The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864, 1864-02-02
Continued from first page.

ries for the trial OF criminal causes, WITH
out an amendment of the law, repeating
all exemptions.
The i'm Dressmnnt Of private property by
Confederate officers has occa'ion,d great
ANNOYANCE and greater injury to the citi-
zens of this State. The patriotism OF our
peoplc-their desire to place no hndrance
to the Confederate government in the exc
c,,tiou of all measures necessary Tor the
efficient prosecution OF tine war, mas, IN INC
majority of cases. caused them TO s'iiie
their complaints, and consequently the
misconduct of the subordinate otnccFs'"n"
have made these impreSsments. has mol
come to the knowledge of their superlors
Neither the General commanding the Dc
partinent nor District, will tolerate any
abuse of this tremendous power, which ne
ccssity has lin the opinion of Congress) re
quired to be lodged in the hands OF the
military authorities. and if tho Generals
should have otherwise interpreted their Oh
legations, it is my right. and that Of every
Executive of State. to intcrposc the shield
of her protection over her citizens. Every
case Of illegal imprcss,ment that l have
had occasion to bring to the notice of these
Generals has been promptly redressed ana
| invite citizens who have been injured by
such unauthorized conduct of Confederate
officers to report the particulars, proper.
authenticated.
One reason Of the latitude allowed or
exercised by impressng officers. Is. that
the provisions of the law of Congress are
not known or understood. That law does
not impose the schedule prices OF
the Commissioners upon those who have
raised, grown or produced the property
sought to be impressed, or upon those hold
ing the same for their own use or cousnmp-
ton, or when il ia held or has been pur-
chased not for sale or speculation IN
these cases. it is the duty OF the imprc:si2G
officer to cau-e the vatne OF the property
to be ascertaincd by two disinterested ciii-
zens. one of whom is to be selected by the
officer, and the other by the owner or agent
of the property and in case of'their disa-
greemcnt these two shall choose an umpire.
whose decision shall be final, and thls ap.
plies TO impressed property. whether the
absolute ownership or the temporary use
thereof only is required. Even in those
cases where the schedule prices are obfi-l-
= tory, viz: when the property Impressed Is
in the hands Of any person other than those
above u&en;ioIfe,l. II the owner and the Of
licrr differ Is TO the quality Of the articles
impressed. thereby making it fall within
higher or lower price. named in the schc-
duie, the same process is permissible, of
each selecting n disia.er"s:ed citizen to o."
tc.rnine the quality Of the article, who may
select AN umpire as in the other cliSs OF
cases.
doubt if single instance has occurred
in this State. OF reference to local apprais-
ers to fix the value OF impressed prop riy.
The schedule prices have been assumed j.!
the officer: as 4 limitation, alike oh!isA; -
upon the producer AMI the specH.ttpr
whereas the law intended thal an cnar'lS
different, mode OF valuation should be par
sued in The two casrs. The power OF right
to impress is besides contiaed TO a p"rsic4.
lar class Of officers. and is to be eSer"i~1t
by them only in particular emergencies -
Whenever the cNigencIcS @! any army IA
the field are such rs to make imprcSsmeat-
of forage, articles OF subsistence, or other
property absolutely necessary, then such
impvessmcnt may be made by the officers.
whose duty it is TO furnish such forage, ar
ticies of subsistence, OF other property for
such army. The only other legal impress
ment that can be made Is that authorized
by the 4th sec. of the Act. viz whenever
the Secretary of War shall be OF orlr!toh
that it il necessary to take private property
for public use. by reason Of the imprac'!-
cabilitv of procuring the same by purchase,
50 Is to accumulate necessary supplies To-
the army, or the good of the service IN
any locality. he may. by general order.
through the proper subordinate oilic"r.,
authorize such property u be taken Tor the
public use. the compensation due the own
er for the sarac to be determined. and the
value found rs provided for in the first and
rcCOEU Stcttoi-- !" uiCh SDb''ii w p'''
sions l first advcrted To above. Tho scAc-
dulc prices do not apply to such impress
mcnts.
The Act further declares that there shall
not be impressed under any circumstances
the property necessary tor the support oi
the owner and his family. and to carry on
his ordinary agricultural and mechanical
business.
Congress thus endeavorcd to take rca
sonabic precaution for the protection oil
property. Although the exercise of ibis
harsh power has been hedged in with
these restrictions, experience has proved
them TO be futile in regulating the action
of the officers. The law is a most unwisr
one and should be repealed. Is etttc; has