B7, P 2/12/1863

State of North Carolina
Executive Department
Raleigh, Feby 12th, 1863
 
Hon. James A. Seddon
Secty of War
 
Sir,
   I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your letter of the 4th inst. invoking the aid of the authorities of the State to procure labor for the completion of the Danville rail-road, & also asking my influence with the Legislature in securing the gauge of that road to correspond with that of the Virginia roads.
   The object is a most important one and commends itself strongly to my favor. But under all the circumstances I feel compelled to decline impressing slaves to aid in its completion. For many months past the Eastern part of this State has been furnishing labor upon all the public works from Wilmington to Petersburg and no less than twenty counties are now so employing their slaves. In the region through which this road runs there are very few slaves and the very existence of the people require them to labor on their farms.
   In addition to the fact, that this road is viewed with almost universal disfavor in the State, as entirely ruinous to many east of it, and that the charter never could have been obtained, but as a pressing War necessity. I feel it due to candor, that I should add, there exists a very general impression here that upon the completion of the Danville Connection {the Piedmont RR}, as it is termed, the eastern lines of our roads would be abandoned to the enemy. How far this opinion does injustice to the purpose of the War Dept., I am not able to say, I merely state the fact. Fro these reasons with the additional one that the road is constructing by private contractors I do not feel that I could be justified in forcing the labor of citizens upon it. I assure you I regret this exceedingly, not only on account of the importance of the work itself to our military operations; but also because it is exceedingly unpleasant for me to refuse to do any thing whatsoever which is requested by the Confederate authorities and regarded as important to the General cause. I would suggest however that a large number of free negroes might be obtained in the adjoining counties of Virginia and North Carolina. And if this species of labor could be made available my assistance in gathering it up shall be promptly rendered. In regard to the guage of the road, I have to say that the proposition to make it conform with the Virginia Roads, had been disposed of in the negative before yours was received.
Very respectfully
Yr. obt. Svt.
Z. B. Vance

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