The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-05
THE IMPERIAL MILITARY OFFICER

Confederate.
,urruprEIaI MILITARY OFFICER.
. ,-iaing circumstance recently occurring
in Washington city accentuates the dense
ignorance Of professional soldiers on all SUD-
iects that touch the rights and Liberties OF the
citizen. and az the same time 1t affords the
citizen an opportunity to congratulate him.
sef upon the rock foundations on which our
government of constitutional limitations ana
guarantees builds his rights OF person ana
property
The Government of the United States con-
demned the property OF certain citizens re-
siding in the outskirts OF Washington with q
design Of converting the territory into pub
lie park. Now. in the view of the owner
Of real estate. the most important tact
connected with a condemnation Of ms
propertv is that he shall be paid for il. and
the average citizen has an invincible repug-
nance to parting with the possession OF ms
own until that very important part of the
ceremonial has been performed 1t so hsp-
pened. however. that Il was not convenient Tor
the Secretary Of the Treasury of tie United
States D. pay the owners OF this condemned
property on the nail, 50 10 speaE and lie
deferred that part of the transaction until IL
might suit his convenience. And at this
point the army officers view OF civilians
rights comes under notice.
A Captain Feibeger of the Engineers had
been selected as the government officer to
take charge Of the improvements designed
for the condemned territory. and condemna-
ton proceedings that is a government act
having taken place. this gentleman was wholly
unable to understand how there could be any
possible obstacle between himself AS the gov
erpments agent and the coveted territory.
But Dir. Harvey Page, an owner OF part OF the
ground took different view of the case. He
had il in mind that the property was his before
the condemnation proceedings we're set on
foot and that he had been paid nothing what
ever as a substitute for his ownership He
naturally therefore viewed his rights as being
quite the same that they had been all along.
and this illustrates very clearly the distnc-
ton between the view that professional
soldier takes Of such transaction aud that
taken by civilian and particularly the civil
ian most interested in il.
Mr.. Page accordingly moved into and pro-
ceeded to occupy house on his part OF the
property. and he gave oil outward indications
Of purpose to continue occupying 1t so long
IS 1t stood there. Captain Feibeger quite
unable 10 understand an act so much like one
Of characterization. accordingly addressed
Mr Page a note inquiring Of him by what
authority he presumed 10 occupy this man
sion. which note Mr.. Page turned over 70
his attorney. Mr.. Maddux, and that gentle
man answered Captain Feibeger in a commu-
nication which has very likely made him
wiser if not sadder man. since
it informed the military gentleman that I'M
der the Constitution aud laws Of this country
no citizen can be compelled 10 part with his
property except for public purposes upon
lust compensation. The correspondence and
facts have got before the public and they
bave been the occasion for showing that the
military officer is not the only person in the
United States densely ignorant OF tho cit
izen's right in such a case.
1H0 " hfulurtvu Potf commencing fAtN'-
rally upon the matter, saysthatMr. Page viii
have 10 surrender his property and wait al the
doors Of the Treasury Of the United States
until il shall suit the pleasure Of tho Secfe-
tary of the Treasury 10 hand him his money.
| But praise be 10 our institutions Mr.. Page will
/ have TO do no such thing. He may continue
| 10 occupy his house and. if Captain Feibeger
endeavors forcihly 10 eject him he may re-
sst the valiant Captain with arms in his
hands 10 the extent Of taking the soldiers
| life. il no less force will suffice. OF. he may
/ yield TO his forcible attempt 10 eject
| him and then arraign the gallant captain
before the tribunals Of his country. where
the soldier will be condemned to pay out Of
| his own pocket sum Of money as damages
TO M Page which viii forever keep before
bis mind the fact that in time of peace the
laws of this land are far above Secretaries.
Generals. Coudemning Boards. needle guns
and field pieces, and that be. though he be
soldier OF what not, who violates them and
infringes the citizens rights, does so at mis-
own proper peril and his own proper cost;
aud the Washington Post may learn some
| thing valuable to il if il will con this state
ment Of the law carefully and take il TO heart