The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-22
A ROW. BREWING.


TROUBLE BETWEEN THE UNITED
sTATesANo THE STATE.
TO Tako Some Seized yvKtslsey from tho
ispensarY-Govtrnor TIllmau Doesn't
A'keIe.
COLUMBIA, S. g., March 13.-The
United States government and the
State government are about to mix"
over seizures of contraband whiskeys.
What will be the outcome of itno one
knows and 1t will take time to decide.
Governor Tillman does not like the in
terlerence Of Uncle Sans officers, and
In aletter which he sent to Collector
IoWnes yesterday he says so. Collector
IoWnes Is probably acting under in.
struatlons from Washington and what
ever ne does In the matter In. dispute
VIII be after hearing from headuuart-
eTS.
The trouble now on hand is over the
seizure. in Charleston last week of nine
packages OF Whiskey which had been
directed to j.. Elias of that city. The
Wh1skey was shipped here and is now
In the State Dispensary. Collector
IoWnes wrote to Commissio Traxler
laying claim to tho whlskey on the
ground that 1t was shipped into this
state IN violation Of section 3449 of
the Revised Statutes of the United
States. This section provides for the
seizure OF any Whiskey shipped in any
manner other than under its proper
name. For instance, in case PERSON
ships whiskey into this State or any
State in box labeled Bacon" or Ia
beled any way except Wiskey, the ship.
ment Is liable to seizure.
| The packages seized in Charleston are
said to have been shipped in violation
or the section named. In answer to the
claim of Collector Townes Governor
Iillman sent the following letter:
"jolumbie, March IL, 1894.
lion, 5: a. Townes, U. S. Collector,
Columbia, S. g.
Sir: Your letter of March 10th, refer
ring to q seizure made by State Consta-
BILE Gailard of nine packages of dis.
titled spirits found in the store of l..
ELIAS, Charleston, S. G, has been re-
ferred to the State Board Of Control by
Mr.. Traxler.
on say that these packages are liable
to seizure under u. S. II. S., section
3449. We acknowledge this, had the
United States revenue officers found the
liquor and made the seizure, but mas.
much as the State conStables seized it
nrst and 1T has come into the possession
or the State Commissioner as contra.
band under our State law, we deny the
llght OF the government to take 1t from
us on the following grounds:
First. This liquor was not being
"'shipped, transported or removed" but
had alredy reached its destination.
| Second. 1t was smuggled into the
State TO eYade the State law, and not
the United States law, because It bears
all the stamps showing that all revenue
taxes have been paid.
Third. 1t is now in possession of a
State officer, under conliscation proceed.
lngs, and is to all intents and purposes
the property OF the State. It. came into
her possession by due process of law
and this fact should prevent the rev.
enue officers from interfering since sec
tion 3449 could have no other purpose
other than to secure the payment of the
! tax.
We will be glad to have the matter
setteled once for all; first, by the deci-
sion or the commissioner at Washing
ton, d. O., and il that Is againts our
claim then we will make test case in
the courts by giving bond and defend
Ing sun W SHOW JHtI our tlJl0 1S good
against yours. L simply add, in con.
clusion, that we want the matter set-
tied as soon as possible. We have every
desire to cooperate with tho Federal
authorities in the suppression of the
illicit traffic in whiskey, but we cannot
be expected to tamely submit to such
an unjust claim as this. The United
States government encourages men to
break the State law by letting them
pay special tax for privilege to sell.
When they smuggled in whiskey on
which tax has been paid to avail them
selves Of the privilege, and the State
constables seized it, 1t belongs to the
State, II there is the least regard for
equity and fair play. If we cannot
h0ld 1t we will dump 1t into the streets
III tne future. Very respectfully,
| Is. Il. TILLMAN.
Governor and Chairman State Board.
PAYING BACK TIE GOVERNMENT.
The State got even with Uncle Sam
yesterday. During the morning the goy-
ernment sold at the Federal building a
lot OF Whiskey which had been seized
by revenue officers. Col. T.. Nj. Mixson
was present at the sale and bought
most Of the whiskey for the State Dis
pensary, paying $1.15 a gallon for 1t.
There were several private bidders,
however, and they bought some Of the
Whiskey at $S1.20 gallon. These per-
sons we're Sam Harmon, who bought a