The Portland daily press., 1878-07-25
Boston Journal.l
Notification Again.


Every thoughtful man in the country will
watch with unusual interest the contest be-
tween Judge Kershaw, of one of the courts of
South Carolina. and the Federal Administra-
tion. Several Federal revenue agents, in pun
ishing violations of the revenue law, were COM
PEELED to resort to force, and in the exercise of
their authority violator of the law was shot.
The officers thereupon surrendered themselves
10 the State authorities, and in due time petit
TONED to have their cases transferred to Fede-
raj courts. as is provided by law. This petition
Judge Kershaw refused to grant, and in 50 do
ing sets at defiance the supremacy OF the Fed
eral Government which the law referred to i'm
plies
The whole case can be stated briefly. There
Is bitter hostility throughout the South to the
collection of the whisky and tobacco tax, par
tcularly the former. In scores of instances the
revenue officers have been compelled to call up
ON the military to assist in breaking up Illicit
distilling. and In many cases there have seen
sharp fights between the officers of the Govern
ment and the persistent violators of the law.
This spirit OF violent resistance to the enforce
ment OF the revenue laws was greatly encour-
aged and materially aided by the action of Con-
Rress, by which the military is prohibited from
assisting the revenue officials The House.
moreover, voted an amendment to an appropri-
alton bill repeating the law which authorizes
Federal officers to take their suits from State to
Federal courts. This mischievous measure
would have prevailed had the Senate been Dem
ocratic. In passing, we may observe that all Of
the New England Democratic Representatives
voting. voted for this notification measure,
dsd It become law the Federal Government
would have been utterly unable to have col
lected the whiskey tax in the Southern States
and its officers would have been confined as
N m nr nj 10 tha sknrA
victs by the hostile State courts. To all in
tents aud purposes the Democrats committed
themselves not only to the doctrine of State
supremacy over the Federal authority, but
practl ,ally raised the standard CT notification
which the States Rights men of South Caro-
lima elevated during the time of President Jack
son.
The purpose of the Democratic party to nul
yify the revenue laws was not lost upon the
States Rights Judge of South Carolina. lthas
given him courage to raise the gonfalon of re-
sistance to the Federal authority and the Fed
eral laws In South Carolina, and to intensity
his refusal to recognize the authority of the
General Government by threat which re-
minds one of the days of secession.
We have already called attention to the law
which the Democrats 0f the House soldly voted
TO repeal. 1t was passed by Congress at the
time OF the attempt of South Carolina to resist
the collection of tariff duties during the admin
istration of President Jackson, and. it may be
added, upon his earnest solicitation. at that
time the measure received the hearty support
OF the Democratic party and its representatives
10 Congress. Now, the Democracy, North as
well as South, is SO thoroughly imbued with the
heresy of State Rights that its representatives
solidly vote for its repeal and champion the
practical notification of the laws which a Dem
ocratic Congress years ago almost unanimously
adopted.
1t is matter for deep regret that this heresy
has been revived and that the judges or other
authorities OF any state have the folly to ques.
tion the authority of the Federal Government
to enforce its laws and protect its officers. But
the issue has been made and m ust be tried
The better sentiment of the country will sus
tain the Administration in fully and firmly
vin1icating the Eederal authnritv