Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-18
Impressment--supplies, &c.

Have we indeed come tp this Are our wives ana
children to be compelled to live on mule and horse
flesh? Thousands of them, We know, have no meat
of any kind and have had ncpe for weeks but they
will eat bread and parched corn the balance OF
their days befS-e they will touch horse or mule
meat The Richmond Enquirer cireulates freely
beyond the lines, and is extensively read by our
enemies That paper tells them that our people are
on the verge of starvation that they are about to
be reduced to the terrible necessity of subsisting on
mule and horse flesh. What is this but aid and
comfort to the enemyr Such Information, whether
true or false, bids Lincoln hold on and 60 on with
the war. 1t bids him take courage, for the Enqus:
rer says we are starving Is John Mitchell true to
the Confederate cause? Who kno1s that he is p
Who can vouch for him?
The Richmond and Petersburg papers are greatly
excited by the manner in which Confederate officers
are impressing private property fot the army. The
Wig.says:
ave have some men in Office. whs seem TO be stricken
with judicial blindness If by mi,ary Violence they
to exort the people the OF subsistence
for day. they to be perfectly Indifferent what be-
comes OF people and army ti.nlorrow.
The same paper notices the contempt shown for
Congress by officers who arc ,npressing in the ah-
sence Of law, while that body is engaged in consid
ering the subject of impressment and endeavoring
to establish rules to regulate it and then speaking
of. the system generally says:
I alt is nothing than the Turkish system
which has been gong out ths State for the last
tbs in the rural districts; but perpe:raed here,
where many people are cungregaed and starvation immi-
| pent il makes more noise. --
No,np has puzzled US more than to form satisfactory
conjecture the objcc the authorities instituting
this iyrannica inquit"us system Was intense
the people of Virginia whom thus far the burden has
maiply ten? Was it intended dsaifect the whue pop
uatun-to make them deest the of the COsedeacy
and those whn directing il? Or is it designed to CON.
people into Turks who secrete their stores of all
sorts and y the mountains and the wods: at tho up
roac uf government agent? Or is it the purpose to
strip Virginia of the of subsistence preparatory to
he programme o last Aprl-of abandoning her to the
mercy of the nvaders The iniqui:y of the proceeding
might be accounted for by the nsoercs upstart ofcnls
wio having had any power beule are only intent
eel thew have master on their backs But is foil y-,,s
r..nous su,cda-unpeakabe folly-by which production
be extiuguished and g"vernmet people and army
j jreture.
II would to beIhc purpose of the Executive author
lies TO defeat any legislation the or to declare
in advance, that they would treat with scrn and contempt
law that Congress- might pass. II this be the object
hit be and too sterny The authorities
Of Virginia owe projection her people Let the Leas
declare resolution and request the Governor to
declare by proclamation to the people, that they are under
obligation orespee' these the whole
Ee 10 urce illegal seizure of their properly
they prefer out warrants for the arrest
vicun and puuhpent of ,hess feioGi0us Tree b1'ers
Aud the militia of the counties s" aid be ordered to hold
themselves in readiness to assistance to all citizens in
resisting these sgs res-ions on their rights
In the face of these Outrages on public and private rights
and Of their contempt Of the Legislative department. Mr.
President Davis asking authority of Cong to suspend
the great bulwark of edom-he writ Of ha6tas
all over the Confede,acy. Congress should be want
ing spirit-so derefct in duty let the Virginia Senators
least be commanded uncnmpromisipg resist
ance to this surrender oil all our liberties"
The journals referred to are complaining of what
has been common thing in this State for months
past Our people have borne it with patience and
fortitude worthy of themselves and of the cause and
that. too while the Official organ at Richmond, the
Enquirer, has been denouncing three.fourths Of
them as econstruct;on;sts and traitors. We have
heard of forcible impressments in various parts o
this State. Among the numerous letters We receive
is one from "a poor crippled man " in Alamance
County, who says there are eftissrs or persons i'm
pressing corn and bacon IN t,at County for the
Piedmont Road and for Danvil!e, and they say the,
have authority for doing this. Our reply is, they
have no such authority These officers may be only
Spectators. Make them show their authority. i
they have none, drive them by force, if necessary
out of the County, if they show authority from thu
Secretary of War; let them have what you can spare
provided they pay the market price for it but il
they attempt to take corn and bacon which are il
dispensabe to the poor to sustain life, resist them
There is no law Of Congress on the subject of i'm
pressment and the Secretary of War; therefore, has
no authority to take private property by force.
But the Enquirer wants the people to live or
horse and mule meat These useful animals, then
must be slaughtered. In that event. how will ths
land DO ploaghed? What sLall we have to pull oul
wagonsa Oxsns They must fall by the butchers
kniie before the herse or mule is touched. w
suppose the Enquirer means that horses and mules
in good order must be- kept for farming purposes
and the poor killed for the people to liv. on
Verify, wisdom will die with the Enquirer.
The question of. supplies is the most important
one that can be presented to our rpeople That mar
who shall plant cotton tobacco for profit during
the present year, will not only stab his poor neig
bors by aiding to consgn. them. to- starvation, but
he will infict deadly wound, SO far as he can dc
it, on our brave soldiers and ON the common causc
Such man is an enemy to his kind and to his
country. Plant. rn!-put every acre that you
can in eorn Plant potatoes also, and every thing
Else that will sustain life. Plant corn and save you,
country; plant cotton and tobacco and DESTROY it
/ A friend writes us from Carthage, Moore -Coun
ty, that our statement that the RICHMOND En-
quirer took ground some time since for e.construc
ton, is denied We have misiaid the Enquire,
containing the article but recollection distinct
that it took the ground that the war must 60 on
until all the free States agreed to vote to remain
where they or go b;th u.s. If any or all of them
should 60 with US, re- construction would certainly
be the consequence. We charged the fact on the
Enquirer at the time, and it vas silent But that
paper is no, Under its new Editor, opposed to any
thing of the kind and is engaged in denouncins
not only the French Emperor but Mr. Valsnding-
ham, and thousands like him, as our enemies. Such