New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-17
LILLE UHIShY ERAUDS.

The UHISKY FRAUDS.
The Times brings many matters i'll issue with
THE TRIBUNE. Mr.. Greeley's private letters
his opinions Oh other subjects, his presumed
actions on nearly every event of his life-re-
ceive the usual review. We dismiss all these
questions They are not geTmane to this issue
We have vehemently and steadily denounced
the President for his remssness in the cOllec-
ton of Internal Revenue. We have criticised
Mr.. Courtney for his manifest disregard OF
duty in not prosecuting the criminals. We IN
sisted that Mr.. Buckley should have an oppor-
tunity, when he came here as the agent OF
President johnson, to make any investigations
necessary. and not be hooted out of court III
Mr.. Buckley failed, it was his fault.
Now that Mr.. johnson has made up his
mind to investigate the collection of Internal
Revenue in New-York, and has deputed for
that work a distinguished member of the bar,
a man of the highest professional character,
we insist that it is injuring the public
interests to paralyze investigation. We do
not know that anything will be discovered
TO Mr.. Ceurtney's prejudice we trust there
may not be. But people demand that this
whole business of Revenue swindllng shall De
probcd to the bottom, and now is the time to
do it, Certain facts appear which we think
conclusively answer The Times
|. A hundred millions of dollars have been
stolen from the Revenue
II. The men who stole this money are either
directly or indirectly connected with the In
ternal Revenue service. They should have
been detected by the Collectors or the AS
SCISSORS.
III. If the Collectors and Assessors are not
competent to put an end to these frauds, then
the whole body of them should be removed.
If Mr.. Fullerton's investigation will establish
this fact, then President Johnson's duty is I'M
avoidable.
". The men who now assail Mr.. Fullerton
as the "agent of the Whisky Ring" have been
in unckdlIenged control of the Repenues IN hlS
city for years, and their administration has
Shopn great deficit. They are the officers
under whose administration the Whisky Ring
has flourshed, and it is 10 their interest, and TO
their interest alone, that this investigation
should not proceed.
V. Mr.. Courtney is the prosecuting officer OF
the Government. How many cases has he
prosecuted for violation of the Revenue laws1
VI. Judge Blatchford is on the bench. How
many cases has he tried for violation OF the
Revenue lawsH
! VII IL the Whisky Ring exists, it must be
by the eonnivance Of the Revenue officials. IL
does exist, and these officers have not inter
| fered with it, 1t is absurd 60 suppose that the
| Whisky Ring will have any anxiety to disturb
a state of things in which its members have
! grown enormously rich.
To-
! Investigation that will enable us to purify
the Internal Revenue system. IL is very GER
tain that Mr. Courtney has not done his part
toward that result. There are great many
Collectors and Assessors in New York who be
long in the same category. IL is not for US to
Judge who are guilty ard who are innocent
that remains with the President. The President
can have no motive in this investigation but
the interests of the country. His Administra-
ton has been scandal simply because he has
kept in Office and given his confidence TO
men who are the leaders Of this Whisky
Ring But he has changed his mind Grace has
come to him. He wants to close his Admins
tration by series OF acts which will in
a measure redeem him from his present almost
universal unpopuhritY We are glad that this
is so; and we submit that 1t Is the duty OF
every citizen, who desires TO SEQ the admins
tration Of public affairs properly conducted, TO
strengthen the hands of President Johnson
and his agents in this matter, and to insist
upon a thorough and searching inquiry into
the whole Revenue system, no matter who
may be involved. We are for the country
against the thieves. and we insist upon their
punishment whether they are Republicans or
Democrats.
We are in this fight to the end. So long
as the fact remains unanswered that the rev.
enues of this great nation are squandered by
knaves. our war is with the men who are either
too stupid OF too corrupt to prevent it, If Mr.
Fullerton deserves the censures Of The Times
let him be punished. He is a mere instrument
in the cause. We are tired of this endless rob
berry, and we represent the united will of the
people in demanding a rigid examination. SO
far az men are concerned we neither excuse
nor accuse We demand justice.
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OUR CHARTER ELECTION.
III tbo Dopuh1ican Dr;n,o