National Republican., 1876-06-07

&c, on the part of revenue officials, and n
public speeches denounces the system as 9
fraud; advises its resistance, and threatens
''inyestiCations." 1t must be remembered
that his "Centennial appropriation" orations
and utterances of ssfraternal feeling for the
North" are but gauzy wells, which cover his
true feelings. His speeches and utterances.
when Sat home" are the real indices Of his
thoughts, and these are made to tSouthern
men," and are but striking public opinion
then in favor Of a reelection to Congress. The
Charlotte IN. c. Obse1er prints such edito-
rials as the following:
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.
The telegraph informs us of the arrival at
Albany of twenty North Carolina prisoners,
who were convicted In the Federal Courts in
this State. These poor creatures were con-
yicted Of distilling their grain, which they
could not haul to market, into whisky. Their
punishment, in the language Of the Constitu-
tion of the United States, is what we consider
''cruel and unusual" They are poor men,
and probably for nothing more than technical
violation Of the revenue, their property is con-
fiscated to the Government, which in nine
cases out of ten the Government never sees,
their families are thrown, destitute and starv-
ing, upon the world, while they themselves
are dragged off from their own State, TO suffer
the fearful cold and sitting heat incident TO
the Albany climate. Their punishment is
cruel and unusual, as well as too severe for
their ofense, and it seems Is an outrage
upon Justice itself. None but the poor are
punished; the rich, co-partners Of this beauti-
ful revenue system and creature of Radicalism,
go free. 1t is singular, bat did any ono ever
know q rich man punished for violation of the
revenue law? We mean in .this State, espe-
1l,,;f H. Ia La, 4ntr arI
Gcanisu I!
The consequences of such advice are con-
tinually seen in the Sixth district Of North
Carolina, in which district are Ststesville and
Charlotte. From being but few Illicit dis
tillers, timorous, desirous of concealment,
and fearful of the action Of the law, and flee
ing at the sight Of q revenue officer, this class
of law-breakers have become open and overt
in their acts, bold and defiant of the law and
its officers. The district, especially in its
northern and southwestern portions, is in
tested with illicit distilleries, and its roads
have been oyerrun with "bIockade" wagons.
All this notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts CT the collector and his aids, and in
spite of the continuous destruction of stills
and capture of wagons and their "illicit" con-
tents, and the punishment of persons arrested
in the act.
During the last week in May Special Deputy
Jenkins made raid in CASTOR county, and
succeeded in capturing several Illicit distil-
leries, and destroying the mash, or beer, and
tubs. The stills he had transported to his
own house, and deposited them in the cellar
thereof, awaiting the action of the law, which
provides for their condemnation and sale.
ba oF Mav q hndu Of man
mated to be at least forty in number, armed
with guns and pistols, surrounded Jenkins
house. Breaking open the doors, they called
upon Jenkins to surrender himself, loudly an
nouncing their intention of killing him. He
was absent from home, but his father, an old
man about eighty years of age, was found by
the excited crowd. Notwithstanding the age
and belplessness Of the old man, he was
dragged out, shamefully beaten, and threat
ened with instant death unless he could dis
cover the whereabouts of his son. At times
pistols were placed at the old mans head,
and he states that the curses and osths of
the ruffiaps were frightful to hear. At
length, after leaving him for dead, the eel
lar was broken into and the stills stored
there were carried away, as were also two
barrels of captured spirits. They had sp-
preached silently, but their departure, was
noisy. Evidently elated with their sue
cess and easy triumph over an eighty
year-old man, they had reason for selfgratu-
lation. The counsels of their Democratic
leaders had been followed out; they had re-
sisted ''oppression;"(D they had not suffered
themselves to be intimidated;"O they had |
repossessed themselves of their property, and |
they rejoiced. Worthy followers OF such lead |
ers, they had defed the laws of the United |
States, and were yet Tin their own misguided |
opinion) honest, upright, chiValrous, law
abiding men.
On the road they saw two men approaching; |
asked their names, and on being told by one !
of them that his name was Jenkins also, they |
fell upon him, and in short order left him |
bleeding and unconscious on the ground. |
connected with the revenue-even |
this distant relative OF the deputy, as he proved
to be-must be destroyed. The result of these |
outrages, which lose rather than gain in the |
recital, is to induce further resistance to the |
laws; and a revenue officer who goes into the |
section of the country where such outrages are |
committed "takes his life in his hands," 1t |
has become unsafe for q man to acknowledge |
his business Gas an United States officiaD; and |
unless promptly checked by military authority, |
and the leaders Of the mob captured and Sc
verely dealt with by law, the teachings of their
political lights will have the desired effect, and
this country will become an unsafe one for a
Republican to live in. The only way will be
to throw aside all argument, all forbearance,
and meet armed men Nth arms, and so uphold /
the laws. Unfortunately the law cannot reach
such evI advisers as the Observer or "Rob-
bins" they therefore must go unpunished ex-
cept by public opinion. How long will 1t be
before "public opinion" consigns them to their
nroner snhere oblivion