St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-29
"Heary Seizure. "

'
fer seizure from disintercstcd stand
point, trust l will be excused for pre-
sumine, that your readers will be inter
ested in learning all the particulars con-
corning the case, as every controversy
has two sides. For the purpose OF
amending the facts as stated in your pa
per and the Stanstead Journal, from
which you quoted, let us notice that it
would be hardly possible for seven tubs
of butter to yield revenue of $50 Or
$50, unless they were very large.
Mr.. Nelson entered his butter 1900
pounds short, which quantity would ill
nearly or quite 30 tubs of ordinary Ca
pacity,an could hardly be packed in less
than 80. Without doubt tub Of butter
looks exceedingly insignificant to the
sympathizing public, when the snug
cling of seven, is advertised as the only
cause for condemnation and forfeiture OF
$4,000 worth Of property, but when you
multiply the by 5 and take the product
for the cause, it appears little more re-
spectacle. Though without doubt 50
tubs of butter seem much more inconSid-
cradle the ''to public for the purpose of
importing them for sale.
have in mind young man, who was
hunted in our courts several years, for
cheating lis neighbor, in weight, out of
with costs lie was compelled to pay on
an execution. But very few sympatlliz-
ed with him. all honest men felt that
cheating in weights and measures was 4
crime which should not be allowed to 90
unpunisheI. How is it with 1.-The pub
lie, which broods i'll sympathy over ali
attempt to cheat the government ont of
SOS, by irving false weights; and what
hall be said OF the pubic journals which
pirate about the sharp practices OF Gus
toms officials and ''the fair dealing OF
these nen," who at most are oElv the
authorized agents OF I'll, treasury depart
ment, to enforce 4 law enacted by the
assembled wisdom and virtue OF the ma
ton? Is there less sin in cheating the
government than your neighbour! 1t
seems that more butter came mo this
cOun!ry than Mr. Nelson entered at the
custom house also that he reported the
weights for entry, from his m emo RAJ
dunn book, in which he kept minute OF!
his purchases.
Ii he bought the 1900 pounds excess,
as he probably did, he must have had
some knowledge of it, when he report cd
Lis butter for entry, if lie had how could
he overlook such an amount unless the
oversight was intentional. Again he
must have had some account OF tie 30
tubs OH his memorandum, from which, he
reported the weights to tn, consular
agent and is it natural to suppose that he
overlooked the quantity from inadvcrt-
ancc Would he make such a mistake
if delivering rs much butter on sale B?
The appearances are fraudulent, and the
only loop hole Of escape for Mr.. Nelson
Is, that he reported the deficiency to and
arranged with the deputy collector at
! Newport to amend his invoice, which he
seemed to know was false, as originally
given. Mr.. Nelson's story Of so report
ing and so arranging is stoutly denied by
the deputy. A SUBSCRIBER.
Note--We publish the above as til,
defence Of the customs officers, las it vir.
tually i>) because We gave Mr.. Nelson;
story last week. Pat the two together,
and if the officials are satisfied with tn,
explanation, we think the public should
be. But what the public would like t(
know now is this: DO the customs of
ficiaIs hold the $4,000 worth of buttel
seized from Mr.. Nelson, or have the,
given ii up, or have they compromise,
the matter Perhaps our friend from
the "di~intercsred standpoint" can civ
light on this subject another week,-ED
CA.