The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-09-12
MIR. JOHNSTON IN CONGRESS.
His Amendment to Wipe Out the In
ternaI Revenue Laws, and
Speech Thereon.

In the House on the 18th, when the
tsriff bill was under consideration, the
following proceedings were had. as taken
from the Congressional Record:
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of North Carolina,
wish to offer an amendment to the amend
ment of the gentleman from Virginia
The CHAIRMAN The clerk will report
the amendment submitted by the gentle
man ON North Cardinal Mr. Johnston
to the amendment OF the gentleman from
Virginia.
The clerk reads as follows:
After the word cigarettes" insert "and
all irtCrnal taxes on spirits distilled from
grain or fruit of any kind"
Mr.. JOHNSTON. of North Carolina. Mr..
Chairman, the effect of this amendment
which l have offered TO the amendment
of the gentleman from Virginia will be
to extend the repeal of the Internal rev.
enue law beyond the tobacco tax and to
include the tax on whisky and brandy.
I offer this proposition for the purpose of
Wiping from the statute book the law
which imposes internal revenue tax on
all spirits distilled from grain or fruit. I
have heard great deal said on this floor
about free whisky" and "free brandy"
and recently the representatives of the
Republican party assembled in Chicago
pretended to be in favor of the repeal of
the internal revenue law. l desire to see
the Republicans as well as Democrats,
vote upon that question here to-day.
What l desire is not only free whisky
and free brandy, but wish more to see
my people freed from the expressions of
system spoken of by my friend from
Virginia which imposes upon them al
most military surveillance.
Gentlemen who live in the mountain
sections of this country know that we
are constantly subjected to the most
annoying kind of irritations in the execu-
ton of this law. 1t is law which was
put upon the statute book during period
of war, and it's trainers had no regard ap-
parentlY to the effect it might have upon
the civil liberties of the people; they
relied upon the patriotism of the country
to submit to sy stem during the con-
tinuance of great war; and that reliance
was well met. at that time the oppres-
sive features attending the execution of
the law were less thought of than the
object of raising revenue. But we have
long since reached time of peace, and
all parties declare in favor of taking from
the statute book every thing partaking of
war legislation.
Now, if there is anything which is
essentially war measure, this system of
internal revenue taxation is one, and I
desire to see it wiped from the statute
book, b cause l wish to see my people
relieved from the exactions and oppres-
sions imposed upon them in connection
with the enforcement of this taxation
during the last twenty-five years.
Just think of it, Mr.. Chairman. A
Federal court organized by the Govern
men1, with all the dignity which Fed
eral court ought to have, sitting in judg-
ment on poor man charged with selling
half pint of liquor, and dragging him
perhaps two or three hundred miles from
his helpless family for the purpose of
trying him for such frivolous offenses.
Why, sir, such thing reflects shame up
on the jurisdiction of the courts of the
United States, and detracts from the
high standing they should have among
the people. Proceedings of that kind
would better become the Jurisdiction of
a jnttiee Of the peace.
Mr.. KERR. IF this side of the House
will vote with you to repeal the internal
taxation, will you vote the Republican
ticket? Laughter.]
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of North Carolina.
| hope my friend from Iowa Mr.. Kerr]
will task me something hard" l want
Republicans and Democrats to unite
here in repeating the obnoxious law. I
want to blot it out because it has done 80
| much TO excite the animosities of the
people all through the country, and has
been the instrument of more suffering to
those who are least able to bear it than
any other statute l know of. Besides it
fosters a system of espionage and harsh
treatment which is obnoxious to all ideas
/ Of hos In11n
to engender bad feeling in communities,
| to encourage false swearing, to sap the
very manhood from our people, to teach
them to regard the Government as op-
pressiye toward the citizens than al!
| other laws. Let us eliminate from the
statute book of this great country every
vestige of the unfortunate strife we have
passed through, so that "peace and good
| WilF' shall prevail throughout its entire
length and breadth.
Why, sir, so far as concerns the section
| of the country from which come, many
of the citizens there scarcely know this
| Government, except BY the exactions
visited upon them under this law. They
know the Government only through the
army of officers sent, as my friend from
Virginia has said. with carbines and
cartridge boxes for the purpose of arrest.
| ing them. I want to see this country
especially my section of it, governed
| through some other means.
J Here the hammer fell
The question recurred on the amend
ment of Mr.. Johnston, of North Carolina
to the amendment
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of Moth Carolina.
demand division on the amend ment c
the amendment.
The committee divided; and there were
ayes 81, noes 135.
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of Moth Carolina. Mr.
| Chairman, what was the V1te?
Mr.. CHAIRMAN. Twen:. seven ayes
l25 noes. Laughter.
Mr.. JOHNSTON, of north { rJlipS. Is
/ that all I? What has became of the Re
publican party that they fail t. vote fol
this amen ins.:rt. when they cI i'm to be
pledged t" Il, il? IGreat ians and
| applause.1