Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-01
IN ACT TO REGULATE IAPRBssMENTs.

IN ACT TO REGULATE IAPREssMENTS.
The following is a copy Of the Impressment Ac
passed BY Congress, and approved by tho Pres
dent:
Sc ii enacted, etc., That whenever the exigencie
Of any army in the field are such as to make impress
ents OF forage articles Of subsistence or other pre-
pezty absolutely necessary, then such impressnen
may be made by the officers whose duties it is t
flu, nish such forage articles of subsistence or ohe
property for such army. In cases where the owne
Of such property and the impressing officer canno
agree upon the value thereof it shall be the duty
such mpressing eficer, upon an affidavit in writing
Of the owner OF such property or his agent, tina
such property was grown raised or produced BY
said owner, or is held has been purchased by hin
not for sale or speculation, but for hiw own use o.
consumption, to cause the SINE to be ascertaned Of
determined by the judgment of two loyal and disin
tetested citizens Of the city, county or parish in
Thich such mpressment may be- made, one to be
selected by the owner one by the inpressing officer
ana in the event Of their disagreement, these two
stall choose an umpire of like qualification whose
decision shall be final The person thus selected
after taking an oath to appraise the property i'm
as the affidavit provided for in this section the i'm
pressing officer is hereby authorized to administer
aid certify shall proceed to assess just compensa-
hon for the property SO impressed, whether The ab.
scnte ownership Or the temporary use thereof only
is required.
SEC. .. That the officer or person, impressing
property, aforesaid, SHALL at the time of said tax
ing, pay to the owner, his agent or attorney the
compensation fixed by said appraisers; and shall
also give to the owner, or person controlling said
property, certificate over his official signature,
specifying the battalion regiment brigade, division
or corps, to which he belongs that said property
= essential for the of the army, could not be
otherwise procured and was taken through absolute
T ecessity; setting forth the time and place when
-snd where taken, the amount of compensation fixed
y said appraisers and the sum, if any paid for the
ssme Said certificate shall be evidence for the
owner as well as the taking of said property for the
public use as the right of the owner to the amount
Ct compensation fixed as aforesaid And in case
said officer or person, taking said property, shall
have failed to pay the owner or his agent, said COM
pe2satlon as hereinhefare required, then said owner
hall be entitled to the speedy payment of the same
ny the proper discussing officer, which, when so
laid shall be in full satisfaction of all claim against
the Government of the Confederate States.
SEC. 8. Whenever the appraisment provided for
n the first section of this act shall for any reason
lie inpracticable at the time of said impressment.
then, and in that case, the value of the property
Impressed shall be assessed as soon as possible by
70 loyal and disinterested citizens in the city.
county or parish, wherein the property was taken
chosen as follows: One by the owner, and one by
the commissary, or qusrtermaster general or h,
agent who in cases of disagreement, shall choose
third citizen of like qualification as. an umpire to
decide the matters in dispute, who shall be sworn
rs Aforesaid, who shall hear the proofs adduced by
the parties, rs to the value Of SAID property. and
assess just compensation therefor, according to
the testimony.
SEC 4, That whenever the Secretary of War shall
90 OF opinion that it is necessary to take private
property for public use, by reason Of the impractl-
caoiii'y OF procuring the same by purchase, so as
70 accumulate necessary supplies for the arnv. or
tae good OF the service, in any locality, he may,
oy general order, through the proper subordinate
Officers authorize such property to be taken for the
pue'c use the compensation due the owner for tho
same to be determined and the value found as nro.
Rioed tor in the first and second sections of this
article ''e.''''S VI luis
SEC .. That it shall be the duty of the President
ss early as practicable after the passage of tbe oct
70 appoint commissioner in each State where nror
,rty shall be taken for the public use and reouest
ne governor OF such Of the States in which the
PRESIDENT shall appoint said commissioner. to an.
'cint another commissioner to act in conjunction
F,'li the commissioner appointed by the President
snail receive the compensation of eight dollars
'er oay' and ten cents per mile as mileage to ho |
'ald oy the Confederate Government Said com.
,ss1nefs snail constitute board, whose duty it
, nan DC 10 nx upon the prices to be pald by the
Tor all property impressed or taken for
ne puo!ic USE as aforesaid SO as to affrt inst com
ensatlon to the owners thereof Said commission. !
rs Snail agree upon and publish schedule of nrcer
very TWO months, or oftener if they shall deem i
- - @ =. -. s~s"t ta.y shah not be able tn
ssa sh.n y ma1er conhded to them in this act. I
asy snati nave power to appoint an umn;rs r. ~
lde the matter in dispute, whose deciSpn shsn I
ie decision OF the board; and said umpire shall w
ave the same rate Of compensatian for the time ho
aaii serve, allowed to said Commissioners ne
way: Iroctacd. That said commissioners sbsI,
i.oaehts OF the State fer which they shall bo a.,
oln.so ana It the Governor of any State shall r.
ee VI pegicee % appoint said commissioner v;,b;n
=. Gays I,er s-request 70 Go so by the President
y rIes'asat snail appoim both commissioners ~,
g CIV s'.i trs aaFne and consent Of the Senate.
49, ~ iilat al property impressed or taken far
s paoiic use as aforesaid, in the hands ~ on .of
g other than the persons who have 80 guy per-
produced the same, or persons holdinp thes wv.
'ner own use OF Consumption. and ~ aIa'9
axe tho affidavit hefenbefore reon;red Eli liza" q.
10 for according to the schedule Of nr;cp. w
commissioners aforesaid. Bnt if.the off.sr ~
essnG or taking for the public use said nroos. ~.
inc owner saaal differ "a to the quality az ~
s.'s OF p,operty Impressed Or taksn as Aforesaid
10y "ssins iall within higher or lower n,;cs
sa VI u.e schedule, then the owner or agent AID
2meer impressing or taking. as Aforesaid. nav v
easa loyai and ds,ntercsted citizen, Of tho
s.;d a.. as aforesaid, to aetern,ine the quality
ssaese Or property. who shall IN case Of dis.
= S:sas apPeint an umpire of like Qualifications
a,. ueSlsion IT approved by the inpressine on.
s !. sna' ss anal But if not approved, the i'm.
ss:lhs omcer shall send the award to the con.
a ss.ors :e o. sae State where the property is ina.
tSsed, with his reasons for Disappearing the same
n sui may hear such proofs IS
on shsil be- fna: s prayy adducs, and their de-
y receive the price offered BY the .ss 0"S m
, without preudos to his claim to receive hi. SH
SIC & That the property necessary for tbe,ss.