Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RIGRTs.
RICHMOND WHlG.
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. AZ, 1854.
Imbressments.

ImpreSments.
The planters In the Confederate States have undeut
sdy exhibited great patriotism. They have given their
sons 10 the armies and sacrificed their property TO tae
pubic good without murmus They have maintained,
amidst the greatest trials sndreverses superb fOrttnde
They have met heavy taxation eheerfuy, and called
for heavier. They have made no oVergroWn fortunes
in single day, but If fair balance were struck between
their profits and expenses, except in few instances,
their gains would be found to be greater than before
the WaI; while a thousand millions OF money has been
scattered through the la0d and with the war stopped
to day seventy millions per annum inevitably added
70 the liabilities OF the Government which they must
support Yet these people, almost without exception,
exhibiting such patriotism, are not willing ID sell their
produces 10 the Government as it, prices. These peo-
pie 50 vitality sd in the success Of our cause,
UT ry dctsst and make on The imPressment aet'
aud agents which their Government has deemed 1t ne
clssay to pass and use In vain are they accused in
nigh quarters Of CO opstAing with the Spectators, aud
told that tAe nevtabls consequences Of this league
must be bankruptcy the Government and ruin to the
cause In vain are sAey denounced for their greed of
g.in, and tod that they are prOdgal of their
blood than of their treasure; these who set the
torch 10 their comfortable homes, their gin.hOu es,
negro qaut,rs and piles o. oOtton at the approach of
th3 enemy.
Why does this st iking inconsistency exist? Whence
this apparent anomaly What powerful motive gov
ems this large class OF people without concert Why
have these mpressment acts always failed, aud pro-
duced injurious consequences! We claim to know
some thing of the sentiments Of the planters this
subject We answer for them because of the profound
conviction that these acts a. present enforced are
ruaous in poLcy aad unjust aud humihAting in t1er
operation
II food il sca.cs clearly It Is the policy Of the Gov
eminent to encourage it, production. Bat who esae
mpressmer discOurages production by diminishing the
rewards of labor. Net few Planters disguised with s
operation, have abandoned their lands aud put their
slaves to work ulSn railroads aud in the cites.
tempting premium is offered upon such Transactions
rhe value necessary support the negroes with that Of
stock, implements &c, upon ths plantation, amounts,
at presea. prices in many instances, to 80 per cent?
and even more upon the entire capital OF the planter,
estimated on aute.war basis.
II transportation Is Difficult it ia the true policy to
coroae the planters in order to induce them cheer
fully to bring their crops properly prepared, to the
ispots and markets Without their assistance the gov
any transpOrtabe form. Lesus take the of plan
t,r in Georgia whose plantation lies dozen miles
from railroad or river Imagine bG. Qdartermaster
hss seized FIVE thousand bushels of this planters corn
and wishes to &c. it TO the depot The is on the
cob it is necessary TO seize implements for shsing
IL negroes TO do the work. and mules and wagons for
trar soortaton How absurd and impracticsbs. Hence
iartarmasters compelled to sezs supplies already
prepared near the roads, sometimes in transitu to
market or after arrival For this they denounced
a. lazy We do not intend to defend item against this
charge in general; probably they lazy but in this
instance the charge is unjust. It is utterly impossible
to utilize seizures made else Fhers. Thus the operation
Of the law is rendered unequal and uojnst. But it
makes no friends among those it spares for while
OBVIOUSLY not more than one or two in hundred can
be victmized by its iDpOsIOns ell kep.n continual
apprehension.
Add % this the iusolet zee OF officials, which govern
mont eauLot prevent meGperier ced young men, mere
bows, dshpg through estates at hand gAlop cutting
and sashing here and there ignorant OF what mischief
they are doing, and probably Indifferent to it.
It is admitted that 10 instances to meet the press
ing "e1genciesn strictly construed, of armies in the
field, impressmont may be indispensable But, whether
wish or without the sanction of government, it has been
sdooted as system II 1t Is iotended to be SO main
tained Lot the government Fend its armies among the
peope for the present force is inadequate. II it is
thus inter ded then modify this odiOus act to ap
ply only to cases Of pressing e1igencss, AID permit
sefntees and whatever patriotism may be Jeff 10
to the assistance Of the government.
We add the following letter from Geo. Washington On
this subject addressed to the President Of Congress:
"YALLEr FoRsE, January, ITS
al yesterday evening had the honor Of your favor Of
tie Let Instant with its several enclosures The letter
YOU alludc TO- from the Committee of Congress and
Board Of War; came TO hand on Saturday morning; but
lE not menGOn the regulations adopted for remoV-
inc the difficulties and failures in the commissaTy line.
trust they will be vigorous the army cannot exist
Il viii answer 70 procure supplies OF clothing or
pr visions by coeTcive measures. The small seizure
made of the former few days ago. in sequence oil
20 dissolve, the Alternative excited the greatest
alarm and unessiness even among best and Warmest
trends Such procedures may give amomentary relief;
ouL if repeated, will prove OF the most pecious con-
quence. Besidess reading disahecon, Jealousy, and
fear among the people, they never fail, even in the
mes veteran troops under the most rigid and exact
discipline to raise in the sOldiery disposition TO
cenlOusneSs to punder and robbery, difficult TO cup
press Afterwards aod which has proved not only runous
20 the Inhabitants but, in many instances to armies
themselves. regret the occasion that compelled US 10
the measure the other day; aud shall consider 1t among
the greatest of misortunes If should be uncer
she necessity oil practicing it again."