[HousK Bill, No. 107.] 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JaniMiy 6, 18G4.— Read 
 first and second times. February 1,186 4. — Engrossed, read a third 
 time and passed. 
 
 A. i:. LAMAR, C/erk. 
 
 SENATE, February 2, 1864.— Read first ;.nd second times, 
 and referred to Committee on Military Affairs. Feb. 5, IftCl. — Re- 
 ported without amendment. Feb 12, 1861. — INotponed to. and made 
 special order for, to-morrow at 11 1-3 o'clock, mid '>rdercd to }»e ytrinted. 
 
 A. BILL 
 
 To increase tl* efficiency of the army, by the employment of free ne- 
 groes and slaves in certain capacities. 
 
 1 Whereas, The efficiency of the army is greatly diminished by 
 
 2 the withdrawal from the ranks of able-bodied soldiers to act 
 
 3 as teamsters, and in various other capacities in which free ne- 
 
 4 groes and slaves might be advantageously employed ; therefore, 
 
 1 The Congress of the Confederate States < f America do enact, That 
 
 2 all male free negroes and otlior free persons of cohu-, not includ- 
 
 5 ing those who are free under the treaty of Varis, of 1803, or under 
 
 4 the treaty with Spain, of 1819, resident in the Confederate 
 
 5 States, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be 
 
 6 held liable to perform such duties witli the army, or in connec- 
 
 7 tion with the military defences of the country, in the way of 
 
 8 work upon fortificatiens, or in Govcnmicnt works, for the pro- 
 
2 
 
 ?) duction or preparation of material of war, or in military hos- 
 
 10 pitals, as the Secretary of War may, from time to time, pre- 
 
 11 scribe; and, avIjiIc engaged in the performance of such duties, 
 
 12 shall receive )arions and clothing, and compensa-tion at the rate 
 
 13 of eieven doll.! is a month, under such rules and regulations as 
 
 14 the said Secretary may establish: Provided. That the Secretary 
 
 15 of War, Avith the approval of the President, may exempt from 
 
 16 the operationo of this act such free negroes as the interest of the 
 
 17 country may require should be exempted, or such as he may 
 
 18 think proper to exempt on grounds of justice, equity or neces- 
 
 19 sity. 9 
 
 1 Sj^c. 2 Tint the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to 
 
 2 employ, for duties similar to those indicated in the preceding sec- 
 
 3 tion of this act, as many male negro slaves, not to exceed twenty 
 
 4 thousand, as,, iii his judgment, the wants of the service may re- 
 
 6 quire, furnishing them, while so employed, with proper rations 
 C and clothing, under rules and regulations to be established by him, 
 
 7 and paying to the ovruer of said slaves, such wages as may be agreed 
 
 8 upon with said owners for their use and service ; and, in the event 
 
 9 of the loss of any slaves, while so employed, by the act of the 
 
 10 enemy, or by escape to the enemy, or by death inflicted by the 
 
 1 1 enemy, or by disease contracted Vvhile in any service required of 
 
 12 said slaves, then the owners of the same shnll be entitled to re- 
 
 13 ceive the full value of such slaves, to be ascertained by agree- 
 
5 
 
 14 mcnt, or by appraii^ement under the laws regulating impress- 
 
 15 ment, to l>e paid under such rules and regulations as the Secre- 
 
 16 tary of War may establish. 
 
 5 Skc. 3. That when the Secretary of War shall be untble to pro- 
 
 2 cure the j^orvice of slaves in any military department, in Kutficient 
 
 5 flniribcv.-^ ior \hv. iicoossitics of the department upon th" terms r.nd 
 4 conditions sol iorih in tlie preceding section, then lie is liercby au- 
 Ci thori/.cd to impress liu.' services of as many male slaves, not to ex- 
 
 6 coed twenty tbousand, as )iiay be required, from tinio to time, to 
 T disehaigo tho duties ii.iiicated in tlie first section of this act, ac- 
 8 cording Vt laws rogulaiing impressment of slaves m other cases: 
 i) r/oridnl. That slaves so impressed shall, while employed, receive 
 
 Id- tho Siime rations and clothing, in kind and (juantity, as slaves 
 
 I } regulavlv hircil from their owners, and, in the event uT ilhif loss, 
 
 12 shall be paid for in the same manner and under the -aujo rules 
 
 |:i established by the said impressment laws : Provided, That, if the 
 
 ]4 owner have but one male sla\e Avithin the age of eighteen and 
 
 J5 fifty, ho shall not bo impressed against tho \\ ill of the owner: 
 
 l() Froridtd, ftnther, That free negroes shall be first impressed, and, 
 
 n if there should be a deficiency, it shall be supplied by the impress- 
 
 18 mcnt t.f slaves, according to the foregoing provisions : Fiovidcd^ 
 
 ]*A further, Tii.-it, in nr.tling the impressment, not more than one of 
 
 2'^ evei-y -'ivo male slaves, between the ages of cightoen and foity- 
 
 21 live, sh.dl be t?>^::n from any owner. 
 
^ IS a.