Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-25
5Tl,e Revenue Force

5sts has Oeoni An our town aud county tor sevefai
days during the past week. On Monday last
Sthey brought down and lodged ip Jail Eve pri-
1 eoners; four from the upper part Of Pickcns
county andyone from our county, TO wit: Josiah
Chapman, VIM. Chapman, Mao Stewart, Leroy
Fisher and Wm. Holden. We understand that
\ Two Of these parties (stewart and Fishery Ind
previously given themselves up undor the notice
1ssued IVY Judge Maokoy In March last, and had
entered into bond to observe the laws Of tho
s State in tho future. We do not know that this
4 is true, nor what offence is charged against any
&of the parties, but suppose it is violation Of
the revenue laws against making whiskey. Wo
3 have as yet heard no complaint against tho
greyenue officors in this movement, and while
& they observe tho law and do not transcend tho
rights vested in thom by proper process thoy
should have tho support of all good citizens in
Z enforcing the law against tho Illicit making and
selling Of liquor. While the revenue force keep
within the bounds Of tho law they will and
4 should have the assistance Of tho pcoplo. The
law against dis,illing is known md should be
4 obeycd. TO tolerate, much moro to encourage
4 Ats violation, cannot fail to produce confusion
snd disorder. If it be bad law, lot it be
obeyed until repealed, for whenever law can
{ people consider II bad law, then the door is
open for each individual or community to CON
Il demn and disregard any law. The whiskcy law
) is not, however, bad law. II strikes at the
I source Of more sin and crime than any other
known statute, and proposes to derive revenue
f from on evil and immoral manufacture. Tho
\ proper and stringent onforcemon: Of tho law
i is universally desired The Bench recommends
1t. Tho press advocates it. The Grand Jury
at tho last term Of our court CALLED on all
good citizens to aid tho State and United States
officers in securing tho rigid enforcement of oil
D laws restrictive Of tho making and pcddlng Of
liquor. The pulpit and tho Christian spirit Of
g tho people everywhere unite with these agencies
N i'm recommending the existence aud enforcement
of laws against liquor making and selling
4. This being true, it Is to be regretted that tho
3 ohicefs charged with this high duty hayo at
3 times fhade themselves aad their calling oduus
c 30 the people. we arc not ablo to soy That tho
$ hue and cry against thcm is woll founded, but
we do hopc in tho future that the law will DO on
4 forced kindly y vigorously, and that tho bust
Y ness Of o reycnue officer will not merit such
edium rs 1t has received in the past. We
would Ike to SEQ q new deal in this whiskey
i business. We want to 500 it stopped and our
( people assured that thoy can peacoably return
to their farming ayocations If gcnearl am
{ tiesty were extended to al, our people who in
& the past have violated tho liquor low, we bo-
4 siieyo it would work healthy influence for
peace and order. If a man now quits the
business and becomes good citizen, ho is
liable for years, on information, to DO taken
q mp, broken up and imprisoned. Few can cx-
& poet that tho statute will run out before so.ao
$40, .Stuaicd by envy or malice, will hayc lhom
Z arreated. Once engaged in the business, they
are thus lcd to continue it. Wipe out all tho
past and let every man feel that he is free, and
Z very few will again embark in Illicit dstilling.
gainst these few, if any, tho public sentiment
q Of tho whole country would be turned and they
would be speedily brought to punishment. This
course, too, would wipe out all tho feelings Of
bitterness and animosity which has sprung up
z Eetween tho people and tho revenue officials,
u and new order Of things would exist. Our
4 mountain population, Is an honest, hospitable
people, and many Of them have fallen into dis
4 Filling, como from ignorance, others from over-
Sporsnasion, and il onoe set at full liberty by a
! generol amnesty, would never again engage in
4 The business.