The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-12-21

certain citizens uf North Carolina into de. |
livering to that government property worth
$l5.00e, ,0ao, at nominal price Of $4,000
0so. This action Genes fully up to my
conception of the idea contained in the
word robbery.
Ii the action which has recently taken
place IN Orange couRty were the conss-
quence Of the presumption Of a subordinate
agent of the governmen it we're more ea-
silly tolerated than now. Or if it arose
from the occasionally irregular working Of
the machinery Of that government it might
be better borne. That it is part Of the
settled pelicy Of the Confederate States,
and the regular and intended effect Of GER
tain acts Of Congress is that which gives
this action its peculiar unpleasm tness,
and makes il the mere imperative for. this
Legislature ta utter its rrmonstrance and
protest. When wrong is done under the
color eflaw. il becomes most dangerous.
Ihold in my hand a pamphlet containing
the !. General Orders" issued to the army
from Richmond, from which itappears that
this subject Of mpressmenr has occupied
the attention Of the government for several
years. As early as the month of June,
1862. an order was issued regulating this
subject. Ssme months afterwards il ap-
pear. by ansther order THAI great con-
plants had been made 10 the government
in relation to il. The complaints com
PEELED Congress, about the month oi April,
1865. to pass Al act upon the subject. a
great part Of wh,ch is still in force. That
act provides shat where officers impress
property thar 10 in the hands Of its produ.
cer.A two referees with liberty to select
an umpire) shall be chosen by the officer
and the ownee respectively, and they shall
settle ths price - be paid; where the pro-
per,y is mol in the hands Of she producer.
hu, Of man whs holds it for sale. the
price 10 be paid BY government shall be
regulated by the schedule prices 6Ied BY
the Commispioaers appointed for making
the schedule. Thm diHersnce between the
producer and the other classes was main
tanned, however. for but q Few days. as an
ether act. passed before the lst OF May,
1865. provided that in al cases sf Impress
meht the imprsssins sRcer might endorse
upoa the award Of the references his dis
approval. whereupsa an appeal wsuld lie
to the Commissioners upon schedule prices.
As these persons. had already appraised
property Of the sort "a dispule. IL is. clear
that the practical operation Of these Laws
in either case 10 10 give the owner emily
schedule prices. Fer instance, IN the case
Of a harse. the ewner mar always be sure
that if he choose 70 make ever so much
opposition il will result in his getting emily
the price Of one or another Of the classes
under the schedule. Apaper new in hand.
beisg . warning 10 q gentleman 10 Orange
that the governnsnt agent wished TO buy a
horse. makes this evident. for the proposal
made By him is expressly to buy II at
schedule prices. the penalty being an i'm
pressneat. OF course such an sfhcer would
never approve an award by referees giving
a greater price lie would appeal until he
brought il where il ~as certain that sUne
but schedule prices w@ulJ be given. so
we'll, indeed. 10 this understood, that, as l.
was infsrmed, the reiereesat Hillsboruugh
confined themselves 10 assigning the hor.
ses 10 one Or another Of the classes in the
last schedule. And, as might well have
been anticipated. in the whale assembly OF
irritated and outraged citizens. ne enc took
an appeal.
In discussing This matter I am net 10 be
cheated with words. Ipress through them
int the Substance Of this tra7saction; and
I gather the iateation Of government frsm
the uniform actios Of its agests through a
period Of years. and after its attention has
confessedly again asd agaia been called to
the subject. what was dsne in my eva
county in November, 1864. has been dsne
(and sftea in msch mere CALLING manner
in ether counties snd ether States, 10 the
Spring snd Fall Of lsss--in the Sprisg aad
Fall sl sSSS, and il the Spring sad Fall Of