The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-03-05
Johnson, Hendricks--Whisky.
From the indianapolis Journal.

From the Indianapolis Journal
why is not the whisky tax collected ?'
thousands of honest people IMMERSED in the
corrupions of Johnsonian politics, daily inquire.
"Why is not the whisky tax collected ?" asks
the honest citizen whose burden is doubled be-
cause that tax is not collected Why are not
illicit dis,ilcrs and fraudulent dealers in whs-
Ky on which the tax has not been paid, prose
cuted and punished as provided for by law p
demand all who interested in the credit
and good name of their Government.
Why not Because man more corrupt
than the most depraved ofthe combinations Of
villains who defraud the people at large. and
despoil the treasury Of the revenue to which it
is legally entitled. possesses the power Of ap
pointing collectors, assessors and other officers
whose business it is to see that the taxes
collected and paid over to the Government
Because the same bad man exercises the par
doning power with which the Constitution has
invested him for the purpose of shielding the
innocent and extending mercy to the penitent,
in behalf of scoundrcls who have waxed fat by
manufacturing and selling whisky in violation
of law. W
The case of John Ebner, of Vincennes, is an
illustration of Mr.. Johnson's regard for that
mandate Of the Constitution which requires him
to take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted.''
Elmer was convicted at the present term of
the District Court of the United States for the
District ofIndiana, of running an Illicit distll-
cry in connection with a brewery which he op-
Grated at Vincernes. The still was artfully
concealed, and had been running for some
months before being discovered. On hearing Of
the case in the District Court, decree of Tor
FIXTURE was rendered against Ebner's establish.
ment. from which an appeal was taken to the
Circuit Court
Persons conversant with the facts of the case
looked upon the appeal Of desperate but hope
less effort to escape the penalty to which Eb-
had subjected himself: but he and his
counsel knew who dispensed pardons at Wash
ington and the means by which dissolution
could be obtained for the yenal ofSense OF
swindling the Taxpayers Of the country.
While the appeal was pending, Hon. Thos.
A. Hendricks the Democratic candidate for
Governor, Senator Of the United States, bound
to protect his tax-payng constituents, so far
as in his power, from loss by frauds in the rev.
enue-Mr. Hendricks the protested champion
Of equal taxation - interests himself to pro-
cure pardon for Elmer, the fraudulent dis
tiller. who probably made more in a single
week by cheating the Government than the
average of tOiling. honest farmers make in a
year !-Hendricks, the oily and plausible pol
i,ician, who harangues The people on equal tax
alton and sheds crocodile tears over the a.
mount OF taxes thev nave 10 pay, becomes a
pardon broker for sordid. law defying robber
of the Government and of every man who pays
taxes to the Government, and at his request
MIR. Johnson issued full pardon to Elmer.
Shame on him, and shame the miserable
apology for President who prostitutes the
pardoning power to shield such velmin from
the just penalty of their violations of the law
1t is FOLLY to talk of collecting the whisky
tax so long as Senators will the influence
their office gives them to protect manuactur
ers ofuntaxed whisky, and corrupt. profgate,
law condemning and inscriptions demagogue
fills the executive chair and busies himself in
pardoning frauds upon the revenue.