The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-15
lg1ths army.
|bsfy anh.

eessfulIy, l,eIi and 81 - the army.
We havs both with try snfl.
Gent 70 attain sucg
TO obtain the ST T. necessary
to protect productive dlstsicta guard our
lines Of communication by an increase
in the number of our forces and hence
it results, that with large auGinonta
ton in the number of men I6
army, the facility Of supplying he
troops would be greater than wlelUD Ut
recent reduced strength.
sUPPLIEs-PAYMENTF FOR THEM IN COIN.
For the purchase of supplies now re-
quired, especially for the armies in Vir-
GINA and North Carolina, the treasury
must be provided with means; and a
modification in the impressment law is
required. 1t ha6hnhaep ascertained, by
examinatioD> have within our
reach suffer-! @nat is most need
ed for the arn1 Without having re
course to the ample provision existing in
those parts of the Confederacy with
which our communication has been par
TALLY interrupted by hostile operations.
But in some districts from which sup
plies are to be drawn the inhabitants,
being either withip the enemy's lines or
in very close proximity, are unable to
make use of Confederate treasury notes
for the purchase Of articles of prime
necessity and it is necessary that, to
some extent, coin be paid, in order to OBJ
tain supplies. 1t is, therefore. recon-
mended that Congress devise the means
for making available the coin within the
Confederacy for the purpose of supply
ing the army. The officers of the sup
ply departments report that, with two
millions Of dollars lincoln, the armies in
Virginia and North Carolina can be
amply supplied for the remainder of the
year; and the knowledge of this fact
should suffice to insure the adoption of
the measures necessary to obtain this
moderate sum.
IMPREssMENTs.
The impressment law, as it now exists,
prohibits the public officers from impress
ing supplies without making payment
of the valuation at the time of Impress
ment. The limit fixed for the issue of
treasury notes has been nearly reached,
and the treasury cannot always furnish
the funds necessary for prompt payment
while the law for raising revenue which
would have afforded means for diminish
ing, if not removing, this difficulty, was,
unfortunately, delayed foT several
months, and has just been signed. In
this condition OF things, it is impossi~
bio to supply the army, although ample
stores may exist in the country, when
ever the owners refuse to give credit to
the public officer. 1t is necessary that
this restriction on the power Of impress
ment lie removed. The power is ad-
mitted to be Objectionable, liable to
abuse. and unequal in its operation on
yet, all these objections
must yield to absolute necessity. 1t is
also suggested that the system of valua-
alton now established ought to be radi-
cally changed. The legislation requires,
in such cases of impressment, that the
maket price be paid; but there is really
no market price in many cases, and then
valuation is made arbitrarily and in a
deprecated currency. The result is,
that the most extravagant prices are
fxed, such as no one expects ever to be
paid in coin. None believe that the
Government can ever redeem in coin the
obligation to pay fifty dollars bushel
for corn, or seven hundred dollars bar
rel for -four. 1t would seem to be more
Just and appropriate to estimate the sup
plies impressed at their value in coin;
to give the obligation of the Government
for the payment of the price in coin, with
reasonable interest, or, at the option of
the creditor, to return in kind the wheat
or corn impressed. with reasonable in
terest, also payable in kind and to make
the obligations thus issued receivable for
all payments due in coin to the Govern
ment. Whatever be the value attached
by Congress to these suggestions, tits
hoped that there will be no hesitation in
so changing the law as to render it pos
sible to supply the army in case of ne
cessity for the impressment of provisions
for that purpose.
The measure adopted to raise revenue,
though liberal in its provisions, being
clearly inadequate to meet the arrear of
debt and the current expenditures, some
degree Of embarrassment in the manage
ment of the finances must continue to
be felt. 1t is to be regretted, think,
that the recommendation of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, Of tax on agricultural
income equal to the augmented tax on
,ther incomes, payable in treasury notes,
vas rejected by Congress. This tax
would have contributed materially to |
facilitate the p urc chase Of provisions and
the necessity that is now felt
or supply Of coin.
THE EXEMPTION BILL.
The measures passed by Congress
Turing the session for recruiting the