Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-09-25
A PRooLAmaTEoN.

a PROCLAMATION.
To the Civil and Military Officers Of Georgia.
1t becomes my dusy to notice the complaints
which frequently reach me- from different parts
Of the State, Of the outrsges and abuses which
srs being committed BY those who prOfssB to
have power under the Act Of Congress TO make
inpressnsnts Of private property for pulie use 5
and to afford 10 the eisiz5us Of this STATE an The
protection IN my power, against the robberies
which are being committed by ~unpfineipled per-
sons under p~rstsuce Of legal authority.
am informed tina: subaltszn o~fiseTs Of the
army, without authority from the General in
command of the Department., not unfrequently
make Impressments Of private property and give
certificates which will not biud the Government
to compensate the owner Gr his pFopsrty, as
ihey are not authorized By the Government to
make impFessmsnis. sTsgglers, desertsrs and
refugees are daily. imPressisg horses, cattle,
provisions or other property under p~Fetence Of
authority to DO 90 FOR tho public service.
Those protesting O. be agents of the quarter
masters and commissary departments are also
making impressmeub In some instances, the
persons shove designated, without logan autboH-
y, sense Of pyoprisgy, or feelings Of humanity,
have taken the last yoke of oxon or COW IN the
possession of the eyed and infrm, aud have de.
prfved soldiers families of the sesnty means Of
support fcT which they have lAborsd, and with-
out which they must suffer.
Such practices Of persons protesting to b'
Government agents are aliansling the affections
Of our people from the Government, at g tint
when 1t is very important to the public safety
that it have the confidence and support of al
good citizens I an quite sure the Prssiden
approves of no such Injustice snd outrage.
While I entertain 10 doubt of tho c~onstitu
tioasl power cf.tbs Government to make i'm
pres smonts Of private property for public use
upon tbs payment of ja.t compensation, I IN
satisfied that this power should never be sxer
ciscd By subal.srns without written instruction
from the Government in which the powers thsy
s1o TO exercise should be wall defined. No
should any ciEzan Be deprived Of his necezsar
sUpp-rk Aad while / consider it the duty O
oycfy good citizen to fgraish to The Government
St Teasonabls pricas, eh Tho supplies Of pTovis
ions fox tho army which ne can poesi5ly spar
lnd support his family, I consider It the duty o
the State authorities to protect such, as far a
possible, against unauthorized seizures and opel
robbsries.
To this endI hereby inform the citizens Of thi
State that it IS their right and duty to resist 8
fmpressmens Of their properly by persons VII
csnuot show legal authority to make tie in
prsssmcut, arr to use ell the force, in such esse.
which is necessary to lie protection Of tbsi
persons ard property. And I hereby direct 4
civil and miEIsry officers IL this State to sgsis
al persons who are defending their propert
sgainss illegal s~sizlIo; and they, in COZ
nectiou with the homo guard companies {
his State, CT any Of them separately, AZ
hereby directed to ares. and lodge in th
nearest secure Jail all persons making impress
ments without authority, until warrants can /
sued out against them for robbery, and the
can be bound over to attend court and snsw,
for their oGanso ss the Law directs. All perser
should be arrested who attempt 20 deprive Ii
cisiz9ns Of this State Of their property BY in
pressmant, unless they can show written Al
thoriry to DO so from the President Of the Coz
fsderats States, the head Of one Of the dePsr
ments at Richmond. the general in eouman
Of a department, or tho Chief Confederai
qusrtsrmsstsr or commisssry Of this Stat
In the latter case the written authority nut
show upon its fses that the chief qusEte
master, or commissary, hiss i~nstructions from Il
sead Of his department 10 exercise tAiB powo
s1d to delegate &. 10 oilers. 10 oil cases II
person who Is to make tbs imgrcssment must b
named in tie write au boJty, and the propoTs
30 be seized must be described, or the kind an
quantity Of property TO be impressed By sue
person, must be distinctly specified. The PEI
son making the impressmant viii, in al casei
be required to produce and show bis authority
as above stated, CT he vJ be arrested.
This order Is not intended % cm5arrass Gov
ernfSas agents in The just and equitable e1ecJ
ton Of the impr5ssuent Get cf Congress, on
ouly to protect the pecple Of the S ale sgzi1s
the ousTagss Of thieves, robbers and other ba
men, who are uot sgeHts Of The Govsrnmsn'
but represent themselves TO be such 70 enAbl
them to plumber and rob with impunity.
Given under my band and tho seal Of th
Executive department. tbs, 23i day of Sspiem
Der, 1868. JOSEPH Z. BROWN.