Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-10

From the Augusta Chroniclo.l
It is TO be hoped that the recent regulstions
made by Congress, relative 70 the impressment
Of property, win have the effect to put stop to
the summary seizures which have been prac-
| iced, not only by the Confederate but BY State
governments. Though the law cannot affect
the proceedings Of the latter, the commsndsble
example Of the Confsdsrats government cannot
/ be without a salutary effect upon them. Here
totore the property Of no man, not even the
sesnty supply Of food provided for the subsis-
tence Of familie :, has been safe We have 81
ways looked upon such seizures, made with no
evidence Of their necessity except the assertion
Of the seizsr, as dangerous trials Of the temper
Of the people, peruicious examples Of laWless-
ness and destructive TO the popularity of the
government. Men finding their property taken
from them by force, vita 8 mere pretenes Of
payment, were led to count the price and Quss-
ton the value Of q revolution which thus casts
its burden upon q few, and was without cost in
comparison with its benefits to the many. and If
they did not become lukewRrm in the cause. At
least, with good reason, mUrmured against an
Administration that did not fulfil the first duty
Of government the protection of the people in
the employment Of their rights and possessions.
We are glad therefore, that a determination to
test by law the legality Of seizures. heretofore
made, is beginning to prevail. Let the military
necessity be made obvious and ali good citi-
sens viii cheerfullY yield. but when every
mans property is placed at the mercy and dis
p0sal Of any enc claiming to be the sgent Of
ssRie one or other OF our governments, and these
agents also claim 70 be superior to the civil law.
it is q very violent suppositiOn 70 imsgins that
we are free people,
The evil effects Of the disregard Of law By our
Confederate and State governments is beginning
to make itself manifest. To their example and
man
occurred in some places-dissurbaRess caused
not so much by actual soareityf as By the inter-
ruption Of suppies-the fear Of seizure pre-
venting them rom being brought to market By
their holders, and the prohibition upon The free
distribution Of articles Of necessity, imposed by
Governors Of some Of the Ststes--guberuatoria
embargoas imposed without color Of Law st the
viii Of one man, amounting to practical seees-
sion, Insulating One member of the COnfedefacy
from the others, drawing State lines 50 broadly
that We ara made unmisiakahiy to feel that we
are not one people, and teaching cotermiuoss
neighborhoods 70 regard each other as foreigners,
who sre not to share each others sbU1dsnee or
10 relieve each others wants. When such fssl-
ings are fastaEed by the executors of the law
between those who should be brethren united
in the sams cause, how can It be ex
pected that these gho look TO them
for guidance VIII 90 otherwise than follow their
exampief How can i be supposed that scenes
OF violence and rapine can be svoidadl IF the
servants Of the people piHnder whom they
please, why may not the people thsmselvesl IF
they disregard the duties Of good aeighborhood,
why may not we, and since the law is set at
neught by ihose who should regard e most, Why
should men with strong hands and with more
pressing necessities, pay il obedieueei ii tae
othcial-tbe ereaturs ioE the ballot oox-plun-
ders whom he please. Why may not these who
created hint Shall the law forbid the people
and permit their servants to help themselves to
al TTnat thev want or pretend 60 want
TtisS delicate task ia 8 FeYe.atiou to steer
clear Of internal dangers--theY ars equally 70
be feared with dangers from without. The
courss Of most revolutions has been through
anarchy to despotismi the former has been tie