The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-17
Tho Rob0l aovornmen. and pooplo.

Gold at Richmond is at "a % premium,
and the Richmond Examiner says that "the
question Of food ranks before money" We
can judge something by this of the state Of
things among the rebels, and Of the difficult
ties under which they labor. But those
difficulties arc shown still moro clearly by
the statements which wo find in rebel papers
about imprcsments for food by The rebel
Government. md the discussions which these
impressments arouse. Our copperheads com.
plain loudly OF outragcs committed by the
Government, though they are rather ut loss
Just now for fresh paterial for complaint.
Blu, lancy the outburst which would greet
our ears, if Government officials should seize
upon quantity OF -four in this city, pay.
ing the unfortunate owner for II not what he
asked, not what was the market price, but
ut much lower rate. This, however, is
what has been done by the rebel authorities re-
pcatedly, without word from any northern
copperhcad. Why should thcy not sound
an alarm at the Preparation Of such outra.
gcs upon A,n9a (lizens? Do not they
declare loudly that the rebels are entitled to
just the same rights which they always had?
Your genuine copperhcad, however. is never
troubled by any outrage perpetrated by men
in Butternut uniforms. or acting in the name
of jeff Davis. II is only his own government
which he feels called upon to denounce.
The rebel leaders have shown themselves
so shrewd in their dealings with their own
people, that we may be assured that II is no
ordinary necessity which has led them to use
these modes Of procuring supplies. Such
means are very offensive always. As the Ex'
aminer says, "they touch the peoples sense
OF pride and Justice" 1t declares that "they
have effected great and material change in
their sentiments toward the cause" and
1t calls upon the rebel Congress to enact
laws upon the subject. thata proper ''system
Of impressment may bo established without
delay" We may be assured that impress.
ments, whether under system rs established
by Congress, or under "the rude and rapa-
cious action of Government press gangs"
arc hcncclorth to be feature Of the rebel
warfare. Their leaders are desperate. they
early passed most stringent conscription laws.
giving them the control Of all men, and now
the sweep of their despotism casts % stroke
nearer to the peoples life, and having con.
scripted tho husbands and brothers, will not
b. restrained from mpressing the food which
was to maintain their wives and children.
How much further will their mad fury carry
them? How much further can they 60 with.
out arousing, not only what the Examiner
says has been aroused by the inprcssments,
"a feeling Of resentment, deeper seated and
widely pervading tho best class OF the com
munity against tho Government, change
in their sentiments toward tho cause, u loss
of confidence in tho capacity of their public
men,"
It is Sster ,bard discipline thar tho people
of tho South are going through. They will
have learned, when this conflict is over, that
is no remedy in tho American sys.
ten; that those who care nothing Tor the
rights of ono class of the people are sure to
trample upon the rights Of every other class-
il their path leads that way; and that des-
perate, ambitious men are unsafe leaders.
How much deeper they will have to 50 in
degradation and suffering before these lessons
are learned, We do not know, but their pres
cnt suiicrings ought to bc enough; and it
should DO nn added induccmcnt to every one
of our generals and soldiers. and every loyal
man everywhere, to urge on tho columns OF
our armies, that the overthrow of tho rebel
arms may set the people who have been sub.
iected to their power, free from oppression
and tyrany which has ground them thus low
in the dust, and which will not DO restrained
by any sight of their sufFerings from carrying
out, 10 the bitter end. its determination
never to yield tho sway which it traisorously
seized.