Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-22
Large Butter Seizure.

Mr.. A. b. Nelson, OF Derby Line,
who has been purchasing a large
quantity of Butter in the Townships
and in the adjoining towns of North
ern Vermont, had three hundred and
ffty odd tubs seized at Newport, Vt.
something more than a week ago, and
another lot at White River Junction,
by the Newport customs officers,
in the aggregate to some
$4,000, for an alleged attempt to de-
fraud the revenue by failing to re-
port correctly the number of pack
ages and the actual weight, the dis
amounting to some 1900
lbs. The butter seized at Newport
was shipped from Georgeville and
Magog by boat, and it appears that
seven more packages were sent than
were reported by Mr.. Nelson to the
Station Agent at Newport. 1t also
appears that the consular certificate
obtained by Mr.. Nelson was made by
footing the aggregate weights of the
lots from his memorandum book and
did not include the seven tubs above
alluded to. On starting for Boston
on Saturday week, Mr.. Nelson called |
upon the station agent at Newport
and explained about the additional
quantity, and also upon the deputy
collector, just as the cars were leav
ing, and told him that he was salts
fed the weights in the consular GER
tifcate were not right, and request
ed him to ascertain the truth of the
matter and accept an entry according
ly from Mr. Sherman the station
agent, which he says the deputy col
lector agreed to do, and he (Nelson)
then left by the train expecting his
butter to be forwarded to him. The
Newport officers, however, saw an
opportunity for large haul, and
went to work accordingly. Getting
a clerk Of Mr.. Nelson to obtain three
consular certificates on the erroneous
figures Of the one given them 10y Mr.
Nelson, and which he wished rectih-
ed before an entry was made, under
the pretence that they must have
certificate for each lot, they then ad-
viSed him to make the entry, which
he did. 1t may be worthy Of note
that these officials induced this young
man, who knew nothing Of the facts,
to trebly perjure himself in this
transaction. The butter was seized
and is now held
The question naturally arts 5
whether a person doing business with
government officials is not entitled to
the same fair treatment he would re-
ceive from any other parties. If, for
instance, Mr.. Nelson had made mis-
take III footing the aggregate of a
large quantity Of merchandise, and
did not discover the error until after
be had obtained his consular certif-
cate upon which his entry was to be
based, ought he not in reason and fair.
ness to have an opportunity to rectify
that error? The Government should
do in such a case as individuals would
! Bankers and merchants make mis-
takes as well as others, and claim the
right to rectify them when discovered
The men appointed to protect the
, revenue should look at the reasonable
ness of the matter. Here was a mar
: doing a very large business in Produce
and paying every month q large sun
: in duties. Is it reasonable to sup
: pose he would take the risk of lOSins
some seven or eight thousand dollars
TO save some fifty or sixty? Is Their,
any business man Oh this frontier whC
: would take that risk, especially afte
] seeing the sharp practices of thes'
officials during the past year or two
t The sympathies of the public arr
fully with Mr.. Nelson in this matter
! He may have trusted too much to tn,
e fair dealing Of these men-the temp
D tation was great, for they anticipate
large dividend if the property is con
) demned. We note this case, not be
: cause we care to meddIe particular
5 with the manner in which our neigh
5 bOrs over the border do their Officia
y business, but to warn our readers VIII
i have property to be marketed in tn
l. United States not to venture the risk
d If there are residents of that countr
! who will buy our produce here, Il
e them have it, but until there be som
d more reliable arrangements in regar
e to the collection of the customs rev,
1T nue., it will be better to sacrifice SOM
d thing in prices rather than run lh
/ gauntlet of Newport Custom Hous
n attaches.-Stanstead Journal.
Is TERRIBLE HURRICANE OFF ALAsK.
e, The United States steamer Ossipt
u was nearly wrecked on the night 0
Ih the 9th ult., when forty miles soutI
H. east Of Archangel, in the most teri
" fc hurricane witnessed on that Goa
We during the past seventy years. 81
as lost her boats, and considerable {
H. her sails and rigging was carrie
us away; her chronometer was destro
ed and all the fires but four were o
n out; those remaining were kept ali
10 by burning oil, tallow, grease, laI
40 candles and like substances. S
let shipped an immense sea, doing gre
'e- injury to the powder in the magaziI
en Forty-six sailors were wounded VIII
ISL on duty, but none were killed. I
ef- hurricane lasted eighteen hours, a
an the entire storm between thirty
al and forty hours. Lieut.. Command
sIl6 EroSSman opd n hoo Nam