Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-23
ETAfE OF VmsmIA, EXEcuTIvE DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, March lTth, 1864.

DHAR SIR-In reply TO your telegram for nay princi-
piles OF exemption, respectfully ttate that mean "a
certify as exempt all p3rsons necessary to the PtesoivA
ton and operation OF the State Government This, oil
O. urse includes all her institutions, such as C;s,
fowns Colleges, nike Asylnms, *, ko holding thai
bodies polite have an therent right Of self preseIVa
ton aud That the State authorities have right TO de-
siguate without gsstiOR, all persons they may think
needfll aud requisite for the purpose. While however
/ lay down this broad proposition, acknowledge my
anxiety - well my duty % be- 70 send all persons
into the army not Indispensable 70 State purposes.
Exemption from military service should attach 70 no
person who not In the performance OF civil duties
An officer even though named in the Constitution and
Ia the lava without any duty TO performs in consequence
Of the pressree Of the enemy in his county, should be
required to jon in the public deience. 10 this there
is no Inconsistent incompatible duty. Il cannot be
said that In any sense he Il noedEo TO the State Gov
ernmenG when he cannot perform the duties for which
be vas elected appointed fOr instance, take the
case Of Sheriff., CLERKS OF Courts 9r JUSTICES OF the
P. aoa. Their duties Local, and are to be per-
| formed 10 their several counties, and IL would be
incompatible with the discharge OF these Gu les Tor
these officers 10 be placed in the army-Rs in
such event the civil duties required Ct them would have
% be abandoned 10 such cases. the duties being so
incompatible with mt uy service, suoh officers are en-
titled 20 on. But where such tthcers pre-
vented from the discharge Of the duties OF their respec
tive offices by Of the ocS upancy Of their country
nv the uubie enemy, the reason for their exemption
eases Can there be any why they should not
20 into the army as solderss There Is no incompIt-
bilty of duty-nO soppage Of the State Government.
Il nav be said that their counties may be recovered from
the enemy This Il true-and, when the1vent occu 9,
such officers will have uadOubted light to be restor-
ed 70 their Offices and discharged from the army.
In reference to the Backs have concluded to ex-
emp the President Cashiers and Teers Of all such, in
which the State Is stockhOlder, necessary to the
protection Of her nteTe Is therein but do not exempt
their clerks as they ministerial officers whose
paces be supplied from those outside Of the conscrpt
age To this there l., however, an exception in the
oSss of the Safe Banks in this city, who the fiscal
agents of the State without charge and Who By Law
tie receivers cusodans and dsbursers Of the revenue
and other public funds These banks are allowed 70
Tetan their whole corps Of officers and clerks, as ne
essarv AZ we'll 70 the interests Of the State as 70 the
execution Of the laws touching the public hsc. But
have Wholly refused xemPtOns to the employees OF the
independent banks (thoss In which the State Is not
.tocfbolderl officers as we'll cleiks. These banks
are founded upon associated surplus capital and are
operated arsy for the advantage the private interests
al ne tookhodsrs and they have no more right 70 ex.
smDton from the military service due TO the coun-
Try, fOs their oYerseers and managers than other
individual owners Of real and personal estate Indeed,
capital thus associated Il less entitled 10 favor than
when nvested in land and negroes, embracing generally
the whole Of ones private fortune and operated almost
exclusively In raising bread and Esat yet cannot pre-
tsnd 10 give these exemptions.
The Two great principles whiOh guide ny action are