Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-03-10
IMPREssmEHT.

MessrJ. Edtors 1t occurs TO ns that the
subject of inprsssEnsn Of supplies for The
lie of onr armies has not been considered
with tho calm temper that is necessasy t. .:-
cortsln Its propriety ard its bearings on oar
liberties. I propose to approach it in tha.
spirit. shall do 30 without di-rct sa;i;=! oi
all rh.t b.o been said ngainst it, though it will
appear, hope, that the reaeGns ia IT.. favor
| involve, in Lbsr sst,ing for.h, au answcr to
all okjecii"pa to t Whst may hgvu been
done in thi! regard in tls ,;ahatrs IF Goa.
gress canDct tsil. Tie bTevi;y of ;hrir 70
ports gives but s. faint idua y; their mode Of
dealing with any slhject. Bu, IA far 81
have seen, the disposition has ,g!her been 10
find faI,ii than TO exarnro calmly. This is 10
be regretted, but still is not witho.. The
consolation tina; much cf tho blame proceeds
from a praiseworthY. Il not alt3gsthe. 70.
tioaal, jealors'y Of rights which ure Thought
to be iufringrd nncn by The action u! the 80
rotary Of War.
Ail conccGe ths. q proper irnproaamert
may hs resmtltd II necessary, and il JUST
compensation he allowed TIM party Impressed
upon. Under ihpss cnrdihne. The :iy1t
| believe, is conRtitutio, al.
Whether or MT il ba !rc: 3a;sry is n qJas-
ton to be rcfo rad to ths auund discretion Ct
the Secretary Of War until Congress rnrcta,
when tho whole matter is submitted to it for
such actian, End ifpOsi'ivc action, then for
such regulations ss It may prsscriba. The
Secretary having submitted il to Congress- at
an csrly day, that duty has been disch Ts.i
bV him. and tho responsibility Of cnlti .u!rg
to impress or 10 allow mp7eas,nGnt from. !t.s
| time reSla Oh Congress-. q" no. thereby.
howeveT, attempt t., throw any oi The odium Of
| tbs in-asurs on that hnuorEolu body, but only
to direct public attention thitiIcr ps to source
of relief; for surely our pclple won!d not
have the Secretary to y:e'd 10 ciaT77or his dalrb.
eta Judgment on a matter which he deems Of
vital necessity, nor wish hin to sacrifice The
resPs;s., which it is presumed il uo1 Eel. for
him, t. pusillGn;ni"u. ettI:: u: the ah..i"w
Of popularity. Ncr, 10 presuuc, wiIl any
odiun attach to hi:u wi!en facts suprtani it:9
heated fsrce! which nnw inGamo como
minds
If proper iiuprn;i.Tnant t..,, hu.n no.c IA
r., i: Inust have hsaa Grp:u orc or both o:
two caussa: either f1m tho r:fL..l Of par
tics holding supplies To soil t:e.n, 90 .he ,ie-
mand Of auch excrhitant prices as wqn!d re
quire crushing taxation IL ray. Agai:',
eisher Gf these prs-supposes n bad currency,
or scanty supplies, OF both; it ;s painfully
evident thpt both exist WIZ tbe currency
is bad, or Why Erpptes sTe sH?;, decline ii
argue, dee:nlng il rndco prhrs' Il. ':eui EFitli
facts az 7 find thn!n.
In addition ,u tbaso .b0ya stst:L, iiad
arot Der, iu-wit: tsG! rEilrnsd trarsr oTtati1n
has hsen slr,at exclusively, bnt net necsE,
sfbl-, TO It's full capacity, occupied with iile
removal If troops, passenger. aTn nuri
tions OF var, nnd that = ,nrs' !sinsnt.hIe
unisnanhgement has. from whas4Tar causc
rnarhod Its ndmnL,iraIi1n fem .ae com
mencemont Of tho war. 'r.ese eItra3Idina-:
cIasses nf freight, a0d This misUanag"men
koeps produce fruin its scCust0msd market.
This adds higher value t., what ,.aos conc
bv the competition Of u'lrnp,nyed capital
and alIo destroys the standard Of prics'
w,i;c,, centres Of trGIe alcnp estsbiieb. Tn.
der such circumstances, very t:spaasiora:t
man yil aduIs th.t tbn S3a.. tt:j Of Wa,
must have difficult task 10 supply our n
mics with fnot and ftrasa.
The iaer.,atla e1.c, OF :heac l.c!s ~ IT, Pn
up prices; aud no: igas csitain " that gait
to bcgst II still higher demand. 4 psgioc o
high prices i ~.ia prohucca speculation, III
taasiaed 10 m,n:a under thc jim. simulu!
Of scarcity and Il vicious rGT,rcc? I'D th
, necessary ini'Tac.icn Of t:..S: c.'is'I ai-sy'
aegrsvates the owl i: were hot'I rroix sTr
; uedantic ~ the nn:ucr1ns ias:an-ca &
th truth, which history nra:cnls; bnt !
NAV not he arliSs TO ;tmlGa Lie pair'oii
: TIM, to this c.n5n moro lhaji any uLber dI,
Washington, in circumstance ttf:'T@iy re
ssmblirg the ptrsemt in general features. lool