Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-10
The Examiner on Impressmcnt.

The Richmond Examiner comments with great
severity on the recent imprcSSments of flour in Rich
mond and Petersburg These impreSSments have
been made in this State for months past IN many
instances by subordlnates who have not only taken
property at less than its value, but who have in
suited the owners from whom this property has
been taken. The Examiner says:
"The market price of extra and family -four ranges from
twcntyeght TO thirty dollars None that has been
purchased during months since has bought
at niue larger price than the government offers the
ut D.. Here Is one instance that comes within
knowe ge: Two weeks ago Il paid in money
xentyhree dollars for certain barrels of flour; yes
terday seized By the ummissIry and nineteen dol
lars and fifty cents nothing, offered in payment. Thus
this citizen is deprived not only OF the use and advantage
of his property but is certainly robbed three dollars and
fifty cents barrel IL is taken from him without
equivalent without law, and defiance of the precise pro-
visions of the Confederate Constitution lie rubbed Of
the surely he had been garrntted and his
purse wreuched from his hand That much money stolen
BY every law of every country and according pn.
cpeS Of all morals, human aud divine it is stolen Such
theft and robbery. None but fools commit them
Attached to such acts grievous penalty. Courts inct
it individuals; society and ture infc il with still
greater severity governments that stupid enough
d" them. Both ruined diShOn1rcd live pecariousy,
and die mSerably
But the right of mpressment us indispuabe as the
right of war? Certainly 1t is If the army needs bread
while there iOur in the country, should not go the
army? lndlsputably. The country must be defended
Soldiers cannot fight unless they fed Ii govern
ment cannot supply its from the markets. it is bound
pound of beef remains in the Southern Confederacy it
must go to keep soldier strong. No questions
the right of the government TO take the flour has
within the last few days Whether or family makes
difference, if other -four cOnd be found But Dhrn
takes property the gOgernneRt should Pdy for IT. If it
lacks four it does not lack paper money 1t should pay
and the tue, not false Not only is this the
dictate of common honesty but the promise clearly writ
ten down in the Confederate Constitution that the proper
ty of citizen shall be taken for pubic without Just
compensation" What is just compensation? majority
approaching unanmty would decdeit be the amount Of
money that the property would sell for it put up sale
the public mart the day that it taken by the gov
eminent. If the government would keep within the
most doubtful shadowy extended line of honesty and con-
stituOualty it must at least repay the what be
gave tor his goods When it refuses to do that and yet
lakes the property it quite certain that does take prOp
erty without compensation In proper terms it robs 1t
steals The agent who seizes the officer who commands
the SEIZURE both voators of natural law law
and common law. They have no color of authority from
the Constitution Tried in court Of justice they would be
convicted of felony.
But the inquy of such acts is not equa tn their folly.
The -four the COmmissary takes aoh0Ht just can
PensGton, the nearer is the army Ia the goal of
ton Like the pig that swims with wind and tide he
his throat at every stroke He kills the goose that laws
the golden egg. When the government the far
produce without Just compensation when it shuts
the market the farmer by Selling without just compen-
satiOn what sold there stops the production of those
articles more completely than iii affixed the death penal
ty to the cultivation Of the SOIL and hung every
vcted of plOughng The price of all the articles used by
the er of the ground is left to the law Of supply and de-
mand lie must pay the market price for what he made
- SELL Who will continue to till the soil such terms?
What produced from the earth to supply the necessities
OF the aoOrer and ms wife, VIII be hidden from the sight
the wild beasts hide their haEeaten prey The market,
the great Of supply the army and to all other
consumers will be emptied and shut up Buying
and selling ald the production of surplus buy and SELL
together. The government will have to i'm
press the land too and become the farmer to supply the
army.
Does any one realize the moral consequences which re-
suit from this manifest violation of the fundaenta law
prosperity? That law does depend statutes. 1t is
innate idea of man. of the hOrse the dog the tiger of
every possessing ray of intelligence Violation
of that law yet failed to create a of intolerabe
wrong and the most vehement indignation. The amount
of unpOpuarity inv eterae opposition and deep disafec
On which the acts Of the cOmmsSarat in two days have
secured for the government poorly poorly compensated
in the gain of three dollars wested from the proprietor of
barrel of four by the superior force of the rob6e No.
body in the land is willing to yield what be has for
the Of the army; all would be content If they