The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-05-03
NUMBER 9.
Bad News for the Mountain Men.

r of tue large number of harrassin,
/ and unnecessary prosecutions inst
0 tuted in the Federal Court at Knox
vile against the people of the noun
tain districts for violations of tn,
revenue laws. the following lette
) was addressed to the Attorney-Gen
eral: ,-----
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER
w WASHINGTON, Dec. ii, 1875.--H0n Ed
acdrd PsezTep0at, 44ttorHey- GeneraE-Sir: A
considerable number of illicit distillers
have been arrested, indicted and punish.
ed by the Federal authorities, in the
mountain regions of Tennessee. We be-
lleye that violations OF the law of this
character have been suppressed in that
region, and there will be no renewal of
the business. In some cases favorable
terms were made by, and for the illicit
dIstillerS upon condition that they would
inform against those who had perchased
spirits from them. This has led to the
indictment of hundreds of poor noun
talneers for purchasing illicit brandy
and whisky. In nearly every instance
/ they were purchased for domestic pur-
! poses and not for sale. Sometimes, in,
| deed very often, for medical purposes.
1t may have been known, and probably
was known by the purchasers, that the
liquors had been distilled in violation of
law, but in very many, and probably in
most instances, they did not know theY
were committing an offense in these 'pur.
chases. As we have said, most of these
men are poor, and have large families
whose support depends upon the labor
of the father. They are utterly unable
to pay the cost of their prosecution. and
the government must foot the BILL We.
say to you in all sincerity and good con-
fidence, that we are of opinion that there
viii be no further infractions of the law
of this character within the Jurisdiction
of the Federal Court at Knoxville. We
believe the evil has been suppressed.
Our constituents, without distinction of
party, assure us that the lesson taught
them shall not be forgotten, and that
the law shall be respected. We believe
they tell us the truth, and in consequence
invoke the leniency of the government
toward those poor men.
Some of them are indicted for having
cut wood or hauled it to the distillers, or
for making kegs and barrels or other
vessels for them.
Now, we most earnestly and respect
fully ask you, and through you his Ex-
cellency, the President, TO grant gen
eral pardon to all such within the East
ern District of Tennessee, if not for the
whole State, as many have been guilty
of the onense of purchasing liquors from
the Illicit distillers for domestic purposes
and not for sale, and those who were en-
pioyed to labor by these distilers. Many
of them have been tried or plead guilty,
but have not paid their fines and the
costs. Others have not been tried. We
believe such an act of clemency would
result in good. Nearly all these men
wefe loyal to the government in the late
struggle, and have not broken the law
from any unfriendly disposition toward
the government.
Should the request we make ON behalf
of these people be granted, we pledge
ourselves to make known to them that
it is done upon the assurance that there
shall be no other infringements of the
revenue laws in their midst of this char
acter, and that III there shall be, there
| necd,be no other appeal for mercy.
| We do not wish to be understood as
asking this in any obtrusive spirit. We
are mountain men and know those peo-
| pie. There are excuses for this conduct
which do not obtain in favor Of people
more favorably situated for information
and enlightenment. They are not gem
orally wiiful violators of the law.
/ LII you and his ExcelIency, the Presi-
/ dent, should feel inclined to consider of
our request or to act upon it favorably,
in any shape, we will be plea sed to give
/ you such particular information as you
may desire in respect to the matters en-
braced in this communication.
We have the the honor TO be,
/ Very respectfully,
/ Your obedient servants,
| (Signed) ID. M. KEY,
s Senator from Tennessee.
(Signed) G. G. DmRELL,
NJ. G.. Sd. District, Tennessee.
| (Signed) VIM MCFARLAND,
| MI. G. 1st District, Tennessee. 4
| mo answer was received TO tlffs
I for some months. although it was
understood that Mr.. Thornburgh was
using all his personal and official In
fluence to prevent the granting OF
the request. At last Senator Key
and Representative Dibrell and Nc
Farland addressed another letter of
inquiry TO Mr. Picrreponts which
elected the following answer q g
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WAsHING-
TON, ID. c., April 90, 1876.--H0a. u. III.
| Hey, United State Se1aGte--SIR: In reply
| to your note of the 18th inst, (Which IS
also signed by Hon. VIM. Mcfarland
and Hon. g. G.. Dibbrell, Representatives
from your State), have the honor to
| forward you copy of the letter to which
you refer; ana take this occasion to in
| form you that the subject matter, togeth-
er with copy of your letter, was re-
| ferred to the United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of Tennessee, who
reported January 9th, 1870, unfavOrably
as regards granting the request of your
letter. The general subject has. also
been referred to the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue; and his opinion is up
on file in this Department, that it is in-
expedienE, and would be disastrous to
the collection of the revenue, If the gen.
eral pardon asked for should be granted.
Very respectfully,
our obedient servant,
/ (Signed) EDw. PIERREPoNT,
W Attorney General.
4 So it appears that in order to en-.
able United States District-Attorney
Andrews and bis deputy. Mr. A. Iii.
Pettibone, to make an honest living
by fines and forfeitures and fees, the
| poor men who hauled wood for the
distilIers are to be still further har.
rassed and punished for their purely
technical offenses. Every one fa.
mil.ar with the circumstances knows
that leniency toward these men
would have had a very beneficial ef-
feet in preventing further violations
OF law, while it would have been an
act Of great mercy and kindness to
tile victims now under Indictment
The correspondence given above will
SHOW the people where the RESPONSE
bility lies, and what efforts have
/ been made for and against them.
I.-F svo sons of Erin, shovelfnf sansaf0I
a hot day, stopped to rest, and exchange
views Oh the labor question Pat, this