Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-02
ImpreSsments.

Improvements.
In the Senate, last week, Mr. Hunter expressed his
objections to the clause of the bill which provided APP
prasers from the vcinage. They might be interested
and thereby induced to fix higher value upon the ar
tcles impressed He therefore offered an amendment,
authorizing the President to appoint one commissioner
in each State and the Governor appoint another with
ro,var N call in third in case of dsagreement-they
ba governed in their assessment by the average price
or The mas, six months in different distrcts-the COM
.sonsr amounted by the Goyerno subject to removal
nv the President, but the Governor may appoint an
other Why not as well allow the Governor to remove
| the Presidents commissioner That would look quite
| As much like States Rights as the other
But the day after this amendment was offered Mr..
Hunter withdrew it, because it was in conflict with an
opnion given by the Attorney General who had stated
that any law is unconstitutional which did not conform
10 that plain aud emphatic clause in the Constitution
'Nor shall private property be taken without just COM
pensation" In other words the Government must pay
the market value of articles impressed. Mr.. Hunter
did not agree with the opinion of the Attorney General,
but he was unwilling to introduce proposition, the
effect of which might be to multiply disputes and law
suits.
However clear the question Of law may be to our
minds aud however important that it should be rightly
decided this is matter of very trivial consequence in
comparison with its bearing future production.
system of arbitrary seizure and con6scaon will neva-
bly produce famine in the land. There lies the danger,
the great danger to which gentlemen most strange
" blind. While human nature is human nature one
man will not SOW for another to reap. We may lament
the fact and curse the se6shness of man; but that will
not affect the fact or alter results The great deSidera-
um at this time is the greatest possible production Of
food for man and beast The obvious the only reason
able means of attaining this cOnsummation is not by
fines and conscations and limited prices-but by offer
ing every sort Of inducement that eau stimulate human
energy-by appeals to the patriotism OF the patriotic
but still more by appeals to that love OF lucre, which
turks more or less in some corner other OF every hui
man heart If Congress, in the vain effort to save
few dollars to the goyernment-whch will more proba-
Div euure to the benefit of its ageuts-gnore this uni
yersal principle of human nature it will be too late to
repair the mischief when another precious season shall
have passed.
As indicating the temper of the people, which
far from cOmmendiug but which cannot be disregarded
by wise statesmen we make extracts from two papers
beyond the mountains;
[From the Lexington CyS.) GaEettel
Some of the farmers this county have been much
ANNOYED BY the abomnabe impresSment system Of our
Government as il has operated IN this part of the State
that they seem but little inclined to plant largely during
the coming season. We have more than once heard
patriotic farmers say that they didn't care to have more
grain than was sufficient for home consumption; that
they we're unwilling TO be subjected to the nsuferable
insolence Of forage masters and impreSsng agents.
We have always believed chat the Government ought
70 ply the fair market value of all supplies and Of all
property taken for public There is reason now for
believing that Congress is coming to the same way Of
blinking In proof of this invite the attention of
1ur farmers to the law to be found in another column,
Used by the lower House Of Congress- regulating this
business which has heretofore been annoying to our
farmers and has caused the burdens of the TO tall
unequaly upon some OF our citizens
TTroa the Abingdon virSiniAn.l
We have incidentally learned that many Of the farm
ers Of the cOuntry-and how widespread may be the
feeling we are advised-have determined to put out
as little and other grains possible. The reason
assigned is that Government agents have gone upon
the farms of rich and poor and assumed to determine
how much grain and forage each family might possibly
need and have taken the balance such price they
thought proper TO alOW-often at third less than
the market price Of the country. II is true, the price
these agents generally Offer and promise to pay, is
enough in all conscience, but STILL as the market price
is much greater the Government ought, an induce
ment TO the enlarged culture Of the land, TO give as
much as can be had from private purchasers. We do
not mean, by this remark to justify semblance
Of extO5tion, but il the army to be fed 1t must be
done by pursuing enlarged and liberal policy towards
the country Let Congress and the Legislature pass as
stringent laws they may, STILL il the Government and
its agents do not the people, who engaged in
producing the staff Of life, with proper consideration,
the whole country viii be reduced to famine ratioHs