True Democrat., 1863-03-25

TIE LAW OF IMrRFssMGNTs.-- A distinguish ed legal gentleman of this city, handed us the following bill which was before the Confederate Congress and tells that, having passed both Houses, it is now law. l: is matter of general importance and we take pleasure in laying it be- fore our readers
 A BILL 10 bc entitled an act 70 authori-e and reg
 ulase HnprcssneHt of prjUr'e property for tle use
 of the army and other military purposes.
 SECTION l. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, Any officer of the Confederate States commanding military dis trict or department, may authorize the mprcssmeut by an officer ot grade not lower than captain under special order, of property other than the property of State of the Confederate States for the use of the army other military purposes, by order in writing, whenever he is satisfied that the same cannot be procured in due time, except by impressmcnt
 SEc , Where slaves arc required to labor on Notifications or other public works, the impress ment shtli he made in accordance with the law of the State where they arc employed; in the absence of such law. in accordance with rules and regula tions not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, 10 be preoci lbed from time to time by the Secretary of War: Provided, no iIGpressment of slaves shall be made where they be hired at the usual market rates.
 SEC. !. ln no instances snail any lndlvdual be deprived, by impressment, of the amount of pro visions required for the comfortable support of hs family, nor except, under circumstances of ex- treme urgency, to be declared in the order of the commanding general shall any individual be de- prved of the grain, forage slaves other proper ty necessary for the of his plantation.
 SEC. 4. In all cases of impressment, just com pensation shall be made for the property seized, whether the absolute ownership, or the temporary use or hire only thereof Is demanded. If the owner and the impressing officer cannot agree up- on the amount of such compensation, it shall be ascertaincd and Ge ermined by the judgment of three loyal and dsin; crested free holders of the city, county or parish in which the mpressment is made--one to be selected by the owner, one by the imp cs>ing officer, and the third to be chosen by these two. The persons thus selected, after taking all oath to apprase the property impressed, fairly and mpartialy, which oath the impressing off rer is authorized to admin ster, sh proceed to assess the full value of the property seized, as well as the amount of compensation for it's temp ,- rary hire, where that only is required; and also to determine upon the application If the i'm pressing officer, which application is to be made only in extreme cases. what amount of provision would furnish liberal support for the family of the owner. And it shall be the duty of such per sons to make out a certificate to be signed by all the parties, in which the valuations herein pro- vided for shall be declared and the property i'm pressed, where it's temporary use or hire only is demanded, described with such nlnuteneas as to identify 1t, and to deliver one copy thereof to the owner, and one to the mpre.si officer.
 SEC. ,. Where property has been impressed for temporary use or hire, and is lost or destroyed without the default of the owner, the Confederate States shall pay the full value thereof as ascer- taned under the provisions of this act. If such property, when returned, has, in the opinion of the owner, been injured whilst in the public use, the amount of damage thereby sustained shall be de- termned in the manner prescribed in the fourth section of this aet the officer returning the prop erty being authorized to act on behalf of the Con- federate States, and, upon such inquiry, the cer- tfcate of the value of the property when origin ally impressed, shall be received as conclusive evidence thereof.
 SEC. G. Any officer of the Confederate States property in violation of the provisions of this act, shall be liable to such punishment as the military court of the district or department to V hicl he belongs may in its discretion infict,