Commissioners of Internal Revenue, that the annual loss therefrom to the Government would not be less than $1,750,000! This estimate was not questioned, nevertheless the law was passed. It was a Democratic measure pure and simple. in the House on April 28, 1880, answered this argument and placed the matter in its true light. Said he: "It is true that he (the distiller) does not sell it (the whiskey) at the end of one year to be used; but he does sell it to retail and even to wholesale dealers to Democratic party vote, by which the great be held for its growth and betterment by time. There steal passed the House. Of the 128 members constituting the majority who decided its fate in the House on the 4th of May, 1880, five only were Republicans. Northern Distillers opposed to this "Solid 29 Strenuous opposition was made to the pas sage of this part of the bill by a portion of the distillers themselves. And it was evident from the outset that it was exceedingly unfair to a large body of distillers doing business in the North. fore this Bourbon and other whiskeys are really saleable all the way along from the day they are first manufac tured up to the date when they are drinkable. And the man who is fortunate enough to be able to keep a large stock of snch whiskeys for three years will find that the outage' or shrinkage he loses upon that stock during that time is far more than compensated for by the increase of value of every gallon of it. If one hun dred galions of this whiskey shall lose fifteen gallons by 'outage', the whole one hundred gallons will have gained a percentage in actual value above what it had in the beginning, which will far more than compensate for the loss by shrinkage or outage.' ** * * * * * * * It seems to me only equitable and fair that where we keep a man's property for him untaxed for two or three years, we ought at least to have a share of the profit that comes by that delay. That profit costs him nothing, but the interest on the amount of his investment, and the United States' investment in it in the shape of the tax is much How the Solid Southern Distillers work the larger part, It seems to me that it is only fair that the Thing. Most of the distillers in the South keep their spirits in warehouse as long as possible under the law, the salaries of the officers in charge of the warehouses in which the spirits are stored being paid by the United States. The spirits are meanwhile improved by age and by certain processes to which they are subjected in the warehouse, and thus become more and more valuable from year to year. Testimony as to Improvement by age from year to year-The Government loss and the Southern gain. From evidence before the House of Representatives when the bill was passed, it appeared that Bourbon whiskey, fresh from the still and worth 45 cents per gallon, exclusive of the tax, increased in value to 70 cents per gallon in one year, to 95 cents per gallon in two years, and to $1.20 per gallon in three years. Of course, the quantity of spirits decreases as the quality is improved by this species of rectification, but for every gallon so lost the United States loses 90 cents tax, and pays the storekeeper's salary, and the additional expense of regauging on withdrawal not heretofore required, while the distiller or owner of the spirits is growing richer through the mere lapse of time. These spirits are the Bourbon whiskeys and other portable or drinkable classes of spirits. the United States should have a portion of the advantage, and collect the tax on the whole amount of the whiskey put in bond." How the law operates unfairly in favor of Kentucky whiskey and against Illinois whiskey. The distillers of the State of Illinois pay more than three times as much tax as the distillers of Kentucky; yet the first complete set of reports received by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue after the passage of the Carlisle bill shows that of all the leakage allowed in the United States during June, 1880, the period covered by the reports, three-fifths were allowed to Kentucky distillers, and about one-fiftieth to Illinois distillers. This sample of the operation of the law is sufficient to verify all that was claimed as to the inequality and unfairness of its operations. How the law also facilitates whiskey frauds. This law authorizing an allowance on account of leakage or evaporation in warehouse is not merely subject to criticism on the ground that it increases the expenses and reduces the revenues of the United States, and discriminates in favor of one class of distillers to the detriment of another, and, so far as the revenues of the government are concerned, more important class. The great fault of the law lies in the fact that it facilitates the perpetration of fraud. Of course, under a thoroughly honest Other classes of spirits have to pay the administration of Internal Revenue affairs, tax. On the other hand, the other classes of spirits which are rectified and fitted for use in manufactures and the arts after leaving the distillery, are subject to the tax of 90 cents per gallon upon the original quantity, as they are withdrawn from the warehouse on the day of production, or within a few days thereafter. Southern whiskey distillers' argument— How Garfield demolished it. The Bourbon whiskey distillers alleged before the House that their goods were not salable until they became old. General Garfield as has notably characterized that of the Re- The law which this leakage provision mod ifies in its most essential feature was passed In four years 3,874 stills destroyed and 7,078 Moonshiners arrested-Killed and wounded officers, and cost in money. In these operations, during the past four years, over 3,874 illicit stills have been seized, and unlawful work. This has not been done with7,078 persons arrested for being engaged in this out a considerable cost to the Government of money, as well as the lives and limbs of its officers. Twenty-five officers and employees have been killed and fifty-five wounded while enforcing the laws. The sum expended for this purpose, in addition to the ordinary expenses for the collection of the revenue, has amounted, during the past three years and a half, to more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. July 20, 1868, by a Republican Congress, for the very purpose of putting an end to frauds which had been perpetrated under an executive controlled by Democrats. Prior to July 20, 1868, the tax was collected as is now provided in the Carlisle bill, on the quantity of spirits withdrawn from warehouse, provided the leakage in warehouse was without fraud, collusion, or neglect. But the proofs on these matters were through affidavits of local officers and others. And when as was often the case during the latter part of Andrew Johnson's administration-the local officers were corrupt and in collusion with the dishonest distillers, there was no lack of evidence to substantiate any claim. The remedy which the Republican Congress of 1868 applied, through the passage of the Act of July 20, 1868, was to require the tax to be paid on the quantity deposited in the distillery warehouse. This has been the law for nearly twelve years, until, in this year, 1880, The instances of armed resistance by illicit the Democratic Congress repealed it. What distillers to the authorities of the United States the Democratic Party wants, so as to complete are too numerous to be given here, but they its work of fraud and corruption in this mat- have been accompanied by every form of outrage ter, is to secure, through the election of Han- upon the officers of the United States and all persons cock, the class of rascally officers in the Ex- loyal enough to aid them. The intimidation of ecutive branch of the Government suited for witnesses, burning of the houses and barns of the damnable business. Dare we trust the officers, and the killing or injuring of their Democratic party with such administrative horses and cattle have been cases of frequent responsibility in view of their past record?-occurrence. (For Internal Revenue figures, see Statistical Chapter.) PART II. Every form of outrage resorted to by the Moonshiners. While U. S. officers harassed in the courts and otherwise, only one conviction of a murderous Moonshiner secured ! It is a remarkable fact that, with the exception of the conviction of one man for the killing of Deputy Collector Cooper, in East Tennessee, no one has been punished on account of the many murders and assaults to murder committed upon United States officers. Upon the other hand, innumerable prosecu Moonshiners in the "Solid South” —-Open Defiance of Law– Bloodshed—Guerilla Warfare-Number of Stills destroyed and Moonshiners arrested in four tions have been instituted in State Courts years-A list of their bloody against United States officers for alleged ofmurders—Official vigor dimin- of their official duties, mainly, it is believed, fences perpetrated while in the performance ishes Moonshining – Hancock's nomination increases it again. The open defiance of the excise laws of the United States in the South has been attended with much bloodshed, and, at times, in some States, has assumed the proportions of a guerrilla war. In meeting armed resistance, United States troops having been denied by a Democratic Congress, it has been found nec. essary to arm civilian officers, many of whom have shown great courage and coolness in the performance of their duties. The forces of the Government used in the suppression of this miniature rebellion have been skilfully directed by Gen. Green B. Raum, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who has been ably assisted by Gen. F. D. Sewall, Chief of Revenue Agents, both of whom won their military rank by gallant and distinguished services in the Union army. This was not the first time they had met law-breakers in arms, and their experience in the fields of the rebellion has enabled them to carry on the work of subduing armed distillers with success. for the purpose of obstructing the enforce- A list of bloody “murders” by Southern 1 1. Lieutenant McIntire, of the Second Infantry, United States Army, murdered on the night of February 9, 1877, at the residence of Ayres Jones, an illicit distiller in Fannin County, Ga., while aiding revenue officers in suppressing illicit distillation. 2. Berry Sorrels (colored), suspected of being an informer, was brutally murdered in presence of his family, by a band of illicit distillers masked, March, 1879. He was really not an informer. (Walton County, Ga.) 3. Nathaniel Eason, a citizen of Campbell County, Ga., was called to his door on a night in February, 1878, and brutally assassinated in presence of his wife and children, by a body of masked men. Mr. Eason had visited Atlanta a day or two previous to his assassination, and it was supposed he had been summoned to testify against the parties who had assaulted a deputy United States marshal's posse, killing two horses and wounding a guide a short time previous, 4. Samuel Kenney, a citizen of Pickens County, Ga., residing near Talking Rock post-office, was shot and killed by illicit distillers who suspected him of giving information against them (October 16, 1877). 5. A colored man (name unknown), started in January, 1877, to locate an illicit distillery in Douglas County, Ga., operated by persons known as Tooker Brothers. He was last seen in Campbell County and has not since been heard from. It is now conceded by the citizens, that the generally received opinion at the time of his disappearance that he was murdered and thrown from a bridge into Sweetwater River was true, and that such was his fate. the right breast and coming out on the left side of his back. 10. Deputy U. S. Marshal Kimbrew was killed in Hancock Co., Georgia, Sept. 11, 1878, while assisting in the arrest of the Ennis Brothers, notorious illicit distillers. One of the Ennis Brothers met the marshal's posse at the door and fired upon them, resulting in the death of Kimbrew. 11. A man named Seawell, employed by Deputy Collector Moore to assist him in removing an illicit still which he had seized in Moore Co., N. C., March 5, 1879, was killed by the owner of the still. 12. Deputy Marshal Harkins was killed while attending the trial of a distiller before Commissioner Morris, in Henderson Co., N. C., Feb. 3, 1877. Twenty armed men attacked the court, fatally wounding Harkins; the other officers escaped. The distiller was also fatally wounded. This was one of the most daring outrages known in the history of the "moonshine war." 6. Benton Whitecotton, a citizen of Hall County, 13. Deputy Collector John Cooper, son of the Ga., disappeared in July, 1877, and recent de- collector of the district, was killed while atvelopments prove that he was brutally mur- tempting the seizure of the distillery of Hutdered by a man named Bryant, who was a re-sell Amarine, in Blount Co., Tennessee, Aug. lation of an illicit distiller against whom 9, 1878. The officers were fired upon in the Whitecotton had informed. Bryant confessed dark from the bushes, resulting in the death the murder on his death-bed. The remains of Cooper, two or three large balls entering of Whitecotton were found at the place indi- his body, and mortally wounding him. cated by the murderer and have been indentified. 7. In the month of May, a colored man, whose name cannot now be ascertained, left his home in Campbell County, Ga., to come to Atlanta on business. Some illicit distillers, residing in the neighborhood, learning of his departure from home and supposing it was his purpose to inform against them, followed and attacked him with shot-guns. He ran in order to save his life, but in the effort was frightfully mangled with the buckshot fired after him. He made his way to Atlanta, where he died from the effect of his wounds. 8. In Fannin County, Ga., about the middle of August, 1877, Mr. W. F. M. Greenway, while gathering fruit in his orchard, was shot with buckshot and mortally wounded. It is known that Mr. Greenway rendered aid to revenue officers in their operations against illicit distillers, and for this threats had been made which were executed by his brutal assassination, The assassin concealed himself behind a large stump around which had sprung up undergrowth which afforded him seclusion, and when Mr. Greenway was reaching upward to gather the fruit the assassin discharged the contents of his gun at him. The shot struck him in the stomach and he expired in a few minutes. 9. Deputy Collector Colman Leatherwood was killed at Newgent's distillery in Etowah County, Alabama, in June, 1875. His body has never been found, having been concealed or destroyed by the murderers. The circumstantial evidence showed clearly, however, that he was shot while approaching the still-house by a rifle in the hands of some one concealed in the brush behind the fence, the ball entering 14. Thos. J. Williams, guide, who gave information to internal revenue officers who were conducting a raid against illicit distillers in Lawrence Co., Tennessee, in October, 1877, was soon afterwards taken at night from his house by disguised men, and murdered for rendering assistance and giving the information as aforesaid. 15. James Spear, a former member of raiding force, who was with Deputy Collector J. M. Davis attending court in Grundy, Tennessee, Sept. 18, 1878, was shot and mortally wounded by a ball that was evidently intended for Davis. He was walking by Davis' side at the time when the shot was fired from the brush in the suburbs of Tracy City. Spear died in a few days afterwards. Davis was, and is, noted for his great zeal and efficiency in breaking up illicit stills and arresting offenders. 16. Deputy Marshal John Minnis was killed in Sumner Co., Tennessee, in July or August, 1876, while engaged in the work of suppressing illicit distillation in that county. 17. W. A. Fowler, of Lawrence Co., Tennessee, was killed on or about the first of January, 1880, by illicit distillers for giving information in regard to their operations to deputy collectors of internal revenue. 18. Deputy Marshal F. H. Torbet was killed about ten miles north of Paris, Henry Co., Tennessee, Oct. 1st, 1876, by one Giles, for whom he had a capias. Giles has not been indicted by the State, and no effort has been made by the State officers to affect his arrest for the murder. 19. Tesse Vanderwinter, a citizen who assisted the officers in breaking up some distilleries in, Lee Co., Virginia, on Monday, May 14th1877, near sunset, while at work in his corn field, was fired upon by a body of armed men | ceived at the Internal Revenue Office indicates and mortally wounded. that, under the stimulus of Hancock's nomination and the expectation of Democratic victory, the practice is reviving all over the South. 20 and 21. Two men, names unknown, while assisting Deputy Marshal Robertson in South Carolina, on or about Feb. 7th, 1877, were killed by illicit distillers during a raid. 22. Jas. Ledford, a guide, living near Block House, in Spartanburg Co., S. C., was killed by illicit distillers June 11th, 1877. It appears that the illicit distillers had ascertained in some way that Ledford had assisted the revenue officers, and he was visited in force under the leadership of John, Weaver and Budd Casey, and literally butchered to death. 23. Chas. Austin, a guide, was killed by Redmond, a famous outlaw and illicit distiller in South Carolina, in March, 1878. 24. Deputy Marshal Rufus Springs, in April, 1878, while engaged with a revenue force in raiding upon an illicit distillery near Greenville, S. C., was killed by being shot from the bushes in the rear. 25. A man named Griffin, a cattle dealer, was killed by illicit distillers, under the supposition that he was a revenue officer, at East Fork, S. C., on or about the 27th of June, 1878. The vigorous action of the Government diminishes “moonshining ”—Hancock's nomination revives it all over the South! In consequence of the vigor with which illicit distilling had been followed up by the revenue authorities, it appeared some months ago that the amount of illicit distilling was very much diminished, and that the illicit distillers were ceasing, in a degree, their nefarious practices; but recent information re Why this is so-"The good time coming, boys "-Democratic leaders' promises. The exigency of the Democratic canvas naturally makes the demand for whiskey very great, and when to this is added the promise of every Democratic nominee for Congress on the stump that all laws against free distilling shall be repealed, and every stream and water course in the South shall be lined with stills, it is no wonder that the revenue officers are again called upon to use their utmost efforts in the suppression of this evil in their respective districts. Aleck Stephens sympathizes with Moonshiners-So does the "Solid South." Even so moderate a man as Alexander H. Stephens openly declares that he considers it a great hardship that the mountaineers in his section are not allowed to produce brandy and whiskey from their surplus fruit and grain without molestation. There can be no doubt that the prevailing sentiment in the South is one of hostility to all federal laws, and especially to those relating to the revenue on spirits and tobacco. The record of bloody resistance to the execution of those laws herein partially detailed, and the fact that the murderers have, in every instance, the sympathy of the community in which they live, afford conclusive evidence on this point. CHAPTER X. Democratic Hatred of Union Soldiers. "RESOLVED, That the soldiers and sailors of the Republic, and the widows and orphans of those who have fallen in battle, have a just claim upon the care, protection, and gratitude of their fellowcitizens."-Democratic National Platform of 1876. * *Experience proves that efficient, economical conduct of the governmental business is not possible if its civil service be subject to change at every election, be a prize fought for at the ballotbox, be a brief reward of party zeal, instead of posts of honor assigned for proved competency, and held for fidelity in the public employ." Democratic National Platform of 1876. "We pledge ourselves anew to the constitutional doctrines and traditions of the Democratic Party, as * * embodied in the Platform of the last National Convention of the Party."-Democratic National Platform of 1880. སན་ཏི tect wounded Union soldiers even though the unwounded must go. Fort's resolution favoring wounded Union soldiers. He therefore offered the following resolu Democratic Rule of Appointments to Office "Civil Service Reform” in the House-Crippled Union Soldiers Kicked Out | tion: and Rebel Soldiers Exalted- "Resolved, That in all subordinate appointments, Propositions and Votes in the House on the Subject. In the Democratic House, December 14, 1875, Mr. Fort, Republican, proposed to pro under any of the officers of this House, it is the judgment of this House that wounded Union soldiers, who are not disabled from performance of duty, should be preferred.' Upon this he demanded the previous question, but a Democratic House refused to second it! Sunset Cox to the rescue ?—His amendment | laws being enacted by Congress giving liberal pensions to and the vote by which the Democrats the diseased and crippled soldiers, and to the widows and children and dependent fathers and mothers of those smothered the whole thing. who have died from wounds or diseases contracted while in Thereupon, Sunset Cox offered the follow-the service of the Union army, and to each living soldier, ing amendment, in the nature of a substitute, and moved that the same be referred to the Committee on Accounts: YEAS-Messrs. Ainsworth, Anderson, Ashe, Atkins, Bagby, J, H. Bagley, Jr., Banning, Barnum, Beebe, S. N. Bell, Blackburn, Bland, Bliss, Blount, Boone, Bradford, Bright, J. Y. Brown, Buckner, S. D. Burchard, Cabell, J. H. Caldwell, W. P. Caldwell, Candler, Cate, Caulfield, Chapin, Chittenden, J. B. Clarke, J. B. Clarke, Jr., Clymer, Cochrane, Cooke, Cowan, Cox, Culberson, Cutler, J.J. Davis, De Bolt, Dibrell, Douglas, Durand, Eden, Egbert, Ellis, Ely, Faulkner, Felton, Forney, Franklin, Fuller, Gause, Gibson, Glover, Goode, Gunter. A. H. Hamilton, R. Hamilton, Hancock, Hardenbergh, H. R. Harris, J. T. Harris, CH. Harrison, Hartridge, Hartzell, Hatcher, Haymond, Hereford, A. S. Hewitt, G.. W. Hewitt, Hill, Holman, Hooker, Hopkins, House, Hunter, Hurd, Jenks, F. Jones, T. L. Jones, Kehr, Knott, Lamar, F. Landers, G. M. Landers, Lane, Levy, B. B. Lewis, Lord, Luttrell, Lynde, Maish, McFarland, McMahon, Meade, Metcalf, Millikin, Mills, Money, Morgan, Morrison, Mutchler, Neal, New, O'Brien, Odell, E. Y. Persons, Payne, J. Phelps, J. F. Phillips, Piper, Poppleton, Randall, D. Rea, Reagan, J. Reilly, J. B. Reilly, A. V. Rice, J. Robbins, W. M. Robbins, M. Ross, Savage, M. Sayler, Scales, Schleicher, J. G. Schumaker, Seelye, Sheakley, Singleton, Slemons, W. E. Smith, Southard, Sparks, Springer, Stenger, Stone, Swann, Tarbox, Teese, Terry, C. P. Thompson, P. F Thomas, Throckmorton, Tucker, Turney, J. L. Vance, R. B. Vance, Waddell, C. C. B. Walker, G, C. Walker, Walling, Ward, Warren, E. Wells, Whitehouse, Whitthorne, Wigginton, Wike, A. S. Williams, J. Williams, J. D. Williams, J. N. Williams, Willis, Wilshire, B. Wilson, F. Wood, Yeates, C. Young-168. Hoar, Hoge, NAYS-Messrs. C. H. Adams, G. A. Bagley, J. H. Baker, W. H. Baker, Ballou, Blaine, Blair, Bradley, W. R. Brown, H. C. Burchard, Burleigh, Cannon, Cason, Caswell, Conger, Crapo, Crounse, Danford, Darrall, Davy, Denison, Dobbins, Dunnell, Eames, Evans, Farwell, Fort, Foster, C. Freeman, Frost, Frye, Garfield, Goodin, E. Hale, Haralson, B. W. Harris, Henderson, Hubbell, Hunter, Hurlbut, Hyman, Joyce, Kasson, Kelley, Ketchum, Kimball, King, Lapham, W. Lawrence, Lynch, Magoon, MacDougall, McCrary, J. W. McDill, Miller, Monroe, Nash, Norton, Oliver, O'Neill, Packer, Page, W. A. Phillips, Pierce, Plaisted, Pratt, Purman, Rainey, M. S. Robinson, S. Ross, Rusk, Sampson, Sinnickson, R. Smalls, A. H. Smith, Starkweather, Stevenson, Stowell, Strait, Thornburgh, M. I. Townsend, W. Townsend, Tufts, Van Vorhes, Waldron, A. S. Wallace, J. W. Wallace, Walls, G. W. Wells, Wheeler, J. D. White, Whiting, G. Willard, C. G. Williams, W. B. Williams, J. Wilson, A. Wood, Jr., Woodburn, Woodworth-102. A patriotic resolution, to which both Republicans and Democrats Agreed. On the 5th of January, 1876-the Christmas Recess having intervened-Mr. Cason offered a resolution as follows: "Be it resolved, etc., That we recognize the brave and gallant services rendered by the loyal soldier to his country in the time of its greatest need and peril, and that we do earnestly recommend to the people of our common country the utmost care and watchfulness over the rights and interests of these brave men, securing to each one in need of employment and to such and their families the necessaries and comforts of life; and in all cases of public employment and in the bestowment of the emoluments of office, that, all other things being equal, the soldier shall have the preference over the civilian; and, as one branch of the legislative department of this Government, we are in favor of and to the widows and heirs of those dead, such bounties and homesteads as a generous Government can afford to those who have won and preserved to the nation its liberty and Constitution." The previous question being demanded was seconded by 142 yeas to 9 nays, and the resolution was then agreed to by Democrats and Republicans alike. The Democratic House shows its Pecksnifflan hypocrisy, turns a somersault, and refuses to carry into practice these professions, on the very same day!' But to test the sincerity of the professions of the Democrats, Mr. Fort on the same day offered the following: "Resolved, That the doctrine just announced by the House in the resolution of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Cason, is so wise and just that, in the judgment of this House, it should be followed by officers of the House in filling subordinate places under their authority; and that in all such cases they are hereby instructed to give to well-qualified Union soldiers preference over soldiers of the late Confederate army.' On this, he demanded the previous question, but the Democratic House refused to second it, by 93 yeas to 103 nays. Thereupon Fernando Wood, by way of adding insult to injury, sneeringly moved to refer the resolution to the Committee on Centennial Celebrationwhich motion was agreed to by 122 yeas to 93 nays-all the yeas being Democrats, as follows: A. S. YEAS-Messrs. Ashe, Atkins, Bagby, J. H. Bagley, Jr., Bland, Blount, Boone, Bradford, Bright, J. Y. Brown, Buckner, S. D. Burchard, Cabell, J. H. Caldwell, W. P. Caldwell, Candler, Chapin, J. B. Clark, Jr., Clymer, Cochrane, Cook, Cowan, Cox, Culberson, Cutler, Joseph J. Davis, De Bolt, Dibrell, Douglas, Durham, Eden, Egbert, Faulkner, Felton, Forney, Franklin, Fuller, Gause, Glover, Goode, A. H Hamilton, R. Hamilton, Hancock, H. R. Harris, J. T. Harris, C. H. Harrison, Hatcher, Hunton, Jenks, & Landers, Lane, Levy, Lord, Lynde, L. A. Mackey, Maish, McFarland, McMahon, Metcalfe, Milliken, Mills, Money, Morrison, Mutchler, New, O'Brien, E. Y. Persons, J. Phelps, J. F. Philips, Piper, Poppleton, Powell, Randall, D. Rea, Reagan, J. Reilly, J. B. Reilly, Riddle, J. Robbins, W. M. Robbins, C. B. Roberts, M. Ross, M. Sayler, Schleicher, Sheakley, Singleton, Slemons, W. E. Smith, Southard, Springer, Stenger, Stone, Tarbox, Terry, C. P. Thompson, Throckmorton, Tucker, Turney, J. Vance, Waddell, Walling, Walsh, Ward, Warren, E. Wells, Whitthorne, Wike, J. Williams, J. D. Wil liams, J. N. Williams, Willis, Wilshire, B. Wilson, F. Wood, Yeates, C. Young-122.-For names of removals and appointments, see pp, 118, 119. |