State of North Carolina, Executive Department
| Raleigh, N. C., February 12, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge the
reception of your letter of the 4th instant, invoking the aid of the
authorities of the State to procure labor for the completion of the
Danville railroad {Piedmont RR},
and also asking my influence with the Legislature in securing the
gauge of that road to correspond with that of the Virginia road. 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 requires 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, 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 Department I am not able to say;
I merely state the fact. For these reasons, with the additional one
that this road is constructed 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 anything
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 gauge of the road
I have to say that the proposition to make it conform with the
Virginia road had been disposed of in the negative before yours was
received. |
| Very respectfully, your
obedient servant |
| Z. B. Vance |
|