New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-26

learn already from thousand sources, he
need not be expected to come. His uJe
cont let him.
THE ACQUITTAL OF GENERAL BABCOCK.
We accept the verdict Of the jury in this
case without being called on to review the
testimony. There is strange DISPOSE
ton on the part Of the Democratic press
to place the President of the United
States on trial, and even to connect the
honorable acquittal CT General Babcock
with some cognizance or complicty of the
President himself This springs from the
same partisan spirit which, when with
drawing the charge against Collector Casey
of connection with crooked whisky, sub
stitutes the offense of crooked cotton"
for the sole reason that Republican
must be accused Of some dishonesty or
other.
We take this view of the whole matter
of prosecutions. The Secretary Of the
Treasury being under obligations to meet
the appropriations and obligations of Con-
gress, must take care that the revenues
are promptly and effectually collected.
1t would never do to leave sixty or seventy
per cent Of back taxes, to permit tax re-
sisters to withhold the revenues, .ror
would the Royal Exchange OF London be
at all satisfied to learn that the securities
of the United States were to be iquidated
by tombola, or every man q ticket in his
own lottery. These national obligations
led the Secretary Of the Treasury to per-
ceive that the public revenues from certain
principal subjects had fallen of, and bore
no apparent proportion to the export of
manufacture or commerce in those ar
ticles Of revenue. The President, learn
ing these facts, ordered strict pursuit of
these miscreants who were thus cutting the
fountains Of revenue resources and destroy
ing the credit Of the nation at home and
abroad. We may here say that no more
form or duration Of this government than
the secret and surreptitious suppression
Of its revenues. All our readers have
seen the effect upon the credit of our
State and city from withholding its taxes.
This reduction Of our revenues has re-
suited from inability or ;ndisposition to
pay tho taxes, but its effect upon the
State and city credit has been analogous
to that q corrupt robbery Of the "a
tional revenues in the case stated
IN the course of this great fiscal investi-
gatiCn the President, responsible for the
national compliance with its engagements.
ordered en- indiscrimirate prosecution OF
all offenders. It was known that the rob-
berry could not be effected except by CON-
bination between the manufacturers and
the employees Of the government. The |
prosecutions having been ordered to pro-
tect the credit Of the nation, neither Cen !
eral Babcock. nor General anybody else. |
could have been permitted to stand in the |
way.
That General Babcoc.1 has been &C.
Quilted is very well for him personally,
out it can not possibly implicate the
President, who advised his prosecution.
It would be as reasonable to intimate that
he great body Of Democratic distilIers have
been moved to defraud the government by
cutting its sinews and sources of supply,
rusting that the Republican government
nd the Union may be thus brought into
ontempt and failure. It is, however, too
United view Of this great defense and
protection Of the revenues to restrict it TO
political party issue. There may be q
tand-otf between the Democratic distilier
ud vendors who have combined to de-
raud the government of its revenues and
he Republican officials base enough to
% bought into such conspiracy. Pot
nd kettle will, perhaps, stand in about
he same comparison before the public
he prosecutions will 60 on rigidly, i'm
artially. The national credit and honor
! at stake. The government fears no
Risky instructions nor tax resisters; it
as organized the pursuit OF the rob-
ers. Congress has aided by spe-
lal legislation, and however the
0bbers and wrong-doers may wiring and
visit, they are in able and memorable
ands. The case Of General Dabcock
aving been disposed Of, the prosecution
ill proceed with some Of less political
CITE, perhaps, but Of more local social
consideration. There may be q school Of
thics which considers the laws Of gov
especially if it be ''hated," q fair
abject Of evasion. Such has been the
ase in England and Ireland with the
,yenue robbers of whisky and tobacco.
here may be some of this sympathy even
" person who puts some of this excess
We tax in his own pocket, though It
,ereby imposes additional taxation upon
is less fortunate neighbor.
There are, however, penalties which are
ow being expiated in the ignoring Of
onvict regimentals. It is serious thing
} be in the situation of Tweed, or Nc
onald, or Joyce Even if man be sus-
lined by the internal conviction of right, {
| aiding to destroy the credit of govern
ent he does not like, it will not always