Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-22

hibits the public Officers from impressing sup
plies without making payment Of the valuation
at the time of impressment. The limit fixed for
the issue of treasury notes has been nearly
reached, and the treasury cannot always fur
nish the funds necessary for prompt payment
while the law for raising the revenue which would
have afforded means for diminishing, if not re-
moving this difficulty, was, unfortunately, de-
layed for several months, and has just been
signed. In this condition of things it is impos-
sible to supply the army, although ample
stores may exist in the country, whenever the
owners refuse to give credit to the public OFF,
Ger. It is necessary that this restriction on the
power Of impressment be removed. The power
is admitted to be Objectionable, liable to abuse,
and unequal in its operation on individuals; yet
all these objections must yield to absolute neccs-
sity. tits also suggested that the system of val
uation now established ought to be radically
changed. The Legislation requires in such ca
ses of impressment. that the market price be
paid, but there is really no market price in
many cases, and then valuation is made arbitra-
rily and in deprecated currency. The result
is that the most extravagant prices are fixed,
such as no one expects ever to be Paid in coin.
None believe that the government can ever re.
deem in coin the obligation to Fay fifty dollars
bushel for corn, or seven hundred dollars
barrel for -four. 1t would seem to be more just
and appropriate to estimate the supplies i'm
pressed at their value in coin to give the obi
cation 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 a reasonable in-
terest also payable in kind; and to make the OBJ
legations thus issued receivable for sll payments
due in coin to the government Whatever be
the value attached by Congress to these sugges-
TONS it is hoped that there will be no hesitation
in so changing the law as to render it possible to
supply the army in case of necessity for the i'm
pressment 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 ex-
penditures, some degree of embarrassment 10 the
management of the finances must continue to be
felt. 1t is to DO regretted, think, that the re-
commentator Of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
of tax on agricultural income, equal to the
augmented tax on other incomes, payable in
treasury notes, was rejected by Congress. This
tax would have contributed to facilitate the pur-
chase Of provisions and diminish the necessity
that is now felt for supply of coin.
The measures passed by Congress during the
session for recruiting the army and supplying
the additional force needed for the public defence
have been, in my judgment, insufficient, and
am inpelec by profound conviction of duty,
and stimulated by sense Of the perils WHICH
surround our country, to urge'upon you addition
al legislation on this subject.
The bill for employing negroes as soldiers has
not yet reached me. though the printed journals
Of your proceedings inform inc of its passage.
Much benefit is anticipated from this measure,
though far less than would have resulted from its
adoption at an earlier date, SO as to aff,rd time
for their organization and instruction during the
winter mouths.
The bill for diminishing the number of exempts
had just been mad, the subject Of special mes
sage, and its provisions are such as would add no
strength to the army. The recommendation 70
abolish all class exceptions has not met your ia
vor, although still deemed by>me valuable and
important measure and the number of men ex-
empted by new clause in the act just passed, is
believed to be quite equal to that of those whose
exemption is revoked. A law of few lines re.
pealing all class exemptions would not only
strengthen the forces in the field, be still more
beneficial by abating the natural discomfort and
jealousy created in the army by the existence Of
classes privileged by law to remain in places o
safety, while their fellow.citizens are xposed ir
the trenches and the field.
The measures most needed, however, at til,
present time for afording an effective increase
to our military strength is general militia law
such as the Constitution authorizes Congress t
pass by granting to it power "to provide for or
gauizing, arming and disciplining the militia aut
for governing such part of them as may be EN-
ployed ID the service of the Confederate States
and the further power ito provide for calm!
forth the militia to execute the laws of the Con
iederate States, suppress insurrection and repe
invasions" The necessity for the exercise o
this power can never exist, if not in the circum
stances which now surround US. The sccurlt,
Of the States against any encroachment by tn
Confederate government is amply provided b.
the Constitution, by Preserving to the States, re
respectively, the appointment of the officers, ant
the authority of Aiming the militia, according tt
the discipline prescribed by Congress
A law is needed to prescribe not only how ant
of what persons the militia are to be organized
but TO provide the mode of calling them out
instances be required to show the necessity 70
such general law, it is sufficient to mention tina
in one case have been informed by the Cover
l.. nor of q State that the law does not permit hin
to call the militia from one county for service il
another, so that single brigade of the enem:
could traverse the State and devastate each coun
ty in turn, without any power on the part Of tn
Executive to use the militia for effective defence
while in another State, the Executive refused t
allow the militia 6 to be employed in the servic
Of the Confederate States" in the absence Of
law for that purpose.
I have heretofore in confidential message t
| the tuo Houses stated the facts which inouced m
to consider it necessary that the privilege Of tn
writ of habeas corpus should DO susper ded.-
The conviction of the necessity Of his measur
: has become deeper as the events Of the struggl
have been developed. Congress has not con
Cured with me in opinion. It is my duty
say that the time has arrived when the suspen
.;s, ae 4bo xurit not. s;nanlu hla and ~