The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-31

TIE STAMP QUEsTIoN.-Iti is with some natu-
ral pleasure that we publish the following let
ter from Collector Sawyer, in which he dis
claims all intention to accuse our tradesmen
of any want Of integrity; assures us OF his
high opinion Of the general probity of our
merchants, and says that he has gone to con-
siderable troubiein consulting the convenience
of the public. The explanation Of Mr.. Sawyer
is in every way satisfactory, and his letters
, have given our citizens some interesting and
valuable information.
UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE,
CoILECToR's OFFICE, 2D DISTRICT, 8. G.
CHARLESTON, January so, 1868.
To the Editors Of the Daily Ne,0s:
In your editorial remarks preceding the let
ter from myself, in The NEWS Of to-day,
are one or two points, on which l beg to
| add few words, at the same time avoiding, as
far as possible, any unnecessary intrusion upon
your space.
do not profess to write the English Ian
guage with such absolute clearness as to pre-
vent all possibility Of misconstruction. But
was not aware of having in my letter used any
expression which could fairly be called "a fling
as il-natured as it is gratuitous." l certainly
did not say that there is any disposition OF the
part OF our people generally to evade the law,
nor did intend to say that from which such
an inference could be drawn. On the contrary,
am happy to bear testimony to the general
desire to comply with all parts Of the Internal
Revenue laws, SO soon as information is OBJ
tanned thereupon.
You remark, "we do not believe that any one
Of the tradesmen in this city has sold, without
q stamp, one single article to which, according
to his information, q stamp should have been
attached; and the accusation of Mr.. Sawyer is,
| in hot
served"
Now, without subscribing to o belief that all
the dealers in this city are 80 thoroughly i'm
maculate as would be implied by the above
statement I have above said that l can
bear cheerful testimony to the general
desire to comply with the laws. But
I wish to, call your attention to the e
and that no inference of such an sac
cusation" can, in my opinion, be fairly drawn
from any part Of my letter. The only phrase
which gives colorabls excuse for supposing
that meant to imply dereliction in the duty
in question, is where I speak OF the zeal OF
our dealers thus suddenly aroused to sense
Of their duty to the revenue" In that express
sien alluded simply to the fact that public at
tention had been suddenly and impressively
called to this subject, and caused dealers TO in
quire whether they were themselves complying
with the law. No accusation" was made
none intended to be made.
The demand for proprietary STAMPS in the
last two or three weeks has been four-fold that
for any similar period in the last two years, and
when persons have made inquiries for stamps
which could not be supplied, their names have,
as rule, been taken, SO that they could, in the
event Of trouble on this account, have the ben
eft of the testimony Of the clerks in this ofdce;
and perchance the writer Of this article In THE
NEWS may be among those whose names are
thus recorded.
pense, and by every means in my power, en-
ieavored to give information on this matter of
stamps, and I trust that Ihaye, in no instance,
marited the somewhat opprobrious epithets,
'siu-natured" and 'ungenerous."
Respectfully, your obedent servant,
FREDERICK A. SAWYER, Collector.