New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-07
TIE IMMEDIATE DUTY.

is. that in the item of Whisky alone not more
than One-kGlf-we might say one-thlrd-0 the
tar is paid to the Government Frauds III
Whisky have become a science, and there eX-
lists in this country an organization commonly
called the Whisky Ring, and generally under
stood to bc composed Of revenue officers and
dealers in Whisky, for the purpose of detraud-
ing the Treasury. Probably part of this crime
is to bo attributed to the imperfect character
of our legislation. Mr.. Buckle, in writing upon
! Che system Of English taxation, as 1t was piac-
| ticed century age, showed the evils that re-
suited from intricate and unnecessary laws:-
.'In oycry part of Europe there arose numerous and
powerfu gangs OF armed snmgglcrs who lived by dis
Obcyng the laws which their Ignorant rulers hh
These men, desperate from the fear OF punishment ana
accustomed the commission OF every CRIME cOhtAnl
mated the surrounding population introduced INTO peace
full villages vices formerly UNKNOWN caused tho run VI
entire families and spread wherever thcy came drunken
ness, theft and dissoueness and famlazed Ihelr AZ
socates with those coarse aud swni,h debauchcties
which the natural habits OF 50 vagrant ana iawless
life The innumerabe crimes arising from TINS are az
rectly clargabe upon the European governments by
whom they provoked The oaenses were caused by
the laws"
We see in America condition of private
morality almost as painful as that described by
Buckle. Here is a vast unlawful interest which
has already deprived the Government of
hundred million dollars, and claims to have the
power to shape legislation for its own pIotec-
ton. This is a matter of common scandal.
Collector of the NewYork revenue. Mr. Bailey,
recently published, over his own signature, the
fact that he had mot yet heard that the pro-
ceedings had in contemplation the punish
"ment of distillers or Of the officers under
"whose protection they had nOtoriously been"
We trust Congress will give Mr. Bailey an op-
p0itunity of explaining this statement and
bringing the offenders TO justice.
The Editor of Tile ". ]. Sun says:
"A telegram from Washington Informs us that Gus
wherein the property amounted to $1,000 and that TN.
Is the largest seizure ever made IN the United states
This wide mistake The revenue officers Of this port
have often seized vessels and their oargoes valued at
from 100000 TO 100000 IL II within our knowledge
worth $4,000 aud that owners paid about $4,000 to
get them out OF the clutches of the officers They know
how to do big things in the seizure line at tho granite
building In Wall-st."
Here is q statement Of corruption in the Gus
tom House. 1t is made by responsible
man, and should be investigated. The Custom
House of New York has long been a sink of
iniquity. 1t is an important channel of national
revenue Its proper working affects the inter
ests of every business man IN New-YOrk 1t
should be managed like every successful bust
ness enterprise - upon principles like those
'
Mr. Clahin in their private affairs. Yet this
vast business has become mere hot-bcd for
politicians; and the service of the Government
is performed, not by men who possess capacity
and fidelity, but by the brawling politicians of
the wards and precincts, who have no
higher claim than the power to con-
troll primary elections. Congress has already
had one investigation upon the affairs of the
Custom House, and its report was dlsrcgarded
by President Johnson. We hold him re-
responsible for the continuance OF Mr.. Smythc
in Office and especially for the present condi-
ton of customs revenue.
The decentralization which has surrounded
Mr. Jolnsons administration, which has covered
with faint nearly every man associated with
him in office, seems to have spread over the
whole country. These are truly evil days
Crime, and fraud, and peculaton are permitted
with Indifference. The Government seems TO
have fallen into a combination of rings"
We have Railroad Ring" which has made
contract with the Government out of which
its leaders amass enormous fortunes. We have
National Bank Ring" in which we see
broken banks doing nominal business, and
netting large profit out Of a construction of the
Banking Law. We have Land "Rings'-cOmbi-
nations to seize upon immense tracts of terri
tory under the pretext of Indian treaties and to
take possession of them 10y virtual act of legis-
lative conliscaton. Then we have an Indian
Ring" This is the most terrible of ALL
The Railroad, and Land, and Whisky thieves
confne themselves to the mere requirement of
money by dcfrauding the Treasury, but the lead
ers of the Indian Ring speculate upon the
blood of men, upon the honor of their Govern
ment, upOn rapinc massacre, and shame! Gen
Sheridan is to-day carrying an army down into
the heart Of the Indian country simply to pro-
tect the white people from the results of the ra
pacity and perGdy of the Government agents.
And so we go!--fraud in the service of the
Government, among men in high station, among
the agents Of the revenues Custom House Off
GERS. excsemen and over all, an Administration
which appears To give tact assent to these
manifold crimes. The country seems to say:
Let fraud reign now when Grant comes
"its reign will cease.D But we do not choose
to wait for Grant. Congress must oct imme-
diately Above all things, it should pursue the
investigation which President johnson Is sup
posed TO have attempted in NewYork few
weeks ago. and discover why it is that humid
red million dollars Of the national resources
are stolen from one item Of revenue alone.