Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-09
RALEIGH, n. q, wBDNEs DAY, DEoEMBER 8, 1868

to seize the -four, if be finds it on the way. He i
then referred to the late orders from Richmond for
bidding the seizure Of supplies on the way to market
He replies that hs is acting under special orders
from the Commanding Geaeral Of the department.
So the barrel of -four is sRagglsd through, Aa
act of humanity and friendship must put on the j
garb Of dishonesty aad darkness Can such things
be and not excite our wonderf' Again, gsnae.
man, whose wheat happens to be- better than the
average quality, and is better suited for seeding,
sells few bushels to his neighbors for that PURPOSE
He is waited on by the next kent, and asked Il he
lad committed The offence. He does not deny r
and is required to consider himself under 0rrnk-
He demonstrates, and is answered BY the retsraten
"just consider yourself under arrest sir, and the
terrible representative of an offended Government
turns upon his heel from the astonished farmer.r-
another gentleman is waited upon while on q siyk
bed ard inquired of in reference to his crop. 4ie
has no surplus The agent answers that he knows
better, and sits down and writes An order for ore
hundred bushels and then goes to the brother Of
the sick man and makes seizure of four hundred
bushels, leaving him to purchase supply for his
own family where he may. Another, on being
uotified that the government will take his CROP.
replies that after bib tthe is paid, he ought to be
able to dispose of the remainder he pleased and
is informed by the agent that he will have him i'm
prisonod il he sells bushel Parties from the cities
from districts and places where there is short
crop, are told that any flour or wheat they may pur-
chase will be seized as soon as attempted to he
moved. As for corn, if any be found which has
not already been put under seizure by simple
notice that the government needs it. (even though
it is still standing in the eld buyers are informed
that if they purchase for two dollars, the agent
will not interfere; but otherwise shipment will
be allowed The agents attend all sales AMI if corn
is sold above two dollars, il is seized at oncs. And
even beef cattle after being purchased and paid for
in presence q the Ass is impressed at government
: Nowdn view Of this state of things several ques-
tions arise. In the first place. docs the army really
need the whole crop of the country after the i'm
mediate producer is supplied? II So the towns and
cities and ell non producers of grain condemned
to starvation. If the ti:he is not sufficient Why
did not Congress take fifth or half And how
has it been ascertaned that the 1.-THE is not sufficient
when it has not been collected? And suppose the
whole is needed, what is the policy of collecting
Immediately, in its green state, just from the field,
to be heaped up in depots and storehouses to waste
and rotf No farmer would sell out his whole crop
of corn, for example as soon as gathered, and put
it in heaps. lie would as soon throw it in the
street II this system is pursued little longer,
both army and people will be starved in the midst
| of plenty.
that were reported to me, where they occurred, in
some instances by the parties concerned. II it is
answered that these are isolated and rare instances
| reply they are not, but are examples Of common
practice but if they so, what be said of
system of procedure which admits, even in rare in
stances, of such outrageous abuses but that it is
! false and rainous? II asked why people do not
avail themselves of their remedy at law who will
take his chances there, where slow paced justice,
in better times requires three or four years to
overtake the offenderl But beyond this. it must
| be said that our people have submitted totks,e
evils spirit of self sacrifice and patriotism be-
yond all praise rather than seem to put them
selves in opposition to their government"
While on this subject we copy below the follow
ing general order, for the information of all
| cerned:
&c S. of America, War Department. Adjutant
and Inspector Generals Office, Richmond, Va, Nov.
8, 1863. General Orders, No. AL
To relieve prevalent misconceptions in regard to
the policy and practice Of this Department on the
subject Of mpressment. the following being extracts
CT General Order Of March 20:h is reprinted:
| Adjntant aud Inspector Generals Office, Rich.
! mond, Va, March l9, 1863 General Orders, No.
81. In consequence Of numerous applications made
by various persons to the War Department it is oh
vious that some misconcepton in regard to the in
structons of the Secretary Of War in relation to the
npressment Of supplies, must exist on the part OF
the people, or that the agents of the government
have violated their Instructions: New, therefore,
for the purpose of removing such misconception
and to prevent any violation of those instructions,
/ it is hereby ordered:
! l. That 40 Ger Of the government shall, under
any circumstances whatever impress the supplies
which party has for his own consumption, or that
Of his family, employees or slaves
II That no officer shall at any time, unless spe-
ol1xy L.. lsnv
in case ofexigency impress supplies which are OF
their way to market for sale on arrival.
Ill These orders were included in the instruc
/ tions originally issued in relation to inpressmen
By the Secretary Of War; and the officers exercising
such authority are again notified that "any one &C
ting without or beyond the authority givea il
those instructions. will We held strictly responsible
a IN conformity with the foregoing, to prevent any
mconsideratc action the part Of officers or agsnt:
charged with the duty Of fimpressment, they are en-
joined until further orders, (which willnot be give
unless under imperative exgsncies for the supply
of the army) not to impress any necessaries of sub
4 sistence to man. owned by producers in transitu t
market, or after arrival at market unless retaihet
an unreasonable time from sale to Consumers
i By order. ~ i.s.-.s1s..
i Signed S COOPER,
/ Adj't and fnsp. General
1 What we most mood in the administration Of pub
lie affairs at this time is the most rigid economy
and if our leaders were really or properly in earnest
or if they we're equal to the crisis we should hav
4 it. Let every horse or mule not indispensable t.
the public SERVICE be disposed Of to aid in tlling tn
soil. Let every pound Of meat every grain Of corn
wheat rys OATS every potato aud every yard o
cloth oc saved and sparngly and properly used
Let our money, Indifferent as it is in value whe'
compared with gold, b jad'ciously expended LIE
officers whose datcs do not oblige them to ride ar'
! to acalk Ths common soldier walks, and nearly
all the people walk Economy in men and mean
is the road to independence.
SrosEwALL JacksoS's RssInsAr1os 1t was men
toned by Dr.. White, the pastor Of General Jackson
at his funeral that when the unfortunate difficult,
occurred in the Valley which led him to send on hi
an ofts