The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-30

STAMPS ONCE MORE. he following letter
from MIR. Sawyer, is IN answer /, paragraph
that appeared in the local columns = rcster-
days NEWS, and speaks for ITSELF There rre,
however, one or two points in it which merit
special attention.
1. 1t seems that stamps are sold by the col
lectors of Interna Revenue, simply because tits
to their interest to d d 80, and not because they
are required by Law to keep them on hand. II
MIR. Sawyer therefore were suddenly to enter
on course of indifference and disinterested-
ness, and decline to keep stamps for sale (cer-
tainly conceivable case), where would the
unfortunate shopkeepers, lawyers, etc, etc.,
procure those interesting little mementoes Of
liberty and repubicanism-for the want Of
which they are liable to prosecution and fine ?
2. The insinuation Of the collector against
our merchants is fling as fl-natured as it is
gratuitous. Mr.. Sawyer certainly had the ad-
vantage of most Of his fellow-citizens in becom-
ing acquainted with the various provisions OF
the Stamp act more thoroughly and at an ear
ier period than they did. But he cannot say
that, after the requirements Of the law were
fairly understood, there was any disposition to
evade the law on the part Of our people. We
do not believe that any one of the tradesmen
in this city has sold, without stamp, one
single article to which, according to his infor-
nation, stamp should have been attached;
and the accusation of Mr.. Sawyer is, in our
opinion, both ungenerous and undeserved.
8. AS regards the careless answer, the writer
would state that there was no special discour-
tesy. The clerk simply remarked there were
no such stamps, and turned away. The an
swer was not considered satisfactory, because
the writer was under the impression that the
selling of stamps was part of the regular prov
ince Of the collector, and that when any par
ticuiar denomination was wanting, simple
courtesy dictated that the citizen, desiring to
purchase stamps, should be informed when he
might reasonably expect to be supplied. But
as it is not the business Of the Office to sell
stamps, of course there was no discourtesy in
the curt reply.
UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE,
CoLLEoToR's OFFICE, 2D DISTRICT, 8. O.,
CHARLESTON. January 20, 1862
To the Editors of the Daily News:
Your article on 'stamps," in to-day's paper,
is evidently written under wrong impression.
The Collector Of Internal Revenue is not bound
by law, or regulation in accordance with law,
to keep revenue stamps for sale. he does, as
q matter OF fact, keep stamps for sale, and en-
deayors to keep on hand such as are usually
needed by those who have occasion to use
them. Sometimes it happens that an unfore-
seen demand arises for the stamps Of parti-
cuiar denomination, and the supply ID exhaust
ed before new order can be filled. Especial
ly has this been the case with some denomina-
tions of what are known as proprietary stamps,
since the action of the Grand and Petit Jur1es
in the United States Court has awakened per-
sons to sense of the risks they run by selling
articles by law required to be stamped without
having 80 stamped chem.
regret the inconvenience thus caused, but
am no more blameable for it than O merchant
is for having stock Of merchandise INSULT
cient to supply the current demand. am daily
expecting full supply Of the kind of stamps
alluded to in your article; and certainly have
no desire to balk the zeal Of our dealers thus
suddenly aroused to sense Of their duty to
the revenue, but shall aid it by all the means
in my power. AL my interest is in the direc-
ton Of selling as many stamps as possible; but
am in no way bound to sell or provide
stamps morethan the proprietors OF THE DAILY
NEWS are.
As for the+scareless answer" given, trust
that If anything was wanting in courtesy IN any
answer given in-my Office, shall be informed
of it, that it may be promptly excused for
am quite certain no one Of my clerks would
willingly incur any liability to such charge.
Respectfully, your obetlient servant,
FREDERICK A. SAWYER,
Collector.