The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-09-27


from wagons brought here for sale to citizens W.
do not know of our own knowledge that impress
ments in this way have been made, although We
learn that the report has been circulated through
the country by persons who say that they were in.
terfered with in that way. However that may be- il
was that impressments made in the way com
planned Of would not on starVe out the citizens OF
the town, bat would lessen the supplies offered to
the Government and engender bad feeling towards
authorities Therefore, actuated by desire to
protect the producer as well the consumer and
preserve good feeling between the authorities and
the people, consultation had with the Chief of
the Commissary Department at this post and one
of his Captains which justified the publication of
the following card:
CHARLOTTE, N. c., Sept. 49, 1864
The impression having gone abroad that all sup
plies brought to this market for sale. are liable to
mpressment the undersigned have inquired into the
facts and desire to correct false They are
informed by the proper authorities that any produce
for private sale consumption is not nterfered with
when Offered and sold at reasonable prices. Specu-
ation in the nccessaries of life, essential to sustain
armies in the field, will not however be permit
ted. The necessities of the Government urgent
and the tug of will be upon for the next
sixty days. Will not our patriotic farmers be pleas
ed to furnish their surplus to feed our gallant sol
diers. WIN. JOHNSTON,
JNO A. YOUNG,
WIN. J. YATES.
In addition to the above, would suggest that if
impressment is found necessary here in town to
keep down cxtortionate speculation in the neces-
saGes of life, and to supply the wants of the Gov
ernment. it would be best to wait until the produce
passes into the hands of the speculator and then
seize it if he has got possession of it by bidding
exorbitant and unreasonable price. Such course
could not be dsapproved of by any who has the
good of the Confederate and the welfare ofthe
people generally at heart.
The necessities of armies must be supplied,
and if impressment is necessary to do this it ought
to be done according to law. There is no law to
authorize the unceremonious Selling of any mans
property. If people would make themselves faIn-
liar with the laws there would be less trouble about
impressments. We have heretofore published the
imprcssment laws well all other public laws
passed by Congress. To execute the latest impress
ment law, passed by Congress Oh the 10th of Feby.
1864, the WarDepartment at Richmond, under date
of March Z, 1864, AdJt and ms. Genls Office, is
sued instructions for the information and direction
of all concerned. From these instructions we make
the following extract:
III. Before any impressments shall be made, the
impressug officer his agent, will make offer to
the Tner, his bailee agent, writing. for the
purchase Of the property, describing the property
he wishes to purchase, the price he is willing to
pay, and the mode of payment and stating that, up
Ga refusal TO accept the same, compensation will
be made according to the acts of Congress for the
regulation of improvements. This notice will be
considered as binding the property until the
plcton of the negotiation for the sale and transfer
of the same to the impressng officer. The property
will remain i'll the custody of the owner and at his
rk during the pending of these proceedings unless
a delivery of the same be thereupon made to the i'm
o..
change of possession under these circumstances, the
Confederate States will be regarded as the owner.
and the property be held for its and at its risk
". In all eases in which the offer of an impress
ing officer is refused he will proceed to adjust the
price according the first section Of the above
recitcd, that is by the Judgment of two loyal and
disintere stcd persons of the city, county parish
in which the imprcssment may be made-one to be
selected by the owner, his bailee agent and one
by the mprcsSing officer. In the event of their dis
agreement these two will select an umpire of like
qualification. The persons thus selected will pro-
coed to assess just compensation for the property
impressed whether the absolute ownership the
temporary use thereof be required If the impress
ing officer believes that the apprasenent is fair and
just he will endorse his approval, and pay for the
property; and the right in the object impressed will
become the property of the Confederate States.
But If he does not approve of the apprasement he
will decline to arproveit and endorse the reasons
for his refusal on the certificate forthwith, and re-
port the case to the commissioners appointed ander
the 9Th section of the act. to which the act above
recied is amendment, and in the meantime the
property will be taken and receipt describing the
property and proceedings for the adjustment of the
price and the appeal, given to the The i'm
pressing officer will Immediately report the case to
the appraisers, with statement Of the quality and
condition of property and his opinion upon the sub
ject. ~
V. No officer agent will impress the necessary
supplies which any person may have for the con-
sumption of himself. his family. employees, slaves
or to carry his ordinary mechanical, manufactur-
ing or agricultural employmcnts,
If any question arises as to the fact whether the
supplies necessary, whether there be
plus, it will be determined by appraisers mutually
selected according to the preceding section, and i'll
this the decision of the appraisers will be bind
ing the officer, who will not be allowed appeal
therefrom.
In regard to the adjustment of prices, it is mpor
tant to remember that if provisions, &c, are i'm
pressed the price has already been fixed by the
Commissioners of Appraisement for North Carolina;
but it is, however. the duty of the mpressins officer
to first serve the written notice. The price for
tcles not enumerated in the Commissioners Sche
dule may be fixed by two persons selected for that
purpose, as tie law directs.
We are told that it will be necessary to visit the
plantations of the country and make iLapressments
because farmers do not seem disposed to sell their
surplus. We do hope that those who have sur
plus will act as to make this unnecessary;
but that plan would be better than impressng pro-