Year: 1875

Colonel Des Anges late deputy collect
or of the port of New York, who has been
on trial for conspiring with Lawrence and
other adventures to defraud the United
States revenue, was found guilty on Tues
day and remanded for sentence. The con-
spirators were caught smuggling silks under
the guise of other stuffs by sending a case
of the material represented in the invoices
to the appraiser, which sample being found
correct, the remainder of the invoice, being
fine silks, was passed as of like texture ard
composition with the case examined. 1t was
the duty of Des Anges, as deputy collector,
to designate the packages which should un-
dergo examination. 1t is supposed, and
the jury became convinced of the fact, that
the prisoner was aware, by private marks
or advices, OF the content of the various
packages, so that he was able to designate
for examination by the appraiser such as
would harmonic with the invoice In this
way large quantities of rich and costly stufs
were placed upon the market under low
rate of duty, thus keeping back enormous
sums from the Treasury. This could not
have occurred without the connivance of
Des Anges or some one Of his subordinates,
whose duty it was to prepare the necessary
orders and permits for his signature. Upon
the person of Lawrence, the principal or
active manager of the conspiracy, was
found letter from Des ADges inculpating
him as a confederate who was tired of the
business, and satisfied that they were sus-


pected and their movements were watched.
1t appears to have been this letter which
determined the jury in their verdict. They
were out but ten minutes, and were unani-
nous in their opinion OF his guilt upon the


first poll.


This prompt conviction OF derelict Off
cial is creditable to all the parties concerned
in the prosecution. The prisoner was a
man with good war Ie ord, who was
backed by friends powerful enough to
have secured his future promotion if he had
justified their hopes and expectations by a
career of integrity and fidelity. He threw
from him in his greed for money all his
bright prospects and palsied the hands of
those who had hitherto sustained him.
Since his arrest it has been ascertained by
Government agents that his 'antecedents,
both in Boston and at his old home IN Eng
land, were bad. 1t is to be hoped that his
sentence will be of such rigor as to warn
other officials of the dangers which beset
their path.


Defrauding a popular Government like
that of the United States is theft from the
neighbor. 1t is the crime for which we
are told in the gospels that Ananias and
Sapphirs were struck dead. The disciples
in those days were cooperative fraternity
that "had all things common" They all
contributed pro rata, or agreed 70 do so,
for the expenses of the community. The
victims of Divine displeasure "kept back
part of the price" and lied about it when
the charge was brought home to them. 1t
was then that they were struck dead. Had
they confessed and made restitution, it is
possible that their fate would have been
very different. The United States is CO.
operative association to realize the benefits
Of a common government, and all members
are obligated to contribute to the common
treasury. Those who evade this obiiga-
ton by keeping back part Of the just dues,
and then plead not guilty to the charge
OF thus defrauding the common revenues,
OF, In other words, lie about it, are in pre-.
cisely the same category with the man and
his wife we read of in the Scriptures as
having been struck dead. If the Govern
ment of the United States made smuggling
and evading or otherwise defrsuding the
common fund of the people by keeping
back part of the price capital offense,
what powerful rise it would cause in the
hemp market just now, The President
and Secretary Bristow would then be a
greater terror to evil-doers than they are
now. European excursionists would have
more wholesome fear of hempen cravats
than of marine disasters. The great mer.
chants of New York would exercise much
greater care in the personal inspection of
their invoices and the custom house entries
to which they make oath, lest visions of
gallow-trees should disturb their sleep. The
Treasury would be more plethoric, and the
tax rates of honest people would be sensi-
bly, diminished. Whisky and tobacco would
be furnished at reasonable prices to the con.
sumner as honest merchandise, instead of
being objects of suspicion in the market,
and the synonym of fraud, crime, corrup-
ton and death.


Let us hope that the vigorous policy of
the Government now being pursued toward
all the conspirators sgainst the public
Treasury win be fully maintained, and that
it viii be fully indorsed and upheld by the
popular viii, regardless of whom it may
affect, until better and purer state of po-
litical and commercial morals shall pervade
the whole country.