Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-29
YANCE'S PROTESTS.
GOVERNOR VANCE ARD THE CoNFEDE-
RATE AUTHORITIES.
Broken Down Cavalry Horses Starts
Correspondence Regarding the
CONSUMPTION Act.
For the Dispaich.l

Seldom, Secretary OF War, making
complaint that a lot Of broken-dogn
cavalry horses belonging to General
,Junkins's command had been quartered
on the people IN Wilkes, Ashe, Yadkin,
and Surry counties, and that the ofii-
GERS in charge Of them were pressing
corn and forage at less than half the
current rates. lie asked the removal
of these horses. In reply, it was
stated that the horses belonged to the
Eighth Virginia cavalry. The lieu
tenant. colonel commanding that regi-
ment stated that people ID the section
named refused to accept Confederate
money, but would take that OF North
Carolina. The horses, the Governor
was informed, were ordered removed,
and Major General Samuel Jones wrote
as follows: 1.-THE men Of means will
not sell their corn. They will not take
Confederate money. The families Of
soldiers say these wealthy neigh6ors will
not sell to them, and they openly ex-
press the wish that the Government
would send horses enough to eat up all
the forage belonging to men OF wealth,
who openly express a wish to return to
the old Union and will not receive Con-
federate money!" This letter was dated
in later FEBRUARY. Up to the 18th OF
that month Governor Vance had re-
ceiyed no response, and that day ne
wrote that he would not permit the
horses to remain. lie said the people
were threatened with famine. In coz
clusion be said: 81 beg leave to inform
YOU that their depredstiOns continue,
and they are not only o nuisance bat
terror to the community. With every
possible disposition TO aid in the sup
port Of the army, | have the strongest
reasons cOnceiyable-the existence OF
nv own people-for declining to perm-.
these horses to remain longer in that
section Of the State. When the
question is narrowed down to wo-
men and children on the ono
hand, and some worthless cavalry
horses on the other, | can
have no difficulty in making choice.
Unless they ore removed soon. | shall
be under The painful necessity of calling
out The militia Of the adjoining counties
and driving them from the State. !
hope, however, to be spared such pro-
ceeding.n Under date Of March J.,
| 1868, Mr.. Seldom writes that be hopes
Governor Vance will forbear from any
forcible expulsion Of them should their
longer stsy be indispensable. March
| DIST Governor Vance wrote Mr.. Seldom
very vigorous letter. lie said the
soldiers with the horses we're rough,
aud impressed corn aud forage, took j,
at such prices a. they choose to pay
| Governor Vance says That country
can, to my personal kuowlcIge> chat
lenge rny similar region IN TIE
South to show better musser-roll in
the amy. But that is rot the mater
at issue. The horses are eatiug up the
substance of the people in region desc
lated by drought. The people or horses
must suffer. ask for the removal OF
the horses. Is it denied or refused !:
That is the question. beg leave to
dissbuse your mind OF the impression
which it seems to entertain, that ] OBJ
iect to these impressmentS because they
we're for Virginia cavalry. BY no
means. did not so term. | have no
prejudice against the troops from any
State engaged in defending the common
cause" The matter was settled, and
the horses were removed. 1t gave the
authorities at Richmond an idea OF
Vance's Grmness.
ABOUT CONSUMPTION.
This was a prelude to the real trou-
bles which spraDg up little later, in
the early months of 1868. April 22l
Governor Vance wrote Mr.. Seldom ;
II beg leave to ask your interference
in regard to some irregularities coa-
nected with the execution of the act OF
CONSUMPTION in this State. Major-Gen-
eral d. II. Hill, commanding this de-
psrtment. in his very commemorate
zeal to Gil up the ranks Of our army,
has virtually superseded the enrolling
officers. Numerous complaints are
made to me that he arrests men and
sends them direct to the army, without
allowing the proper officers to pass
upon their claims to exemption, as re-
quned by the exemption act and the
regulations Of this department. In
some instances it is complained thai
exemptions furnished by the proper
officers are disregsrded and the men
men forced into the service nOtwlth'
standing"
The CONSUMPTION of State officers waS
thus alluded to in lettor to Colonel ].
P. August, commanding conscripts
4" | desire to have an understandings
with the War Department 10 regard I,
the CONSUMPTION Of State officers. Zeal
GU, as have been and continue to be
in the enforcement of this law, can
not permit my own officers to be con
scribed. The ground | shall assume i
that all State officers and employees
necessary to the operation Of this gov
ernment-of which necessity | mus
iudc,-shaH not be interfered with b.
the enrolling officers, and any attemp
to arrest such men will be resisted
This | deem not only necessary to the
due administration of the government
but due the rights and dignity Of tn
sorrsign State over whose destinies
have the honor to preside. reques
that you will lay the matter before th
War Department.
General G. J. Rains, to whom thi
letter was referred, replied to it in hi
capacity as superintendent of conscrip
ton. lie begged for forbearance, an
relieved Colonel August Of duty /
North Carolina, Colonel Mallett bein
ordered to relieve him.
A STRONG LETTER on THE subject
April 3lst Governor Vance wTOt
General Rains the following letter
which will develop some interestin
points in States rights aud cognat
questions.
Genersl,-Your letter of the 2jt
instant is to hand, asking my for6eal
| anon in reference IN the cOngcrintiO