Virginia Argus

At a late federal court in Vermont, bills have been found against individuals concerned in mercantile transactions, for violations of the laws of the United States to the amount of more than 50 thousand dollars, to be the subjects of future trials. Laws are worse than useless when permitted to be violated with impunity; and it is a fact worthy of the most solemn attention of our rulers, that the laws of the U. States relative to commerce have been most grossly, most shamefully, and most destructively to national policy and morality, evaded or violated for years past—Have the worthless offenders, in a single case, suffered condign punishment? —On the contrary if our revenue officers attempt to execute the laws, their conduct is violently arraigned, it is compared to the tyrannical system of Bonaparte, and is seized upon as a fit theme of invective against the character & policy of administration. It is really time that an end were put to the aggravating scene of lawless proceedings. It is wholly immaterial whether the violated laws be good or bad: they have been legally enacted, and ought to be enforced at the point of the bayonet until constitutionally repealed or revised If they are not —if they fall into contempt, the empire of law must inevitably terminate, and anarchy or despotism take its place.

Balt. Amer.