The New York herald., 1872-04-02

The sensation created in this city yesterday
by the HERAID's exposure OF the frauds upon
the revenue-the determination OF the govern
ment TO punish the authors, and the announce
ment that trus bills had been found against
one hundred citizens for criminal violations OF
The law--.present amusing, as well as serious
features The friends Of the accused had
beep busy for days "arranging" that the press
should ignore or dsavow or m.represent the
facts. All kinds Of mischievous stories have
filed the air II was untrue--it was a con-
spiracy--it was an "April Day joke-Tom
Murphy was the author, and in some way that
mysterious omniprescnt ogre, General Butler,
was the soul OF the proceedings. One story
followed another in nervous succession for
days, until the HERALD came out like \ bolt
from the blue and the mine exploded.
What do we see? Let us hold ourselves
closely to the record and show how yainly
we might say how wickedly-the friends Of
these accused parties have conspired to stide
public opinion. On May 8, 1871, the Presi-
dent, through the Department Of Justice, issued
an order calling attention to the fact that JUS
tice had virtually ceased its office so far as
frauds upon the revenue were concerned that
over one thousand suits were pending before
the United States Courts and were going by
default, and that large sums # money had been
lost to the government by reason ,f the apathy
OF criminalty of the officers of justice. AT the
same time an order was issued by the Treasury
directing further Investigations into all cases
Of defrauding the revenue that had not been
outawed by the statute OF limitations. These
Investigations have been carried on patiently,
quietly, thoroughly, and the evidence submit
ted to the United States Grand Jury. The men
who composed this Grand Jury, whose names
we published yesterday, are among our best
citizens They were men like Charles A. Macy
and Joseph Stewart, the bankers; William II.
Taylor and Chauncey Vibbard, importers and
merchants-all men of pro5ity and standing.
This Grand Jury found indictments to the
number Of one hundred and seven. The
names of the parties thus indicted are pub
lished elsewhere The work has been etfec-
tually and patiently done, and the results pub
shed to-day are simply the documentary
evidence Of the truth of the HERALDs ex-
posure. And as for the hysterlcal stories of
the uninformed and misntormed newspapers,
1t is only necessary TO add certain other facts.
These indictments have no connection directly
or indirectly with Custom House frauds, as
the order to proceed with them was given by
Mr.. Boutwell, in October, before the Custom
House inquiry took place. II is not true that
tho time of this Grand Jury was taken up with
these cases, to the exclusion OF any Custom
House cases, as the Investigations of the
revenue frauds only took up five days of the
session. Nor is 1t true, as we are credibly in-
formed that the witnesses upon whose testi-
mony these indictments were found were ad-
venturers who desired moieties, and convicts
who had served in State Prison. They were
men who had no concern in the matter except
| to attend and give evidence when coinpeRed
| by the process of subpoena.
| While the HERALD, as we said yesterday,
lends prompt and joyful aid to General
Grant In this great campaign against corrup-
ton, the exposure gives us no qualification.
F, 1t is not pleasant to know that one hundred
and sixty millions of dollars have been
dereuded from the Treasury-that a Grand
Jury Of respectable citizens in five days found
one hundred and seven indictments against
men believed to have shared in these frauds,
and that indictments to the number OF six or
seven hundred are ready for presentation to
the Grand Jnry about to sit for the April
term. We could willingly wish it were other
wise. Nor is it pleasant to see such a man as
Mr.. Courtney under any suspicion. Webeleve
him to be an honorable and true man, and we
are confident he will be able to show his
entire innocence and that he was faithful
servant Of the government when District
Attorney. We take 1t that Mr.. Courtney is
brave enough to meet these charges; that
he will welcome every investigation and
aid the government in Furnishing the
guilty. And So with other names
who are accused, and who, unlike Mr. Court
ney, have been unfortunate enough to undergo
Indictment. We have no war with these gem
temen, no desire to do them injury, and If we
have uuwitting!y caused any one the least pain,
our columns are open for remedy. But the
fact stands ont as clear as the MONDAY sum-
that during tue administration of Mr.. johnson
The execution OF the revenue laws was pract-
calIy dead letter so far rs the taxes upon
whiskey or tobacco were concerned. We re-
member the fetd and offensive scandals that
filed the air at tn time how corruption ran
riot; how men became suddenly rich with
Illicit gain; how whiskey, which should have
paid tax Of two dollars gallon, was sold in
open market for little more than half the
tax; how an accomplished and persistent
scoundrel like Bailey was enabled to run an
audacious and despotic career; how commit
tees of Congress were blindfoded aud hood
winked into connivance at the frauds !;
how the sword arm OF Justice was shrivellel