Washington telegraph., 1864-06-22


AN ACT to amend IAN Act to Regulate i'm
pressmcnts," approved March 2sth 1868.
and to repeel An Act smendstory thereof,
approved April 2Tta 1853.
The Congress Of she Confederate States do
enact, That in all cases where property il i'm
pressed for the use OF the army and navy,
or for othsr public use, under said act the
same shnl Re paid for at the time Of said i'm
pressment, unless an appeal shall be taken
from the valuation agreed upon between the
parties or ascertained BY loyal and disinter-
ssted citizens Of the city or county or Parish
in which the impressment may be made. in the
manner and according to the regulations pro-
vided in the first. second, and third sections
Of the above cited act, or in the eighth sec
ton thero where il is applicable.
Sec. ?. Whenever the officer making the i'm
prcssment Of property, under the act hereby
amended, shall believe that the appraisement is
fair and just,hc shall endorse his approval upon
the appra sement, and make payment accord
ingly; but il he shall believe that it is not fair
and just, then he shall refuse 70 approve and
endorse the reasons for his refusal on the GER
tifcate, aud shall have the right to appeal
from the decision of the appraisers, by report
ing the case to the commissioners appointed
under said act, to which this is an amendment,
for their decision, whose Judgment shall be
6nal. and in the meantime. the property shall
be held AMI appropriated by the officer i'm
pressing the same. who shall give receipt
therefor 70 the owner. who shall also have the
right of appeal, as herein provided.
Sec. 3. The said commissioners shall have
power to summon and examine witnesses to
enable them to FIX the value OF property i'm
pressed which shall be just compensation fol
the property 50 impressed, at the time and
place Of impressment and when the commits
sioners shall have fixed the value of the prop
erty in cases of appeal, they shall furnish the
owner and impressing officer with statement
Of such value, which valuation by the CON-
missioner shall be within three months Of the
time of impressment
Sec. 4 That said commissioners shall be
sworn faithfully to discharge their duties un
der this Act, and the Act to which II IS an
amendment
Sec. ,. That :he tenth section Of the aci
Of which this is an amendment, be stricken
out, AMI the following insei ted instead thereof:
No slave labOring on farm or plantation eI-
ciusively devoted TO the production Of grain OF
provisions, shall be taken for public use with
out the consent Of the owner, except in case.
Of urgent necessity, and upon the order Of the
General commanding the department in which
said farm or plantation is situated
Sec. 6. That this act smendatory OF ths
above recited act, approved April 9th 1865
and 30 much lf the first section Of the said
act as requires an affidavit 10 be made by tbs
owner or his agent, that such property wa:
grown, raised or produced BY the said owner
or held or has been purchased by him, not fol
sale or speculation, but for his own use or con-
sumption, be and the same is hereby repealed.
Ssc- 2 That no impressment shall be made
under thi. act, or the act to which this i AZ
amendment. for the use aud benefit Of conrrac-
tors with the government.
Sec. o. Nothing in this act shall be con-
strued to authorize the impress'ng officer to
enter an appeal from any decision of the local
appraisers, under the seventh section Of the
act TO which this is nmendntory-
Approved, Feb. is, 1864