Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-29

This able speech was made to show
the absurdity Of the confederate dem
ocratic threat that if the President
wouldsnot sign the appropriation bills
with the riders giving the States ex-
elusive authority to execute United
States laws they would starye the
government. He clearly showed that
it was the duty Of the President to
use the funds Of the government, al
ready in the treasury to keep alive
this great Republic. Every loyal citi-
zen should procure, read, and circulate
a copy Of Dir. Humphreys speech.
Judge Humphrey is one Of the most
energetic and persevering representa-
lives and his constituents should long
continue his valuable services in Con-
gress.
The Confcdro Democracy are deter
mined to place the enforcement of
United States laws under State auth
GRITTY if in their power. The bill now
pending before Congress to repeal the
law which allows government officials
when sued to remove the suits to the
United States Courts Repeal this
law and there would be scarcely any
internal revenue collected in the South
ern states, in some Of which It is con-
sidcrod honorable to violate United
States laws.
The commissioner Of Internal Rev
enue has recently made report to the
Secretary of the treasury which shows
the attitude Of the Southern states on
collecting internal revenue. Tt shows
that from July 1st, 1876, to May LIST,
1870, there were nineteen Internal
Revenue employees killed in their
efforts to suppress illicit distilIing in
the following states, viz: Alabama, L;
Arkansas, /; Georgia, 5; Kentucky L;
North Carolina, 2; Tennessee, 6; and
Virginia, l. There were wounded
during the same time, thirty-four, as
follows Georgia, s; Kentucky, 8;
North Carolina, s: South Carolina 6.
Tennessee, .; some Of these officials
were so severely wounded as to be IN
able to attend to business for many
months afterwards The number Of
Illicit stills seized in Southern states is
., 465. The number seized in all other
states is 1913, which we're entirely in
the large cities Of the North and none
in the rural districts, while very
large proportion of the citizens in the
South are outside Of the thickly SET
tied portion of the states. Persons
arrested in Southern states for illicit
distilIing 5,281; in all other states
.141.
The report concludes as follows
1.-TWO important facts remain to be
stated-1 A very Serious embarrass-
ment TO the enforcement Of the laws
Of the United States has resulted from
the institution Of numerous unjust
criminal prosecutions in the State
courts against the officers of the Uni
ted States by violaters Of the internal
revenue law and their friends. Espec-
tally has this been the case in North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennes-
see, where in some instances the State
officers, and even judges on the bench,
have lent the weight Of their influence
| to weaken the authority Of the officers
and laws of the United States. II.
The State officers and State courts,
while often invoked to arrest and pun
ish United States officers for alleged
otzenses. have rarely ever taken any
steps 10 arrest or indict persons guilty
OF assaulting or numbering the officers
of the United States.
4 have entered into the details of
this branch of the public service so as
to show its magnitude and Importance,
and to call your attention to the fact
that the efforts for the suppression of
frauds in the manufacture and sale of
spirits and tobacco, for the want of a
sufficient amount of funds, have been
periodical.
1.-The practice of defrauding the
the Government and resisting its Off
GERS has become so firmly fixed that it
is impossible to enforce the laws against
such offenders without the presence of
force Of armed men sufficiently
strong to deter resistance, and, if nee
essary, to overcome it.
II have the honor of making the
foregoing statement of facts the basis
of the following recommendations
"Fist-I recommend that an act Of
Congress be passed for the punishment
in the courts of the United States OF
the crime Of murder and assault to
murder when perpetrated upon an
officer Of the United States during OF
for the performance Of his official acts
as an officer.
'.Seeond-I recommend that the ap-
I preparation for salaries and expenses OF
the collectors Of internal revenue fol