Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-10

! From the hississppian
Oar people and press are jealous Of their esu-
s;itutioDel rights s81 cannot tolerate aay set uu-
! less authorized by law. Hence the order de-
/ claring marital law was revoked Aswe are re-
1atted to the civil law must obey its 5ehests
and look to it alone sore3Iess our wfoBgs. That,
uow, is our guide and support Let us be con
siste ns aud stick TO il.
Lately a man IN Rankin county carried a pa
per about signed by. the quarisrmaster, de-
maudiDg one out OF eyerysIx negro men 70 work
at Ficks5urg ia which Il was stated that If not
sent voluntarily tie negroes would be impressed
blany sent, supposiug the right 20 Impress was
clear or it would not be asserted.
In Gsorgia, General Mercer issued similar o.
dsrs, and was having them executed, but the
threats Of his employees caused committees to
be raised 10 inquire Of The Secretary Of War
about it, and he replied that Gen. Mercer had no
power TO Impress aud there was DO 1aw for il.
The Macon Telegraph published an address to
the planters Of Georgia signed by Nessrs Reh-
ard II. Clark, ID = Hll. aud Jno. A DAVIS,
committee on behalf OF the planters Of DJughar-
ty county, Ia which they published the follow
Ing reply Of the Secretary Of War.
have tslegrsphsd to Gen. Mercer that there
is no law authorizing the impressmsnt Of slaves
-lhat the paliJt.sm Of the owner is our only
reliance, and that he must not use force. lie
n2s answered that be has no intention of doing
so. If tie planters viii no. allow their slaves
10 labor on the f5rtitcai5n5 Of the coast, great
disaster may be expected"
c. w RANDOLPH,
Secretary Of Wax.
Tne citzsns Of Lee county also held meet
ing. aud, through M c. II. Iryin. made SINH
lar inquiry of the Secretary Of War, as follows
BdgaiieT-Gsneral Mercer has issued an
order impressing - per cent. Of the male slaves
II 30. ar 81
by ihe department If 50, We aequie5ce other
wise we resist.
Lsignedl C II IawH.
For the citizens Of Lee county
To which he received the following reply
Ear g. n l8yIN General Mercer has not
communicated with this department ia reference
90 imPIeasments, nor has any authority to make
inPressments been asked for or given.
LSigued] GE0 W. RANDOLPH
Secretary Of War.
Subsequently General Iercs, received the
following dispatch:
RICHMOND, August IL, 1852
General Mercer, sayannaA Georgia
q" Complaints are made about the inpressment
Of negroes IN The country to work d. Savannah /
There Is H3 lac quth9ri-iRg if So far. we have I
relied on tho patriotism of cur people to fur- +
nish ths assistance required. and 1t has 40. I
failed us. We have iJ5su hundred hands at .
work hsre without the use Of force, and l must /
request that you VIA nor resort 90 it IN case Of 1
refusal.
LSiguedl G w RANDOLPH,
Secretary OF War.
Now, if d" law Is the word, lst it be so. and
let US 20 according u the law, and send our ne
groes voluntarily when called on, and let not
our quartermasters Issue any more threats 90
impress our negroes Il was no more d stretch
Of power for General Van Djrn to pct the
country under martha, law .hal Is was for Gen
7ral Mercer or our quarielIu 4Sssr TO threaten IL
with his order, violating constitutional rights,
and since General Van D5rn has been Sd much
denounced, I suggest that his aceusels. now
that he has revoked his order, win hunt up