Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-11
Revenue Matters.

The Pickens Sentinel Is reliably informed
that Redmond is willing to surrender to the
State authorities and accepts the terms imposed
on his followers by Judge Maokcy, giving
bond and security to keep tho peace and obey
the laws in tho future. lie attributes the
shooting Of Barton and IIondricks to their
i'll treatment and robbery Of him whom q
prisoner, denies that he had anything to do
with releasing tho prisoners from Pickens
jail, and alleges that he mover intended to
violate the State laws. Tho killing of Duoko
worth in North Carolina, he says was in solfl
defence, and he is willing to take his chances
in that State. By those who know Redmond,
he is spoken Of asa peaceable, quiet citizen,
though he is fearless aud will not be insulted,
robbed and oppressed without Offering resist
ance. His example is certainly a bad one,
and likely to encourage lawlessness, though ho
doubtless has been badly treated. The con.
duct of revenue officials in Pickons County is
now undergoing investigation, and much has
been already brought to light and put in
print, which will 60 far to palliato resistance
on the part of citizens. Redmond first
appears In our State in armed resistance to
the laws after no had been tied and robbed of
his money and private property. All his
iawlessness since then has been directed
against revenue officials, and not few citi-
zens rofuso to condemn him harshly by reason
Of his first maltreatment by them.
We arc no apologstu for lawlessuess. It
should not be tolerated day: Every good
citizen should uso all tho moral and physical
resources in his power to put it down. It is
seed whose only fruit is ruin, and if pero
mitted to flourish awhile it will destroy society
and government. While this is true lawless.
ness cannot bo put down by lswloss nncans.
The remedy will be worse than the disease,
for it comes under the garb and cover of
low, and yot is not law, producing ruin at the
samo time that il subverts oil respect for law.
Wo do not know that rovonue officials have
grossly oppressed our citizens or violated tho
law by transcending their authority, but wo
have heard this from good citizens both hero
and in Pickens. Whether those reports be
literally true or not, all must fool that tho
United States has men holding these Offices
who should not be permitted to fill them, and
that therc must be somo cause for 80 much
complaint.
Judge Mackey struck tho keynote of law
and order in tho mountains, when in his
speech at Pickens he advocated tho appoint.
ment of and acceptance by the best citizens
of these Offices. lie said truly that tho oflico
Of United States revenue official was VI high
one, and when properly filled was an honor
able position. If good citizons would fill
these Offices the law would DO respected and
obeyed in their persons. and peace and order
would prevail. His announcement from tho
bench that these officers woro amenablo to
State laws and State courts, whom thoy irons.
cended their authority, and that ho would so
hold them, will havo wholesome cffeot both
on tho people and tho officots.
In tho past tho people havo boon made to
feel that thoir only redress lay in tboir own
hands, and hence they llavo been often driven
to resistance, when otherwise they would havo
readily submitted. Tho people havo rights
as well rs thcso officers, and VIC trust they
will in tho future look to tho courts for tho
redress thus promised. When thoy do this
and tho courts have assorted tfoir authority
| by trying officials who ha7o transcribed thor
authority nil this lawlessness will coaso. In
the meantime tho general government should
500 to the ftnoss Of it's officials and appoint
mon to Office who will mako thcir oflico sub
scrviont to public pcaco and ordor rather than
to personal profit. Tiion tho laws will bt
respected and order will prevail. Raids and
travelling commissioners crcato strifo and
confusion without enforcing rospoot Of law OF
suppressing its violation.