The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-02-13
Abigmson Ongiluialr.
BY COALE Sc BARE
Friday, Feb. IB, 1858.
The Negro Draft.

The Negro Draft.
The late law of the Legislature authorizing
/ draft Of negroes for labor on Notifications
from certain Counties in Virginia, is received
with disfavor by some and cheerfulness by
others. It requires 5 per cent. Of the whole
slave population, and the slaves taken are to
be between the ages of l8 and 45. The as
sesment Tor this county Is about 100. They
are to be taken to Richmond, employed for
the space Of 60 days, and the owners ito re-
ceive a remuneration Of 81 6 per month.
There are two sides to this policy, each
with its jealous advocates and strong argu-
ments. Some oppose it upon the ground that,
there being but comparatively few slaves IN
this region, our agricultural interests will
suffer great detriment, in consequence of the
great number Of white men who have yolun-
teered in the service This county, we be-
lieve, has furnished about 1000 soldiers, and
contributed for the benefit Of families Of sol
diers, the sum Of s225 600. Upon these grounds
it is argued the slave labor, almost absolutely
necessary to future subsistence, should not be
withdrawn.
Z The advocates of the policy argue, that, as
the war is now waged for the abolition Of
slavery, the owners of slaves should furnish
their labor for constructing works Of common
defence, whilst the white men Of the country
fight the battles. But no matter what the ar
+
guments pro and con, the negroes will have to
30, we presume, bread or no bread, the COM
ing season., We have as yet scarcely began
to make sacrifices, and in order to make both
ends meet, those who remain at home ,must
work the harder and waste less.
The following section gives all the information
necessary:
Be it enacted by the general assembly, that
the governor of tLis commonwealth shall, when
requested by the president Of the Confederate
States, be and he is hereby authorized and re-
q,lired from time to time to call into the service
of Che Confederate States, for labor on fortifca-
tons, and other works necessary for the public
defence, for period not exceeding sixty days..
q number of male slaves between the ages of
eighteen and forty-fye years, not. exceeding ten
thousand at any Que time, and not exceeding in
any county, city or town, five per centum of the
entire slave population thereof Such requisi-
ton shall be apportioned ratab.y among all the
Shareholders in the several counties, cities and
towns on which the requisition shall be made.
The sum of sixteen dollars per month for each
slave shall be paid by the Confederate States to-
the holders the slaves and soldiers rations,
medicines IN medical attendance furnished !;
and the value Of all such slaves as may escape
from the confederate authorities and not return
to their owners or be seized or killed by. the
public enemy. or may, by want of due diligence
on the part of the authorities Of the Confede-
rate States, in any manner be lost to the owners,
shall be paid by the Confederate States, to the
owners Of such slaves, and in. like manner COM
pensation shall be made for any injury to slaves
arising from 4 want Of due diligence on the part
of the authorities Of the Confederate States; and
in those cases the burden of proof shall be ON
the authorities of the Confederate States to dis
charge the latter from liability to the former
Slaves hired BY individuals having other slaves,
shall be regarded as in the possession of their
owners, and classed accordingly, in regard to
confederate service.