Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-05-12
Alum Springs, April 18. 1S6S.-1t
EXEMPTION ACT.

This act, amending former exemption act
passed both Houses Of Congress, as follows:
An act to repeal certain clauses of an act entitled
san act to exempt certain persons from mill
tary service, etc., approved 11th of October,
| 1862:
1. The Congress of the Confederate States of
America do enact, That so much of the act ap-
proved October 1lth, 1862, as exempts from
military service fone person, either as agent,
owner, or overseer, on each plantation on which
one white person is required to be kept by the
laws or ordinances of any State, and on which
there no white male adult not liable to militia
ry service, and in States having no such law, one
person, as agent, owner, or overseer, on each
plantation OF twenty negroes, and on which there
is no white male adult not liable to military SER
VICE. and also the following clause of said act,
to wit: s'and, furthermore, for additional police
for every twenty negroes, on two, or more PLAN
tanOns, within i've miles of each other, and each
having less than twenty negroes, and on which
there is no white male adult not liable to militia
ry service, one person being the oldest of the
owners or overseers on such plantations be
aud are hereby repealed.
2. For the police and management of slaves
there shall be exempted one person on each farm
or plantation, the sole property of minor,
person OF unsound mind a femme sole, or per-
son absent from home in the military or naval
service of the Confederacy, on which there are
twenty or more slaves; provided the person so
exempted was employed and acting as an over
seer previous to the 10th of April, 1862, and
there is no white male adult on said farm or plan
tation who is not liable to military duty, which
fact shall be verified by the adavits of said per-
son and two respectable citizens, and shall be
nled with the enrolling officer anc provided,
the owner of such farm or plantation, his agent
or legal representative, shall make affidavit and
deliver the same to the enrolling officer that af-
ter dlllgent effort no overseer can be procured
for such farm or plantation not liable to military
rnyytA AnHf forfh fhnr %Az% <h H.
not extend to any farm or plantation on which
the negroes have been placed by division from
any other farm or plantation, since the 18th day
OF October, 1862; provided further, that for ev-
cry person exempted aforesaid, and during
the period of such exemption, there shall be
paid annually into the public treasury by the
owners of such slaves, the sum of five hundred
dollars
3. Such other persons shall be exempted as
the President shall be satisfied ought to be ex-
empted, In districts. OF country deprived of white
or slave labor, Indispensable to the production
OF grain or provisions necessary for the support
of the population remaining at home and also
on account OF justice, equity and necessity.
4. IN addition to the State officers exempted
Dy the act of October l1th, 1862, there SHALL al
so, be exempted all State officers whom the Gov
ernor of any State may claim to have. exempted
Tor the due administration of the Government
and laws thereof but this exemption shall not
continue In any State after the adjournment of
the next regular session of its Legislature, un-
less such Legislature shah by law, exempt them
from military duty in the Provisional army of
the Confederate States.
The SUFFERINGs OF VRGINIA-The Jackson
"Mississippian," commenting on a letter DESERT
blng the destruction of property in Virginia by
the enemy, says:
1t IS mournful to read OF the devastation of the
old homesteads OF the glorious Old Dominion
Her people have suffered and endured more than
all others in the Confederacy put together. and
yet the sublime patience and patriotism continu-
ed to be exhibited by them. stands without par
aliei In history. When years have rolled by,
and the actors and witnesses of this eventful war
nave oeen long crumbled into dust, the tale of
Vlrgnla's trials and sufferings--of her faithful
ness IN adversely, her indomitable perseverance,
and gallantry in the field-will present a page
which will foster love for independence in the
hearts OF posterity as long time lasts, and fur
nish bright example to the votaries of freedom
to the remotest ages of civilization.
FATE OF A DEsERTER. The Tennessee soldier
who deserted from his regiment at Vlcksburr.
some time since, was afterwards hung by the
j Yankees. He reported that all our guns had
been sent up to the Yazoo, and that ss quake,
guns'' had been placed in their stead, whereun.
on Gen. Grant sent down the Lancaster and Swift
zerland. Grant finding himself deceived order
ed the renegade Tennesseean &c be ssstrung mn )
! which was Immediately done