Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-13
SPEECH OF SAMUEL F. PHILLIPS, ESQ,


tie su?iect Of InErcssnsen's.
Mr.. SpEAKER:-
Recent occurrences in the county Of
Orange have suggested to me the proprlety
of Introducing the resolutions which have
Just been real. do not mean to say that
Orange has Suffered more from the action
of agents tOrimpresSmentS than the other
counties of the State, but the regency OF
that action am0ng my constituents render
ell it proper that I should call the atten-
ton of the Legislature to it.
The preamble TO those resolutions as
s?rts truths which no Intelligent gentle
nun upon this floor, whether lawyer or
not, will deny ! shall not trouble the
House with an argument upon them, The
fist of the resolutions which follow, makes
allegations which, if true, are palpabie
violations OF the rights asserted i'll the pre-
amhle. The only question which arises
upon that resolution is as to Its truth
And, upon This question, might perhaps
make a witness OF every gentleman upon
this floor For I can hardly doubt that
every one here has been SO far personally
cngnizant~of facts going to establish this
y lint that he might be called as IL witness
Within the last two weeks an agent of
tie Confederate States has impressed in
the county of Orange 100 horses and
mules at IN average price, as Twas inform
ed by an officer of the government en-.
gagged in the transaction, Of about 800
each | enquirei OF the same gentleman
what was the average market value Of The
animals thus taken, and was answered lat
least 81. 100 each" ItappearS, tPen, that
by this single operation, the Confederate
Stltes' government has f0rcibly seized for
its own use more than 100000 worth of
property; and left in the hands of its own
ers little SCRAPS of brown paper, promising
to- pay ar some indefinite period abont
100000! In simple language, it is
transaction by which that government has
possessed itself of $500, 90 worth Of prep
erty without paving singl dollar of
equivalent! L. has, by its agents, acting
under a regularly organized system, r15-
bcd certain persons whom those agents
have selected within the county referred
to, of 100000. The county which /
have the honor, in part, to represent in
this House, mikes mp a Senatorial district,
and contains about 0ncfftieth Of the
prcssment agents the justice to suppose
that they have been impartial in thcir Wis
is 10 the various sections Of the State, the
House will see that they have in the item
of horses and mules robbed the State of
some $lO,OD0,00O worth OF property. [
mean TO say that in the name and under
the machinery 0; the Confederate govern
ment, they have ovcrawed certain citizens
of North Carolina into delivering to that
government property worth S15,0O0,000,
at nominal price Of S5,00O,006. This
action comes fully up to my conception
of 'he idea contained in the word roJbey
If the action which has recently taken
place in Orange county were the cOnse-
qurnce OF the presumption of a subOrdi-
nate agent OF the government, it were
more easily tolerated than now. Or if it
arose from the occasionally irregular work
ing OF the machinery Of that government
it might be better borne. That it is part
of the settled policy of the Confederate
STATES, and the regular and intended effectof
certain acts of Congress is that which gives
this action its peculiar unpleasantness, and
makes it the more imperative for this Leg
islainre to utter It's remonstrance and pro-
test. When wrong is done under the col
or If law, it becomes most dangerous.
hold in my hand a pamphlet contain
ing the General Orders" issued to the
army from Richmond from which it ap-
pears that this subject Of impressment has
occupied the attention Of the government
for several years. As early as the mouth
of June, 1862, an order was issued regula-
ting this subject Some months afterwards
itappears by another order that great com
plants had been made to the government
in relation TO it. The complaints compcll-
cd Congress, about the month of April
1863, t" pass an act upon the subject, Il
great part OF which is still in force. That
act provides that where officers impress
property that is in the hands of its protu-
Ger, two referees with liberty to select an
um:ire) shall be chosen by the officer and
the owner respectively, and they shall set
tie the price to be paid where the prop
Serfy Is not in the hands OF the producer,
bnt Of man who holds it for sale. the
price to be paid by government shall be
regulated by the schedule prices fixed By
the Commissioners appointed for making
'Ac schedule. This difference between the
PRODUCER and the other classes was main
't'hea' however, for but a few DAYS. rs
, 'n,a act. passed before the Ist Of Nav
.2"o, provided that in all cases of impross.
, mnnn me me lmpreSsng officer might endorse
mia INC award OF the referees his dison-
prevail, whereppon an appeal W., would IIS'I Iic