| 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 |
|