Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-25

There IS much pertinency In the assertion
OF contemporary, that 'the Radical party
now is simply organized robbery" Facts
50 long way to sustain the charge. When
Secretary Boutwell, reported the fact that
twenty millions of dollars had been with
held from the United States Treasury by
Revenue Collectors, he was below, rather
than above, the true mark. Facts are daily
occurring, says the Philadelphia Age, which
show that robberies of the Revenue Bureau
are of daily occurrence, and the sums take
all forms, from a petty abstraction oftwenty
dollars to the mammoth grasp Of thou
sands. For some time public attention
has been called to the proceedings of the
Baltimore whisky ''Ring," a combination
of men whose practice it was to engage in
Illicit distiIlation; make no return and pay
no taxes Some of these men have at last
been arrested, and from that arrest has
leaked out the fact that the s'Ring" was en-
| abled to operate by means which implicate
Internal Revenue officers, such as detec-
tives, inspectors, supervisors, and others,
! whose province it is to look after such mat
tiers, and officials Of much higher grade.
Revenue officers are under Indictment,
brought about by the exertions Of private
parties, after the United States officials
had abandoned the cases in most sus-
picious manner. One Assistant Assessor
is charged with an attempt to bride a
Juror in an ENLIGHTENMENT case. The Grand
jury failed, year ago or more, by one
vote, TO indict a Supervisor. The juror
who decided bis case on a former occasion
| by his negative vote, was rewarded for his
subServiency by place in the Custom
House, which he still holds. The charge
sgainst the Supervisor was that he had
taken a bride of 5000 for settling conf
paint against member of the 'Ring,"
which, from the amount Of the hush
money, it may be inferred, was serious
one What the results of these suits will
be is uncertain. Political influences
of all kinds will be brought to
bear upon the administration Of
justice, and, judging from the
past, these influences are not likely to be
barren of results. Besides, the trials may
be postponed; witnesses may be missing;
| proof weak upon vital points. When one
part of the body is attacked, all the members
| Nrl,ie &c Ia yr-ifh tho
sent administration. When Supervisor is
! indicted, he Immediately has the good will
of his Observation-Disclosures and, in that way,
a channel of escape is opened. More than a
thousand suits are now pending in the
Courts ofthe United States, against Revenue
officers. The Commissioner of Internal
Revenue has just discovered the fact, and
communicated it to the Secretary, by whom
the subject has been referred to the
acting Acknowledgement who in his turn
advises the District Attorneys TO suggest
TO the United States Marshals, TO devote
themselves, as soon as convenient, and as
theoretically as may be compatible with
their party duties and engagements, to the
removal of this cause of complaint. But
the cases will remain untried, and in the
meantime the chances of getting the money
withheld from the government will diminish.
The Baltimore "Ring" disclosures have
awakened public attention to this important
matter once more, and hopes are expressed
that at last justice viii DE melted out to Of
tenders, and the Treasury receive what is
justly due from imports and taxes. Is this
too much to expect?