The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-06

eloquent 10 the extreme provoked quiet smue
among those who were not enthusiastic over Mr.
was passed." remarked the ex-Congressman,
'thts very nrm was the hrst to come to the rescue
Ues 70 the 'front.' for the aid and comort % Of up
brave boys who were Pering their lives In the de-
fence Of The old fiag 1t was this firm, the only one
or to the war, and kept their situations open and
continued their salaries until they returned with the
ihese.n added Mr.. Rice in a tone calculated to
move the stoutest heart shat ought to be re-
hm me, ,t. BY grateful community, and Il is
sympathy and support which their private and
public conduct has 80 clearly and abundantly JUS
OF Trade, q body OF fair minded and intelliQenr
gentlemen would take immediate action ana pro-
tess against such men being placarded throughout
ruined, before 1t is ascertained that they have
committed the slightest offence whatever.
Inese remarks OF Mr.. Rice called forth loud APP
pianse rom me majority Of the Board as did also
speech by Edward Atkinson who angriIy pitched
into the Revenue laws well as the Of1cers who
had been instrumental in applying them to Jordan,
Marsh Co.
AN OFFICIAL OPINION.
Judge Russell, the Collector OF the Port who
had been an interested listener to the discussion
was at length called upon to express his views,
that SO fas as the JORDAN. M SSss, sc0 CO.
He then went on to say that he was opposed to the
law and always had been, aud proceeded To QIve d
Few ILLUSTRATIONS OF lCS lnu6tlce ana now Its
lions OFTEN enriched government officers who were
not In the remOtest manner connected with the
detection of the crime from which they derived q
certain portion Of the penalty imposed. The sys3
tenn also admitted OF corruption among judges OF
the United States courts and In many instancea
1t operated SO as to handsomely reward onlcera
for their own ignorance, inc0mpetency or
wiIful failure to discharge their dutiess
This law OF rewardinng informers, he added, had
been in force SINCE the days of Alexander Hamil-
ton, cut 1t was enacted more particularly to guard
against smuggling, which in times past was car.
ried on very extensively, and BY men occupying
prominent positions in society. "Why," said the
Collector, ~ cannot to-day enter the sacred portals
of old Faneuil Hall without gazing upon the full
length portrait OF q man who once sent an order
for ten casks OF brandy and added o pOstscript
to his letter instructing the shippers TO invoice
1t as rum" In concluding his remarks Col
lectOr Russell SAID that the bills before Congress
for change In the law were not perfect, for they
failed to do away with the intOrmers. He believed
revenue was good thing. but personal rights was
still better. There is no way In which the present
tariff be enforced 1t Is impossible to enforce
1t, for goods imported can only be properly ap-
praised by two men, anf they are the buyer
and the seller. What we want Is simple, COM
mon sense tarifY, and he hoped wise Congress
would provide one.
The few who irowned upon the resolutions and
denounced them found that they were IN q hope
less minority, and upon the question being called
and put there was an almost unanimous vote In
the Affirmative.