Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-08-22
The Revenue Troubles.

The Grand Jury of tho United States
Court, at Greenville, in their presentment,
say:
The enforcement Of the revenue laws is
matter of great and special Importance to
the people Of this section Of country. We
are fully satisfied that their violation is con.
fined to narrow strip of country through
the mountains, and tho sentiment of the
great body of tho people is strongly averse
to tho violations of these laws, aud that q
failure upon their part to afford active CO.
operation in tho vigorous enforcement of
these laws is chiefly ascribable to the mis-
conduct of some Of the subordinate officers,
who have been charged with tho delicate
duty of making arrests and seizures. Some
of these have been discharged, and we arc
informed that others will be; but wo desire
to say that the marshal and collector can
not DO too careful in selecting mon for these
important duties, and should watch their
conduct as much as possible; for Of all tho
otlicors these IRE tho ones who como most
directly in contact with the people, and by
them and their conduct tho course and
policy of tho government towards its citi-
zens is judged.
Wo desire, in this connection, to express
our hearty approval and commcndation of
tho wise and bcneGcont policy adopted by
| tho government towards this GLASS of tho
violators of its laws.
Wo trust that gratitude and honor, as
well as proper regard for their own iutor-.
| ests and tho welfare of their families, will
cause these mon not only to abstain them
| selves, in tho future, from all participation
in violation of these laws, but to exert
themselves actively to persuade and, If
necessary, to compel all Others to do SO.
The sympathies of great many good citi-
zens, who would not themselves violate the
law, havo been enlisted on behalf of their
unfortunate neighbors, on account of tho
hardships they have suffered, whether justly
or not. But, in our opinion, tie magnani-
nous course of tho government should, and
we believe will, have tho immediate effect
OF determining all good citizens actively to
aid tho Government in supprcssing all vio-
ations of this law, and will tend to promote
that spirit of obedience to law without
which no community or incighborhood can
bo peaceful, prosperous and happy.
We have heard with pleasure that the
| commissioner Of internal revenue has sent a
special and reliable agent to 90 through tho
revenue section of these uppor counties to
| explain the law to these people md encour.
age them to engage legally in the business.
| The people in tho main who have engaged
in the business illicitly are Ignorant and
poor. They have not the means of trans. :.
porting their little surplus of crops to market
to realize oven enough mouoy to pay their
taxes. 10 distill it, is not only profitable
and affords better market, but converts it
into moro portable form, aud these con-
sttutcd great temptation to ilioit business.
When it is explained to them that thoy can
distill legally without mourning an exponse
beyond their means, wo have no doubt that
legal distilleres enough will bo established
to remove this temptation, and the govern
ment will get it's revenue.
! In concluding tho work of tho term We
desire to return our thanks to your Honor
for your uniform courtesy to us, and VIC feel
that it ia just cause of congratulation to the
country that you sit here to administer JUS
tico in mercy, regarding aliko tho right of
tho government and tho liberty of the citi-
IONS; and we sincerely trust that the effect
of this term may lesson your labors in tho
future, at least SO far as the internal revenue
work is concerned.
We are especially indebted to the District
Attorney for his unremitting attention and
efficient assistance to us in tho discharge of
our duties, as we'll as for his courtesy and
urbanity, and also for his high legal ability
in preparing and dispatching the business
of this court in as economical away as pos
sible.
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