Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889) to Confederate governors

Circular Letter
Executive Office,
Richmond, 19th Sept. 1864
Sir:
I have the honor to call your attention to a matter of public interest in which harmony of action between the State and Confederate authorities is essential to the public welfare.
In some of the States executive proclamations have been issued requiring all aliens within their limits to render military service or to depart from the State within a specified period. The language of these proclamations has been so general as to seem to admit of no exceptions and their effect has been in some instances to alarm alien mechanics and laborers employed in the Confederate work-shops and factories, to induce them to abandon their employment and to demand passports in order to return to their country.
Skilled workmen, experts in various mechanical pursuits indispensable in the foundries, laboratories, arsenals, machine shops and factories [2] have been engaged in Europe under contracts which guarantee to them immunity from the obligation of bearing arms, and many immigrants are now on their way to the Confederacy, on the faith of these contracts.
It is not doubted that the Governors of the several States who have issued such proclamations entertained no intention of interfering with mechanics and workmen in the Confederate military service. Men who are employed in manufacturing and preparing munitions of war and military supplies are as effectively engaged in the defence of the country and should be as free from interference by the State authorities, as the soldiers in the field. But the failure to indicate in the proclamations already issued that such men as are thus employed in the Confederate service are not intended to be embraced within the terms of the proclamations has already given rise to the abandonment of work indispensable to the army. I have therefore respectfully to request that in all cases where such proclamations have been or may hereafter be issued, the necessary notice be given that they do not apply to this class of aliens.
[3] In addressing to you this communication it is my purpose carefully to avoid raising any question that could produce conflict between the general and State governments, and I therefore refrain from the expression of an opinion on the constitutionality of such exercise of power as is involved in these proclamations. It may not however be improper to invoke your consideration of the policy of banishing from our country at a time when the services of every man are particularly valuable, such aliens as have not acquired the residence which would subject them to military service, but who are willing to serve our country as artisans during the war. It is plain that the labor of all such as are usefully employed in the Confederate work-shops, factories and laboratories must be performed by some one, and if these undomiciled foreigners are driven away, their places must be supplied (if indeed they could be supplied at all) by men detailed from the army; and the action of the State authorities would thus result in an effect precisely the reverse of that intended by them; it would diminish instead of increasing the strength of the armies. Those aliens even who are [4] laboring elsewhere than in the service of the government are efficiently aiding our cause by services of great value in furnishing to our people many necessary articles, such as shoes, clothing, machinery, agricultural implements and the like, which it is now so difficult to obtain from abroad. It is submitted that sound policy would require us to encourage during the war rather than prohibit the residence of such persons among us, even though they be not available for service in the field.

I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Jefferson Davis