The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-17
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER Il, 1869.
The Frauds on the Government.

The Frauds on the Government
The Brooklvn Frauds har" cXcited as
r,,,ch nj interest as the development OF
c,;n,o can we'll excite in this day OF fami-
liaritv with every species OF raScant!' III
this case the grade of ScoundrciS IS clcfa'eo
in proportion to the magnitude OF 'he
ror1Icry that has been carried on, and men
who regard with contempt the ragged
wretch who steals Il few shirts from the
clo;hes-linc. or show herrings from the door
Of a grocery, are found appropriat'ng their
tens and hundreds Of thousands from 1he
Golfers ofthc Government. AS the amounts
nurloincd increase in dignity they involve
INC higher grades of society, until persons
never before suspected, and enjoying the
general respect OF society, are found 10 be
-rcat rogucS. They take the risk, each
step upwards requiring Il higher premium
The readiness Of all classes to yleld 10 me
tempting opportunities for fraud III 'h'S
country is matter Of national concern.
The South has not been much led INTO Temp
talion. and the instances affecting southern
character are few. The 1iduciary positions
ri the Federal Government are filed 10y
imported northern men. They have been
rorrupt enough: but their corrupt'onS DO
not stain southern regulations. We Woilld
M. say southern people would be entirely
proof against temptation and example were
thew appointed TO Office, but it may be Il
consolation that nj i time OF such general
fcprayitv they have not been led INTO
tcmptaiiou." 1t may ut least be said that
tnrv preserved their honor and hdeilty
with marked resolution 50 long as they
were trusted.
But the truth i, the financial system OF
The Government is unfortunate. few
subjects have been selected whcreupon 10
.;.i>c the enormous revenue demanded for
tn" support of the Government and the
paylnent of the public debt. The taxation
imposed within this limited area is so great
that those upon whom it falls feel Il sense OF
wrong, and think that If they can relieve
themselves by Stratagcm they are not dong
wrong themselves. Foreign imports, to-
llcco, and whSkcv, now sustain the Go
,rrnmcnt and pay the interest Oh the debt.
cotton was formerly in the list OF the artl-
ri2S Government thought lit subjects for cN-
rc>-ivc burthcnS; but northern Interests
suffering thereby, cotton WAS relieved iol
the sake of those interests. Tobacco i.
-iill The victim along with whisky. The
import duties arc heavy. and 50 are the
:.Nrs upon these two lu>t-namei articles.
The money cleaned from them is enormous
in amount, and the process of gathering
such SUBS and transmitting them to the
Treasury affords many opportunities tol
re combinations for stealing, involving ill.,
>,,Icrs and outsiders. which, as we have
Zen. will not 90 rnimproyed by those who
ran seize npon them,
There i treat injustice in the Internal
rrvcnuc law. The productive industry OF
:, mail number Of the people IS oppressed
wth btIthrnS Oh the ground that what i!
produces is luNury-a prctcNt merely for
- wrong that propitatcs the great bulk OF
he nation, which is thus i'll 4 great degree
relieved from the burthcns Of the Govern
uent. The moral of this national wrong
lives tone TO the whole process OF assess
men: and collection OF the revenue; and
While it cugcndcrs frauds innumcrablc, il
tmiaisheS the motives 10 detect and punish
flom. The denounced interests, which,
Ike ConvictS with ball and chain. are made
10 labor for the Government, are left to
piila-c and oppression amidst the strife
Tor the revenue between the Federal
Executive and lis agents. and the cOiln-
gry ut LARGE il quite unsolicitous rs to
naW much the minority are oppressed, OF
whether the ro@uc> are convicted or not.
We're the hurthens fairly imposed on all The
industry of the country it would produce
quite II different state Of things. Public
opinion would exert i direct influence, and
insure a greater degree Of accountability
and fidelity in the discharge of official duty.
There would be II decidedly improved mo-
rality. But when the Government sets the
example il must not be surprised at faith
lcs>neSs among it. agents.
The system of revenue needs revising.
There can be 10 hope of putting an end
to frauds engendcred by the heavy imposi-
!i"Ns upon few thngs-the opportunities
they offer to ro@ucs, and the stimulation to
cyadc them under sense Of wrong, are too