The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-10-30
PETTIBONE AND THE NOUN
TAIN MEN.


Two years ago. in view of the
! large number of harrassing and un-
necessary prosecutions instituted in
the Federal Court at Knoxville
against the people of thu mountain
districts for violations of the reve
nue. laws, the following letter was
addressed to- the Attorney General !:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1870. lion. "a
| to0rd P5eTrepOTat, Attorney -GeTser0e-oir ::
A considerable number of illicit dlstlll-
| ers have been arrested, indicted and
punished by the Federal authorizes, Ih
the mountain regions of Tennessee: we
| believe that violations of the law OF TINS
character have been suppressed IN ina.
region, and there will be no renewal OF
the business. In some cases taVoraoie
terms were made by, and for the llllclt
distillers upon condition that they would
inform against those who had purchased
spirits from them. This has led to the
indictment of hundreds of poor noun
taineers for purchasing Illicit Drandy
and whisky. In nearly every instance
thew were purchased for domestic pur-
poses and not for sale. Sometimes, in
deed very often, for medical purposes.
1t may have been known, and probably
was known the purchasers, that the llq-
uors had been distilled in violation of
law, but in very many, and probably IN
most instances, they did not know they
were committing an offence IN these
purchases. AS we have said, most of
these men are poor, and have large fam
lilies whose support depends upon the
labor of the father. They are utterly
unable to pay the cost of their prosecu-
ton, and the government must foot the
bill. We say to you in all sincerity and
good confidence, that We are OF opinion,
that there will be no further infractions
of the law of this character within the
Jurisdiction of the Federal Court at
Knoxville. We believe the evil has
been suppressed. Our constituents, with
out distinction of party, assure us that
the lesson taught them shall not be for
gotten, and that the law shall be res
pected. We believe they tell us the
truth, and in consequence invoke the
leniency of the government toward those
poor men.
Some of them are indicted for having
cut wood or hauled it to the distillers,
or other vessels for them.
Now, we most earnestly and respect |
fully ask you, and through you his Ex- |
cellency, the President, to grant gen.
eral pardon to all such within the East |
ern District of Tennessee, if not for the |
whole State, as many have been guilty |
of the offence of purchasing liquors
from the illicit distillers for domestic |
purposes and not for sale, and those who |
were employed to labor by these distill- [
ers Many of them have been tried or
plead guilty, but have not paid their /
fines and the costs. Others have not
been tried. We believe such an act of
clemency would result IN good. Near
ly all these men were loyal to the gov
ernment in the late struggle, and have
toward the government.
Should the request we make on be-
half of these people be granted, we
pledge ourselves to make known to them
hat it is done upon the assurance that
here shall be no other infringements of
5he revenue laws in their midst of this
and that if there shall be,
here need be no other appeal for mercy.
We do not wish to be understood as
asking this in any obtrusive spirit. We
ire mountain men and know those peo-
pie. There are excuses for this conduct
which do not obtain in favor of people
more favorably situated for information
md enlightenment. They are not gen.
orally wilful violators of the law.
If you and his EXcellency, the Presi-
lent, should feel inclined to consider of
0ur request or to act upon it favorably,
n any shape, we will be pleased to give
you such particular information as you
may desire in respect to the matters en-
5raced in this communication.
We have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
Senator from Tennessee.
(Signed) q. G. DIRRELL.,
M. @. Sd District, Tennessee.
(Signed) WIN. MCFARLAND,
NJ. @. 1st District. Tennessee.
No answer was received to this
for some months, although it was
understood that Mr. Thornburgh was
using all his personal and official in
iuence to prevent the granting of
the request. At last Senator Key
and Representatives Dibrell and
Mcfarland addressed another letter
Of inquiry to EIr. Pierrepont. which
elicited the following answer:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASHING
ron, D. c., April 20, 1S76.-HOR. u. II.
Ken, United States Senate-SIR In reply
10 your note of the 18th inst, (Which is
also signed by Hon. VIM. Mcfarland /
md Hon. q. G.. Dibrell, Representatives
from your State,) l have the honor to
forward you a copy of the letter to
which you refer and take this occa-
sion to inform you that the subject mat
Ter, together with copy of your letter,
was referred to the United States Attor-
ley for the Eastern District of Tennes-
see, who reported January 9th, 1870, un,
'avorably as regards granting the re-
luest of your letter. The general sub
ect has also been referred to the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue and his
opinion is upon the file in this Depart
nent, that it is inexpedient, and would
De disastrous to the collection of the
.evenue. if the general pardon asked for
should be granted.
Very respectfully,
Your obcdient servant,
(Signed) EDw. PIERREPONT,
Attorney
So it appears that in order to en-
!ble United States District-Attor-
ley Andrews and his deputy, Mr..
4. H. Pettibone, to make an honest
living by fines and forfeitures and
ees, the poor men who hauled wood
or the distillers are to be still furth-
IT harrassed and punished for their
purely technical offences. Every
me familiar with the circumstances
,nows that leniency toward these
nen would have had very bene-
Icial effect in preventing further vic
ations of law, while it would have
,een an act of great mercy and
lindness to the victims now under
5;ot,t Tho .orrasnopdanco