "separators,"
can so easily distinguish between those
presents that have corrupt twinkle in
them and those that are the sacred gifts OF
friendship and gratitude; and therefore
we cannot put much faith in the poor
human nature which falls in the way Of
such temptation.
But the diStlleries in this vicinity have
been suspended for over four months, to
the serious injury Of their owners and the
loss of near million Of dollars to the Co.
vernmcnt. This is hard. Certainly our
distiiers could not be greater delinquents
than those of the large northern cities,
and we see not why they should be sin
gled out as the victims Of prosecution,
while thousands of distilleries in the
wealthy North are pouring forth rivers OF
ire-water, not more than onc-fitth OF
which pays tax. The North has all the
Offices, all the emoluments Of government,
and all the money. They might give us a
little corner in the matter of "cheating."
It's carrying their "greed to a monstrous
length to deny Us this small boon.
The Government will find outlay, it
has found out-that the excessive taxes Of
the internal revenue arc impovcrishing the
country and filing the public offices with
knaves and rascals. They are sapping the
public virtue and threatening the country
with ruin. If the next Congress can spare
time from the wretchcd party warfare Of
the day to look into this sepulchre Of vice
and rottcnness, they may at least see how
to do something to check the downward
course Of public morals; and if there Is
virtue enough left in that body, they will
profit by the information they will acquire
by the investigation.