The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-05-08
GOVERNOR BLEASE
BUCKS UNCLE SAM
Seems to Think that the United States
Government Is Going to Flood South
Carolina with Mean Liquor.


Carolina with Mean Liquor.
Governor Blease, in a letter address
ed to every sheriff in South Carolina,
including Sheriff Owings, calls on them
to seize all contraband liquor which is
sold by United States officers, as con-
trabahd, as soon as it is in the hands
of the purchaser. This action of the
Governor is taken following the decis-
ion of Federal Judge Smith that Uni
ted States revenue officers have a right
to sell liquor seized by them in this
State at public auction, as was done
by Deputy Scruggs at Walhalla recent
ly. The letter of the Governor fol-
lows:
Reasons for Position.
IF at any time an agent or officer of
the United States Government adver-
tises that he Is going to have a sale OF
whiskey at any point within your coun-
ty, you are hereby directed and COM
manded to be personally present at the
place of the said sale, and when the
same takes place, and the contraband
whiskey, which is sold as such by the
United States Government, is delivered
to the purchaser. you seize Immediately
the said whiskey, beer, wine or other
alcoholic liquors, under and in accord
ance with the provisions of the laws
of the State of South Carolina 1t may
off nf ho
States Government to sell whskey
within the State of South Carolina 9TH
erwise than is provided by our State
laws (but | for one do not believe it y
of the Court until reversed, but when
the United States Government sells
this whiskey, etc, he who purchases it,
becomes the owner of and in possession
hibited by our statute laws, because if
it were not contraband the United
States Government would not be SELL
ing it; for, they seize it as such. There
fore, under the law of our state, when
the whiskey, or other intoxicating Ii
quors is delivered to the purchaser he
then becomes the owner and is in pos
session of the contraband, in direct
violation of our statute laws. There
fore, when the United States Govern
ment officers make their sale, as soon
as the stuff is put into the hands Of
the purchaser you are hereby direct
ed and commanded to Immediately
seize it as contraband, and if any ac-
ton Is brought against you, either civ
il or criminal, you will Immediately
communicate with this office and 1
will take proper steps to have your
interests protected.
Won't Stand for 1t.
do not fail in this matter. desire
to conflict between the State and the
United States Government, but | do
not propose to allow the flooding of
this state with whiskey under a pre-
tence of law; when these Government
seizures are sold, the goods will be
purchased and resold by blind tigers
throughout the State, which | know
is prohibited by our statute laws, and
the United States Government should
not lend its assistance, through its of
ticers, to any such Illegal or Illicit traf-
fic and | do not propose to stand for
it so far as l am concerned.
Therefore, when the sale is made
and the stuff is delivered into the
hands of the purchaser. seize your
prisoner for having in his possession
contraband whiskey. and also seize the
goods as contraband, and hold both un-
I'll they be released by due process Of
law.
Failure on your part to carry out
these instructions will be dealt with
in no uncertain way.
We desire no conflict, but the dig
nifty of the law of this State must be
preserved and will be-"