The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-25
hiskey.

We once heard q temperance lecturer as
selt that rum dealers as Il class-of course
there are many honorable eNceptors-were
the worst citizens in the community. ANY
one who is in the habit of looking over the
daily papers. and noticing the proceedings
of criminal courts and the seizures made
by revenue officers. is likely to be struck
with the folce Of the remark. In the tele-
graph news of one day, last week. we find
the following. and every newspaper reader
well knows that this is but repetition Of
what is weekly published
Governor Scott, of South Carolina for
wards to the Internal Revenue Office infor-
nation that A. p. Turner. deputy collector
of the Third district of that State, on the
9th inst, seized two illicit stills. owned by
man named Scroggs, and moved them to
his house. The next morning a crowd of
armed men surrounded Turner's house. in
Columbia, as he was about to convey the
stills to the courthouse, for the purpose of
securing them. Turner defended himself
with pistol. and the attacking party was
well armed with muskets. They fired u
number OF rounds, and he responded with
his pistol, scattering his assaiants. Dur
ing the melee, Turner's daughter, six wear $
old was wounded in the shoulder. Turner
afterwards left from the rear of his prem
ises on horseback for assistance While
he was absent crowd of thirty men armed
with muskets again surrounded the house,
led by Mckelvy. who demanded Of Turn
crs wife that the stills be given up, which
was refused. Mckelyy then took his axe
and broke open the smoke-house where the
stills were deposited, and the crowd tool,
them away. Turner obtained a warrant
and caused the arrest of some of the ring
leaders who were lodged in jail. The rest
Of the party are still under arms guarding
the stills, of which they have POSSESSION
Governor Scott believes that {; military
force is absolutely necessary in that vicin-
lily to enforce the laws against these par
ties
4 similar statement comes from the
neighhorhood Of a. j. home,
away down South in Dixie -
{" Commissioner Delane has information
that the detachment of 9th Cavalry on tlu-
ty under instructions OF the Revenue Bu-
reau, in Virginia, have been very success
full III destroying a number of distileries
near Jonesyillo and Cumberland Cap. \
private belonging to the detachment, named
attempting to capture Daniel Literal, the
proprietor of an Illicit still A reward of
1000 will be offered for the arrest of lit
eral.''
During the corrupt Administration of
Andy Johnson, the "whislSey ring" was
the most potent engine of fraud on the rev
enue, in the country. 1t took complete
possession of that branch of the Revenue
Department, and made and unmadc officers
at its pleasure, without attempting to con
ceal its defiance of the laws OF Congress
and the whole power Of the United States
Government
But with General Grant at the head of
affairs to support honest officials in enforc-
ing the laws, the power of the ''ring" has
been broken, and armed resistance to the
reYenue laws is now attempted. Men who
follow the whiskey business respect moth
ing but power greater than their own
They acknowledge no obligations, human
or divine. Nor will this condition Of affairs
he mended until the state reaches that
higher state of civilization, which declares
licensing of mere drinking holes to be a
violation of good government and good
morals, and the whole becerage traffic to be
placed in the class of evils to which it
naturally belongs, namely, the brothel and
the gambling house.