Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-31
The following is copy of the Impressment Act,
passed by Congress, and approved by the Presi-

AN ACT TO REGULATE IMPRESSMENTS.
The following is copy of the Impressment Act
passed by Congress, and approved BY the Presi
BE IL enacted, ETC., That whenever the exigencie:
OF any army in the field are such as to make impress
ments Of forage, articles of subsistence other pro
perty absolutely necessary, then such impreSSment
may be made by the officers whose duties it is t
furnish such forage articles of subsistence or Other
property for such army. In cases where the owner
of such property and the impressing officer cannot
agree upon the value thereof it shall be the duty OF
such mpreSsing officer upon an affidavit in writing
of the owner of such property or his agent that
such property was grown, raised or produced BY
said owner, or is held or has been purchased by him
not for sale speculation, but for hiw own use or
consumption, to the S&me to be ascertained
determined by the judgment of two loyal and dsin-
tereSted citizens Of the city, county parish in
which such impreSsment may lie made. to be
selected by the owner, one by the mpressing officer
and, in the event Of their disagreement these two
khaii choose umpire of like qualification, whose
decision shall be final. The person thus selected
after taking an oath to aPpraise the property i'm
pressed fairly and impartialy, (Which oath as well
as the affidavit provided for in this section the i'm
pressing officer is hereby authorized to administer
and certify shall proceed to just compensa
ton for the property impressed whether the alb
solute ownership or the temporary use thereof only
is required.
SIC. 3. That the officer or person, impressng
property, aforesaid, SHALL at the time of said TAX
Ing, pay to the owner, his agent or attorney, the
compensation fixed 10y said appraisers; and shall
also give to the owner, or person controlling said
property, a certificate over his official signature
specifying the battalion. regiment, brigade, division
or corps, to which he belongs; that said property
is essential for the of the army could not be
otherwise procured and was taken through absolute
necessity; setting forth the time and place when
and where taken, the amount of compensation fixed
by said appraisers ard the sum- ifany paid for the
same. Said certificate shall be evidence for the
owner, well as the taking ofsaid property for the
public USE as the right Of the owner to the amount
of compensation fixed aforesaid And in case
said officer or person, taking said property shall
have failed to pay the owner or his agent said CON-
pcnsation as hereinbeiore required then said owner
shall be entitled to the speedy payment of the same
by the proper discussing officer, which, when so
pa shall be in full satisfaction of all claim against
the Government Of the Confederate States.
SEC. 8. Whenever the appraisment provided for
in the first section of this act shall for any reason
be impracticable 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
two loyal and diSntereSted citizens in the civ
county or parish, wherein the property was taken
chosen as follows: One by the owner and one BY
The commlssary, or quartermaster general his
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
aS Aforesaid, who Shall hear the proofs adduced by
the parties as to the value Of SAID property and
assess just compensation therefor, according to
the testimony.
SEC. 4. That whenever the Secretary of War shall
be of opinion that it is necessary to take private
property for public use, by OF the practl-
caolllty OF procuring the same by purchase so as !
To accumulate necessary supplies for the army or
tie good OF the service, in any locality, he may
by general order, throug h the proper subordinate
officers authorize such property to be taken for the
pubic use, the compensation due the owner for the
same to be determined and the value found as pro-
'ided for in the first and second sections of this
lrticle. !
Sec 5. That it shall be the duty of the President,
IS early as practicable after the passage of this act
appoint commissioner in each State where prop !
rty Shall be taken for the public USE and request
he Governor Of such of the States in which the !
resident shall appoint said commissioner, to ap-
Joint another commissioner to act in conjunction
nth the commissioner appointed by the President
7ho shall receive the compensation of eight dollars
er day, and ten cents per mile mileage to be
aid by the Confederate Government. Said CON-
lissieners shall constitute board, whose duty it
hall be to fix upon the prices to be paid by the
government for all property impressed or taken for
be public use, as aforesaid to afort Just COM
ensaton to the owners thereof Said commission.
rs shall agree upon and publish schedule of prices
very two months or oftener, if they shall deem it
roper; and in the event they shall not be able to
gree in any matter confded to them in this act
ley shall have power to appoint umpire to de-
dc the matter in dispute, whose decision shall be
le decision of the board; and said umpire shall re-
ave the same rate of compensation for the time he |
lall serve, allowed to said commissioners respec-
Vely Provided, That said commissioners shall |
residents of the State for which they shall be ap-
,inted; and if the Governor of any State shall re-
NEGLECT n ! ,
n days after request to do so by the President !
c President shall appoint both commissioners by
d with the advice and consent of the Senate. t
Sec. 8. That all property impressed or taken for j
public use, aforesaid, in the hands of any per q.
Il other than the. persons who have raised grown
produced the same, or persons holding the same
their own use or consumption, and who shall O
Ike the affidavit hGreinbefore required, shall lie
id for according to the schedule of prices fixed by
commissioners aforesaid But if the officer i'm. I
sssing or taking for the public USE said property
the owner shall differ as to the quality of the il
Ice or property impressed or taken as aforesaid | b
reby making It fall within higher or lower price q
ned in the schedule, then the owner or agent and
officer impresSing or taking, as aforesaid, NAV
vet each, loyal and dslntereSted citizen. OF the
fcatioE as aforesaid to determine the quality h
aid article or property who SHALL in case of dis Fl
cement appoint an umpire of like qualifications 4,
his decision if approved by the impressing off, ii
shall be final. But if not approved, the I'M a
sing officer shall send the award to the CON- h,
sioners Of the State where the property is i'm tn
sed with his reasons for disappearing the same, in
said commissioners may hear such proofs as ar
parties may respectively adduce, and their de- ed
N shall be final: Provided, That the owner tr
receive the price offered by the impressng Off ca
without prejudice to his claim to receive higher an
pensation. re-
g. :. That the property necessary for the sup de