The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-04-05
The Revenue Raiders.

The following extract from the presentmcnt
of the grand jury Of Pickens County sets forth
the true condition Of affairs in that region:
While we believe that the nefarions business
Of illicit distillng Of intoxicating liquors is not
carried on in this county to the extent that is
currently reported, We are satisfied that some
persons on the border Of the county are, OF have
been recently, engaged in it. We condemn oil
illicit dstiling as not only vioative of the laws
of the land, by defrauding the government Of
the United States of its chief source of revenue
but as grossly demoralzing in its influence and
an unmitigated evil to society. We therefore
present the business Of illicit distiling as n nu
sance that all good and law-abiding citizens
should aid in abating.
Pursuant to the instructions Of your Honor,
we have enquired into the outrages alleged to
have been perpetrated by the United States rev.
snue officers and deputy marshals, on peaceable
citizens of the county, who were not chargeable
with any offense against the laws. We have not
had sufficient time to prosecute our investigation
Of this matter to the extent which its importance
demands; but sufficient facts appear to satisfy
us, in addition to those within tEa knowledge Of
many OF our members, that these officers have
for several years, committed the grossest out
RACES upon the persons and property Of many of
our law-abiding citizens, ON the mere pretext
or suspicion, without any legal proof whatever,
that they were In some way connected with the
illicit disillation or sale Of intoxicating liquors
They have been seized under their own roof or
while ploughing In their fields, and, without
any warrant issued for their arrest, have been
manacled and thrown into jail where, after re-
manning several days, they have been released
on the ground that there was no evidence against
them.
These officers have searched private dwell
lings, both by day ana at night, without any
search warrant; and have, in several instances
beaten, kicked, and otherwise maltreated the
victims of their lawless conduct, who protested
against the wrong thus done them. These Off
GERS are generally Northern men, of the class
known as "Carpet-Baggers," Of infamous char
actcr, but have associated with them n few of
the lowest and most unprinciped persons Of this
community, who are of notoriously bad repute
throughout the county. As our citizens have
heretofore appealed, in vain, to the courts for
justice against the official wrong -doers, whose
conduct is repugnant alike to law and civiliza-
tion; they must, il the wrong is not remedi ed
asset their rights as men, and as American
citizens, by defending their lives and property
with their own strong arms, against those who
defy law while pretending to be engaged in cx-
ecuting 1t.
>~-Wc respectfully request that o copy Of this
portion of our report shall bs transmitted to
the Governor Of our State, for his information,
and that It may also be forwarded to the Pres-
dent of the United States. and published, in
justice 70 the people of our county, tho great
majority Of whom stand always ready to render
cheerful obedience to the constitution and the
laws Of the United States, and to perform every
duty Of good citizenship; but, at the same time,
demand that their rignts, as freemen and Ameri-
can citizens, shall be respected Ivy tie constiu-
= ted authorities.