The Prohibition of supplies to Richmond.
In the House of Representatives yesterday, the
Speaker laid before the
House a communication from the
President in response to a resolution of the
House, inquiring upon what authority
Gens. Sam Jones and
Imboden have issued orders prohibiting the transmission of supplies from their departments to the city of
Richmond.
The President enclosed a letter from
Gen. Imboden, in which he says that his action was based upon authority which he conceived was conferred by act of Congress, and General Orders from the Adjutant and Inspector General's office of March 19th and November 6th, 1863, authorizing and regulating impressments.
He says that nothing but imperative necessity could have induced him to issue the order, which he knew would evoke strong opposition, and perhaps denunciation, from those whose money-making operations it
would interfere with.
Gen. I. says that having broken up the speculation in provisions, he, on the 24th of December, 1863, so modified the order as not to require permit for the removal from the district of supplies purchased
bona fide for private consumption, and not for sale or speculation.
He says that without resort to impressment, it is not-possible for him to procure indispensable supplies for his own command at the authorized schedule prices.
Gen. Jones replies by sending a letter addressed by him to the
President of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, in which he says that it was his only desire that the road should be used to the best interests of the
Government and community, and should not be used by speculators and extortioners to transport provisions from the department to gratify their own inordinate avarice and embarrass the department by withdrawing from it the supplies necessary for the troops.
