What allowed wealthy plantation owners to be exempt from service in the Civil War?

Wealthy plantation owners were often exempt from military service during the Civil War due to the Confederate government's "20 Negro Law," which stated that for every 20 slaves owned, a plantation owner could avoid conscription. This policy aimed to maintain the economic stability of the plantation economy, which was crucial for the South's war effort. Additionally, their social status and influence often allowed them to secure exemptions more easily than lower-income individuals. As a result, many of these affluent landowners could remain on their plantations to manage their properties and labor forces.