Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-27
Difficulties in Enforcing :he Law Fully
Set Forth.

NEW YORK, November &C. The editor of the
Christian Union having enqured by letter of Sec
rotary Sherman as to the truth of report that U.
5. revenue officers are and have been for months
Imprisoned In South Caroliua, and that the admir- :
istraton fails TO protect them, the Secretary has
written letter explaining the matter at consider.
able leng b.
1t seems that in March last one Redmond, with
Of Pickens Co.. South Carolina, and released
three United States prisoners committed tor Illicit
distilling
The collector Of that district was authorized to
employ hnndred men TO arrest the escaped pris-
oners, with Redmond and his band. This Red
mond was q notorious illicit distller, and stood
indicted in North Carolina for the murder of U p.
3. deputy marshal. After getting force twenty
six men, the collector. at the suggestion Of Gov.
Hampton, deferred employing them for the con-
tempsted arrest to await the action of the circuit
court Of Pickens Co. So far from aiding the col
lector in the arrest the action Of the court served
onlv to delay, and in the end defeat it. The col
lector was again instructed to employ similar
force, and to unite with the deputy marshal n Sc
curing the arrest. In pursuance of these instruc-
tons several jalbreskers were arrested, and on
| the 9Th OF June last four revenue officers under
took to arrest one LAID for whose arrest they held
warrant as one OF the jail breakers He had also
been engaged with Redmond in the illicit manu-
| factare aud sale OF spirits. Ladd resisted the ar
| rest and attempted to hre upon the officers. See.
| log their danger they fired upon him and he wa.
Killed. They ut once surrendered themselves Ia
the authorities and were indicted for murder in
| the Pickins Circuit Court, but Q change of venue
was taken to Greenvile county.
In the prison of that county three of these off
GERS remain, pending the decision Of the question
40 to the removal of the decision against them to
| the q. S. Circuit Court.
The Secretary eDcloses letters and docu ment.
from the commissioner OF internal revenue, plain
" demonstrating that the government has done oil
that II do in the legitimate exercise of the e-
gal powers to secure the Liberation Of the officers
| and closes as follows:
The difficulty of enforcing the laws of the
United States in South Carolina, has been illus
trated during the recent Canvass and election in
that State, when organized bodies of men, fully
armed, break up public meetings, aud bullied I'M
armed, unorganized and defepceless citizens, who
are invested BY the constitution with the right to
meet and discuss political questions, and vote for
the candidates OF their choice.
When these proceedings we're not sufficient for
success, they cheated the poor blacks of their
franchise by the meanest tricks of ballot box stuff
ing. Such offences are more degrading and dan
gerous than resistance TO the revenue laws.
You mast see that it is difficult for the executive
officers of the United States, crippled as they are
by recent legislation, to meet this formidable op-
position to the execution of the laws. All they
can do 10 to try and enforce the law through the
courts, and II the machinery Of public justice is so
COZ ruPted BY local prejudice that il cahnot pun
such offences. then the only remedy is in CO nbin-
ing the political power of all those who will not
tolerate this new form Of rebellion against nation l.
81 authority.
In this way remedy will be found oi made,
and its application will be FASTENED in proportion
% the true state of affairs comes to be understood
The disgrsceiul incidents Of the late canvass at
various points in that section will but give add
onal strength to the feeling that ali the rights OF
I'll citizens guaranteed BY the constitution, must
be secured"