New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-02
JAYNE AGAIN.

THE mFRCHANTs' STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IN
| vAsIoNs or PERSONAL RIGHTs-A PROTEST
| AGAINST THE SECRECY or THE CONGRESSIONAL
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE DOORS or THE COM
| MTTEE- room.
To the Bdttor Of rhe Tribune
SIR | hoped that we had finished with
this disasteful subject ut least that were to have
| tcesr breathing spell in pure atmosphere until the
| hearing promised the Chamber OF Commerce by the
Ways and Means Committee should bring tho
chants face with their prosecutor Neither the
merceuary cupidty OF the nor the occasional
pecadilioes of the other agreeable subjects. But
they cannot lie dsregarded the interests Of the Govern
meut and Of the honest merchant Identical. They
both secured by the proper administration OF fair
and just laws They are both impaired by fraudulent
unjust practices To honest people. Jayne and the
dishonest importers OF the category
to be sbated But desirable as it il to punish fraud
there il a mode OF punishment which Is detri-
mental TO tho community than even the fraud ITSELF
aude to that disregard OF the personal rights of
his which this high prosecutor has sho In the
exercise of his authority Armed with his warrant
obtained par statement he drags before him the
surprised and unsuspectng merchant and by
or threat tempts him TO confession compro-
mise Have to thisi We willing. during the
terrible struggle OF the Government with its 10
yield up something Of personal freedom, to waive
something of our Anglol5axon brthright but
longer submit TO this unusual and dangerous exercise Of
power. The Government must conine itself within its
proper limits it must collect its trevenues without
vasiou OF domice encroachment personal rights.
Men must,uO longer be dragged from their beds
night at the will Of INSCRIPTIONS nformers. the
timid overawed by the shaking Of shsckes before
their eyes.
The merchants will be the last to ask THAT fraud shall
escape punishment 1t Is more their interest
than that any other part OF the community that the
i'm ehould Ia no nfa ADJ
But they demand that tho distinction between fraud
and Irregularty shall be clearly held In the vast va
rety Of their business the uncertainty of the rev.
enue ari1 which is constant trap for the unwary,
irregularities inevitable. No merchant can say with
certainty that In the OF his business irreg-
larity may not have occurred. The merchants In
common with, all other citizens, demand that their
private rights shall be respected and that the prac
tees OF arbitrary Governments shall be made part
OF the administration OF selfimposed laws gen
Grafton growing up and rapidly coming into the
exercise OF political power which born during the
great struggle of the Government against it's enemies
1t has heard of the power OF the Government
than OF those popular rights which pre-
cious inheritance. The long line of traditional educa-
ton has broken by the protrscted exercise OF
raordinary powers 1t is high time that the old teach
ing renewed Let us look to 1t that from the conflict
which gave freedom the slave there result OF
personal liberty protest too, against the secret
ton OF the Ways and Means Committee protest
against 1t as contrary to the spirit OF Institutions
II this body choose sit with closed doors while dis
cussing the modes in which they may fulfill or
evade the promises OF the Government the merchants
will denur There is little to be learned FROM their
views upon financial questions. We have not
learned much from Congress. ether by its
Committees or its debates. But, il the reputa-
tons Of honorable merchants and bighminded
Judges are to be attacked before its commit
tees we demand that 1t shall be In open session
Already Jay ne, eated by the complacency with which
his TRADE was listened to by the Committee assumes
the attitude Of arbitrator between the Government
and the merchants And indeed are not surprlsed
that should consider himself the the stu
alton, when reflect upon the with which be is
said 10 have convinced the Committee that sZ7l
was only fair penalty for irregularities which had
caused loss to the Government in four years OF g. 6O
and that 1t mercifu act his part accept such
q compromise, when the merchants IN question had
Justly forfeited the OF t.7oOooo Most Wise Iaw
Most merciful Jayne Most wicked merchants! Most
foolish merchants risk the loss OF sOOOo and their
reputation TO pitiul t6oo-thcir charities Of a
week. trustthat Jaynes statements before the Com
public may be fully informed every step OF this in
vestgation. The first point has been gained thanks to
the courage OF Fernando Wood the accuser will be con-
fronted by the accused The second is that the press
shall be permitted to send their reporters for full
notes OF the testimony there must be secrecy
in this matter The has passed out OF the domain
OF private controversy. An appeal has been taken 10
the people. They will hear the cause and they will
judge 1t. MERCHANT.
Hea- FORK, Feb. 90. 1874