Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-08-15


the United State assigned to that duty to
enforce it. Tho pains and penalties for its
violation are severe. No man can with
safety violate its provisions, and any com
munlty where the violations Of law arc nu-
meroas is soon given over to anarchy and
disorder, and many persons arc constantly
skulklng from their homes to avoid arrest
The state of things is certainly to be de-
precated, but must necessarily continue until
the people of these sections of country aro
willing to observe the law.
There is no disposition or intention on
my part to require or allow yindiotivc ep.
forcomcnt of the law in a community where
those who have becn engaged in violating
the laws have honestly and in good faith
abandoned thcir practices. A cnicnt course
has been pursued in many districts whore
tho circumstances would warrant it, and il
would afford mo great pleasure to know that
tho vIosators of the law in the districts to
Which you are assigned have returned to u
sense of thoir duty to the general govern
mcnt, to observe the law, and to pay the tax
imposed by it upon their products.
desire that you shall impress citizens
generally my determination that the laws
shall be enforced in nil orderly and lawful
manner, avoiding all unnecessary collisions,
und by officers who are permanent citizens
OF the districts or divisions to which tbcy arc
appointed, and arc men of respcctability.
Integrity, discretion and courage. I wish
you particularly to inform tho people that
this o'hcc is open at all times to hear tho
complaint of citizens against the unlawful
acts of officers.
lu this connection you should call sttcn-
ton to tho stringent provisions Of Section
3,l69, United States Revised Statutes, W hich
onaet that an officer who is found guilty of
any extortion or wilful oppression under
color of law shall bc subject to indictment,
and, QUO conviction, shall be fined not less
than Oh thousand, nor moto than five thou
sand dollars, and imprisoned not less than
SIX months nor more than three years The
Court is directed to rendor Judgment
against tho officer Or agent for the amount
OF damages sustained by the party injured,
to DC collected by execution.
Under tho provisions Of this section tho
citizen has an ample remedy, aud l know
that the Courts Of the United States would
DO as ready to afford relief to tho citizen
against tho unlawful acts of officers as to
punish the citizen for violations of tho law.
Tho laws OF the United States arc enacted
by the representatives of tho people, and
are designed to promote the general welfare
OF the whole people. Tho Courts of the
United States arc MS much tho courts of the
people as the State Courts, ,.and arc as ready
to protect the rights Of citizens us the State
Courts arc.
In my opinion it is essential to the hap
pluess and prosperity of tho country that
communities should not DO kept in o state
OF excitement over tho question of con-
tliot Of authority between tho laws and
Courts of the United States and those of a
State. and, to avoid this, ctizena shonld be
encouraged to appeal for redress against
the alleged unlawful acts Of officers of tho
United States to the Courts of tho United
States.
You will understand that in writing as do
| do not disparage the character or iursdc
ton of the State Courts, but wish to point
cut 10 you that tho laws of the United
States not only mako provision for lovying
taxes aud collecting them, but also for the
protection of tho citizen ogainst the mis-
conduct Of its officers; that these taxes are
to be collected through the instrumentality
OF tho offioers and Courts of the United
States, and that all grievances can be better
redressed in the same manner.
Respectfully,
GREEN B. RAUM,
Commissioner.