Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-05-25

Y. 5. laws regulating the manufae-
ture. transfer and sale of liquors are
now believed to defy evasions. But
the exactions are such as not only to
detect and punish those who would
intend to swindle, but as well those
who fairly mean to discharge their
duty as honest and honorable citizens. |
A case in point is reported from
Patch Grove: Dr. j. B. Corey, a |
gentleman in every way above re-
proach, and who would in no case
for gain commit a fraud upon the
revenue laws, nor violate law of
any kind except through ignorance
Of its existence and details, has been
actually drawn up before the Federal
Circuit Court at Milwaukee on a
charge of violating the revenue laws
in neglecting to entirely remove
revenue stamp from an alcohol cask,
which he had sent TO Milwaukee to
have refilled. The penalty for me-
glect to remove or scratch off such
cancelled stamp is not less than $500
nor above 100000, with imprison-
ment. The CANCERS cancellation
mark was already upon the stamp,
which he supposed was sufficient.
Perhaps the U. s. Assessor ought
to put copy Of tho revenue laws
into the hands Of every dealer, who
is required to conform to laws with
such exactions and terrible penalties
as the following section contains:
"Sec. 43. That it shall be the duty
OF every person who empties or
draws off, or causes to be emptied or
drawn off, any distilled spirits from
cask or q package bearing any
mark, brand, or stamp required by
law, ut the time of emptying such
cask or package, to efface and oblit-
crate said mark, stamp, or brand
Any such cask or package from which
said mark, brand, or stamp is not SO
effaced and obliterated, as herein re-
quired, shall be forfeited to the Uni
ted States, and may be seized by any
officer of internal revenue wherever
found. Any railroad company or
other transportation company, or
person, who shall receive or trans
port, or have in possession with in>
tent to transport, or with intent to
cause or procure to be transported.
any such empty eask or package, or
any part thereof having thereon any
brand, mark, or stamp, required by
law to be placed on any cask or pack
age containing distilled spirits, shall
forfeit three hundred dollars for each
such cask or package, or any part
thereof, so received or transported, or
had in possession with the intent
aforesaid and any boat, railroad
car, cart, .dray, wagon, or other We
hlcle, and all horses or other animals
used in carrying or transporting the
same, shall be forfeited to the United
States. Any person who shall fail
or neglect TO etface and obliterate
said mark, stamp, or brand, at the
time OF emptying such cask or racks
age, or who shall receive any such
cask or package, or any part thereof,
with the intent aforesaid, or who
shall transport the same, or knows
ingly aid or assist therein, or who
shall remove any stamp provided by
TINS act from any cask or package
| containing or which had contained
distilled spirits, without defacing and
destroying the same at the time of
such removal, or who shall aid or as
sist therein, or who shall have in his
possession any such stamp so remov>
ed, as aforesaid, or have in his DOS,
session any cancelled stamp or any
stamp which has been used. or which
purports to have been used, upon any
cask or package of distilled spirits
shall be be deemed guilty of felony
and, on conviction, shall be fined not
less than five hundred dollars nor
more than ten thousand dollars, and
imprisoned not less than one year
nor more than five years"
The laws are right. Not a change
should be made except for better eff,
ficiency bat still persons SO clearly
not intending 10 violate any law, and
certainly deriving no gain by vio-
lation nor expecting any gain, should
NAoSh~A gu WituOuG CONVECTION
Dr Corey, supposing the laws fully
complied with and duty paid, return
ed his cask for more of the LIQUID.
expecting 10 sell as before, and, hav,
ing no law was not morally guilty
and ought not to suffer-certainl
not until tho laws are set before him
by the u. S. Assessor. In Gods
name, punish with lines and prisons
the Intentionally guilty. But as for
the manifestly innocent, let them be
at least advised of the legal require
ments and duly warned before visit
ing them with penalties for violating
unknown laws. What says Assessor
Wilkinson, man we'll known for
his conscience and fairness 3? What
says the Federal District Attorney.
Hon. G. W. Hazelton, distinguished
for his love of justice as we'll as for
his ability in the moral code?