Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-11
The Examiner on Impressment.

The Richmond Eramiaer comments with great
severity on the recent impressmes -four 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 prupefty has
been taken. The Examiner says
The market price of extra aud family -four ranges from
twcntyeght to thirty dollars None Of it that has been
purchased during months since has been bought
much larger price than the government offers the own
Of it Here is instance that within our
knowledge: Two weeks man paid in current money
twentyihree dollars for certain barrels of -four; yes
erday seized by the tommssay, and nihetsen dol
lara and fifty cents, nothing. offered in payment Thus
this citizen nor only Of the use and advantage
fifty cents BARREL 1t is taken from him without
equivalent without law, and in defiance of the precise pro-
visions Of the Confederate Constitution He 10 rubbed of
the money surely he had been garrotted and his
purse wrenched from his hand That much money stolen
By every law OF every country and according to the prn
cipcs of all MORALS human and divine it s stolen Such
theft and robbery None but fools commit them
Attached to such is grievous penalty. Courts nict
it individuals society and ture inct it with still
greater severity governments that stupid enough
d" Them Both ruined dishonored live plecariously
and die miser.by. -
But the rghtof impressent as indsputable .s the
while there is four in the country, should 20 tie
army? Ipdisputably The country must be defended-
Soldiers cannot fight unless they fed the govern.
men cannot supply its army from the markets. it is bound
to take the food wherever found White sack of four or
pound Of beef remains in the Southern Conderscy it
must to keep soldier strong No sane questions
the right of the government to take the -four has seize
within the last few days. Whether extra family makes
difference, it other -four cnuld be oupd But ,oks
lacks aous Is does not lax paper money It should nav
and pay the tue not false price, Not only is this the
dictate Of common honesty but the promise clearly writ
ten down in the Confederate Constitution thet the primer
ahaff
compensatioa" What just compensation? Amaiortv
approaching unanimty would decided to be the amount Of
in the public mart the day chat it was taken BY The GOV
ernnent: If the government would keep within the
most doubtful shadowy extended ne Of honesty and con.
stitutionaity it must Ut least rey the owner what he
gave Tor his goods When it refuses to do that and vet
lakes the property it is quite certain that es take prp
erty without compensation In proper TERMS robs
steals The agent who seizes the officer Rho commands
the SEIZURE are both viotors OF natural law statute law
aud common law. They have color of authority from
the Constitution Tried in court Of justice they would DO
But tbenquiiy Of such acts is not equal to their v
The more Hour the Commissary takes soout jwst eos.
geasa4n the nearer is the army to the goal Of starva-
his throat at every stroke. He kills the goose that ys
the golden egg, When the government SEXES ths FAR
the market on the farmer BY sei1inE without u ocmDeo.
saton what is sold there stops ihe Production of ose
articles more completely than il it affixed the death penal
tcted Of oasbns Tie price Of the .seis n n.sS NV =,
the tler IF the ground e the law Of supply nd Do
mapd He must pay the market price for what be made
What produced from the earth to supply To-, necessities
Of the sborer and bis Wife will Be hidden tom ths ssht
the wild beasts hide their tsfeaten prey The ms,ist
viii b. snpl sd ssas % a. once e y o.Ssr
and selling AID tho production Of surplus to puy ana se
cs.se together The guvesnneat viii have to ion.
press the land to0 .nd become me farmer .uPpy We
Dos any one realise the moral consequences which re.