Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-11
Ti,olRcyenue Raids.
a srArEaEsr ny DEPUTY ooIIroron norraAs.

| y AIt . . -.
| SPARTANBURa, April !, 1878.
TO Ito Editor Of The. Ne,os and .C1,.,ier;
My attention has been directed to repubi-
cation Of certain statements ooncorniGlg the
revenue foroo. which have recently appeared
10 the Piokens Sentinel, in your Issue of the
both ultimo. As long as tho matter rested
with the Sentinel only considered it loss o.
time to pay attention to II, but when It Is laid
before tho public in YOUR widely circulated
vindioate tho men havo the honor to comz
rnand. The Sentinel is other misinformed oil
| it wilhhlly peryerts the. truth. Mr. Lapford, g
version Of The Neal affair, published iii inc
Groensiilo Ne.6s, is to my pefsonal knowledge
the. true one. Tho Ssntinels reply PROVES
nothing except the writer's malice, and I.
will certainly not tarnish the hard.earned
reputation OF MIR. Lanford, as captain in tho
Confederate army. The story concerning
Mi. Mckinney is equally false, and rs this
gentleman has already declared tho state-
ments untrue in tho prosenco Of reliable Wit
nosses will only mention this fact.
The force of special deputy collectors (six)
Under my charge was selected by Collector
Brayton, and they were specially. enjoined to
perform their duties with as much lenienoy
a. q, the interests Of tho service would p6rmit.
joined tho force on February Let. On the
contrary, 6vdry consideration was shown
ptisondrs, and tho entiro force frequently
walked niilos to allow prlsoners to ride.
We had a United States commissioner with
tho foroo, not to Interfere with tho regular
commissioners in the counties through
which we passed, but to enable persons to
obtain release on tho ground if proper
bond could DO given, and thus lessen their
hardships.
Tho whole trodble consists in tho fdct that
the Counties Of Piokons and Oconee had not
been molcstcd by rovenue officials for two
ycars, and when was ordered to operate in
these 6ountics and did intorforo with what
majority of the mountoinecrs considered
legitimate business. q howl was raised. The
action of tho Sentiscl did much to increase
the dissatisfaction. 1t obstructod the work
of rovenle officials by Publishing their
encouraged violations Of revenue laws.
During tho recent troubles tho force was
ndcessrily increased. Among tho oxtra mon
Scro several turbulent spirits, but these were
promptly Dismissed. l was not at every
point during raids, tho forco boing frequently
subdivided, but from personal knowledge and
careful inquiries | an convinced that no
Illegal OF inIupan net had been petpotrated.
Tho odum attached to former officials. some
County Court, should not bo visited npon the
present force. Nothing will probably illus
trate tho feeling ugainst retenue officers
plaiher than the reply Of boy, about five
years old, who was seated in front Of school
house when tho rovcnuo forco recently passed
through Pickens. When asked whioh he
deemed worse; revenue officer or Horse
thief he promptly responded, IA revenue
officer"
Hoping you will grant US space for this
brief vindication, aIf, very respectfully,
E. G.. HOFFMAN,,
Special Deputy Collector.