CHAPTER XXIV.
THE LAST STAGES OF THE STRUGGLE.
IN this state of affairs the Confederate Congress met in Richmond November 7, 1864, for its last session. The message of President Davis treated especially on the general state of the war, the employment of negroes in the army and negotiations for peace. The message said on the negro question, that the employment of slaves with the army as teamsters or cooks or in the way of work on fortifications, or in the government workshops, or in hospitals or other similar duties was authorized by the act of February 17th last, and that provision was made for their impressment to a number not exceeding twenty thousand if it should be found impracticable to obtain them by contract with the owners. The law contemplated the hiring only of the labor of these slaves and imposed on the government the liability to pay for the value of such as might be lost to the owners from casualties resulting from their employment in the service. This act had produced less results than was anticipated, and further provision was required to render it efficacious. "But my present purpose," said the President, "is to invite your consideration to a radical modification in the theory of the law." The modification referred to was explained to consist in the view that the slave bore the relation of a person to the State, while under the Confederate as well as the United
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