Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-13

IL is not proper tnaC Tile representatives
of the people shall view these things in ST.
lence. After more than two years have
passed since the inauguration Of the sys-
tenn, surely it is not too soon for the Leg
islature of North Carolina to express its
opinion of it in plain and vigorous Ian
guage. This matter of the security of pri-
vate property from the touch of govern
ment is point of honor in the peculiar
civil liberty which we inherit from our an
cestors in England and upon this continent
Far back in English history, and from the
very beginning of our own history, this has
been considered a point of vital impor-
lance. We shall be recreant to our great
public privileges, if we do not brand the
assault. which is now making upon this,
their very point of honor, in that free Ian
guage which it is our right and duty to
employ. John Hampden resisted the
whole power of the English government in
the case of Ship Money, when the assess
ment was only matter OF twenty shiilings,
and at that less than his ratable share Of the
tax, surprising that it were legal. For that
lie has become immortal with us. In this
State the government has as yet met with
no lawful resistance of these Demands
patriotism, for the people are indignant at
the oppression. I know in my own coun-
ty of gentlemen of most approved patriot
ism, whose eyes flashed fire at the thought
of what had been done. 1t is idle to talk
ola free people lOVtng government which
rohs them of their property. The COnted-
crate government has only to persist in
this course towards Southern men, and it
will surely lose every vestige of their af-
lection. They would be unworthy of their
lineage and of their education if it were
otherwise. They must forget many of the
martyrs of their former liberty; they must
become cold to many of the most tonch-
ing incidents in the history of their race,
before they cease instinctively to turn up
on any organization of power that tritleS
with their private property.
AS t0'the character of the remedy pos
sessed by the people in cases of uncOmstitu-
tioual impressments by government direct
iy for itself, | observe some difference of
opinion between two of the ablest lawyers
this continent has produced. Chancellor
Kent regards it as the right and the duty
of the citizen to emj0in the government;
Chief Justice Rutfin regards such injunc-
ton impracticable, and says that the duty of
Congress to give Just compensation for pro-
perty impressed is of that class Of powers
which the Judiciary cannot enforce, but
which must be " left " to the understanding
and conscience of Congress. submit to
the House that whichever opinion shall be
considered law, the Legislature is impe-
ratively called upon for action, at least like
that presented by the resolutions.
II it he that a person whose property
has been impressed has this remedy OF in
junction, let us consider how significant
thing it is that IN the midst OF spirited
people, indignant at notorious violation
of their rights-a repeated violation in sub
stantial respects-no one has been found to
apply for this remedy! TO what shall we
attribute this inaction l know of but one
explanation and that is, despair of sue
cessfully contending with the government,
or the apprehension that if they succeed
they may draw down upon themselves the
malice of the myriad of officials that swarm
in this land, and whose wrath would
produce effects greatly overwhelming their
gain by the litigation. For the rest, they
remember that they have appealed to the
Confederate government time and again
without result, or il with result, the result
OF rendering the system of impreSSmcnt
more rigid and severe. If this apathy and
sullen despair have taken possession Of our
people, let the voice Of this Legislature 90
forth like the blast OF a trumpet to arouse
and reassure them. Let it be TO them what
the example of uampden was 10 the thou.
sands Of true Englishmen who had submit
ted to the ship money taxa point for
them to rally around .Hampden did not
inquire whether he would offend the
menials of royal power about the year
1880; if there be such fear in North Car
Dina in 1864, having for its object the sub
ordinates of the Confederate government,
let us do what we may for its dissipation.
Civil liberty is no weed springing spon-
taneouSly from the soil in favored regions.
Its bright, cOnSummatc flower is the result
of many ages of attention and skill. If it
be not cultivated it will surely degenerate,
and come to nothing. Upon any appear
ance of its decay in North Carolina, it be-
comes us, who are in great measure its
custodians here, at least to tend and water
that fair plant whose beauty has been
derived from the care and wisdom of those
who have preceded US.
II, however, it be accepted that the citi-
zen has no remedy in the process of the
Courts, the remedy which this Legislature
can give by firm protest, to be followed,
if disregarded, by suclr action as will en-
force obedience to its wishes, is all that is
left to our constituents. [ have already
said that the Confederate government has
published record evidence that it pays lit
tie attention to the complaints of the citi-
zens upon this topic. We will not refer
them to that again. We will speak our
own mind upon the subject, and we