New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-19

" THE TRIBUNE AND THE WHISKY RING
The N. T. Times has letter from c., entitled
as above, which was evidently written to APP
| pear as editorial. IL strikes us that the shy
ness evinccd in printing it otherwise Is un-
| timely and preposterous. The writer says:
"The question again and again recur by what
singular coincidence It haPpens.n coneGcnoe u , % ~,
the meshes OF justice wherein they are EMBODIED by rea
Of their fragrant violation OF the Revenue aT7 ana
lust at the moment these laws about 20 Dc vudcatod
and the cuprts arragned, TUE IklBuNL should throw
its power IN the scale against the omceIa hIpy h
ton Of system, and again be found standing
hctvyeen fhe R1Iy or alleged guilty and trial THE
TRIBUNE's in the Calcou case. believe, has
never been explained. The occurrence OF essentially
the same thing the part OF that Journal in this judi
cal district gives renewed pertnency to the Inquiry
how this thing happens 70 be Perhaps THE TRIBUNE
II il chooses can give a satisfactory answer but IL has
NOT done So vet Nor is it certain that It Will condc
scend TO give any Yet 1t be assured that the public
arc looking Tor stra ehtforward categorical solution OF
, the Suggestive issue raised IN the premises
The Times may rest assured that we have
nothing TO explain, and no answer to make
satisfactory OF Otherwisc-to such imputa-
tons. They have no bearing on the matter
in hand, and will not serve to divert attention
therefrom. We will try to make that matter
so plain, that the wayfaring man, though a
knave, cannot affect to mistake it, Here are
| the bones of 1t:
/. Congress has imposed certain duties OF
| taxes OH all the Liquors and Tobacco manu-
featured in the country.
| Q. Certain officers have been appointed and
are paid to collect those taxes.
g. Nevertheless, the taxes are not collected
| at all events, the Treasury fails to receive
more than half it should from these imposts.
4. The Government and the People want to
know why.
g. 1t is manifest that there is dereiction on
the part of some of those appointed and paid
to assess and collect these revenues
g. 1t is but justice to the Government the
PEOPLE. and the faithful Revenue officers, that
the delinquents should be detected and brought
to grief.
T. 1t is the duty of the President to take
care that the laws are faithfully executed.
| g. In pursuance thereof, he has directed
Judge Fullerton to investigate and report upon
the suspected delinquences and certain de-
| fcencies in this City.
o. Mr. Fullerton is now engaged in this work.
10. In which we give him the Irish encour-
agement "MOre power to your elboww
Now it may be that President Johnson has
authorized and Judge Fullerton is prosecuting
this investigation in the interest OF the Whisky
Ring and other defrauders of the Revenue
but we do MT believe a word of it. Even if
they are, ace have nothing to explain nor to
answer for. We had no part in nominating
Mr.. johnson for Vice President; VIC did our
best to get him out of office last Spring. We
never urged nor cOunseled this investigation
never heard of it till it had been some time in
progress OF course, we did not recommend
Judge Fullerton as the man to conduct ibid
not know that he was thought of till after he
had been for several days at work in it. If he
shall prove aught else than faithful and true
man, we shall be grievously disappointed in
him, but we are nO-wise responsible for his ac-
tons. We know not, and have not sought
TO know who are compromised by his in
designations; we only know that officers
who have always done their duty need
fear nothing even though he should
mistakenly OF dishonesty report against them.