State journal & flag., 1846-10-09
BY AUTHORITY.


laws OF THE UNITED STATES, PASSED AT THE FIRST
SESSION OF THE rwENTy-SIsTH CONGRESS.
PuBLIc.-No. 16.
AN ACT providing for The prosecution Of the
existing war between the United States and
the Republic Of Mexico.
Whereas, by the act of the Republic OF Mexico,
state of var exists between that Govern
nlent and the United States:
[SEo. IL Be ii enacted by the Senate
and House Of Representatives. Of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
That for the purpose of enabling the Govern-
ment of the United States to prosecute said war
to speedy nd successful termination, the Pre-
sldent be and he is hereby authorized to employ
the militia, naval, and military forces of the
United States, and TO call for and accept the
services of any number OF volunteers, not ex>
ceeuing fifty thousand, who may offer their ser.
vices either as cavalry, artillery, infantry, or Ri
femen, to serve twelve months after they shall
have arrived at the place Of rendezvous, or to
the end Of the war, unless sooner discharged,
according to the time for which they shall have
been mustered in service; and that the sum
of ten millions Of dollars, out OF any moneys in
the Treasury or to come into the Treasury, not
otherwise appropriated. be and the same is here
by appropriated, for the purpose OF carrying
the provisions ofthis act into effect.
SEC. 2. find be ii further enacted, That the
militia, when called into the service the Uni
ted States oy virtue of this act, or any other act
may, if in the opinion of the President cf the
United States the public interest requires 1t, be
compelled to serve for term not exceeding six
months after their arrival at the place of rem
devious, in any one year. unless sooner dischar.
ged.
SEC, 8. .Aad be ii further enacied, That the
said volunteers shall furnish their own clothes,
and il cavalry, their own horses and horse
equipments and when mustered into service
shall be armed at the expense of the United
State.
Sec. 4. And be ii further enacted, That said
volunteers shall, when called into actual service,
and while remaining therein, be subject to the
rules ard articles Of war, and shall be in all res
poets, except as to clothing and pay. placed on
the same footing with similar corps OF the Uni
ted States army; and in lieu Of clothing every
non commissioned officer and private 10 any
company, who may thus offer himself, shall be
en,itled, when called into actual service, to re-
ceive in money sum equal to the cost otcloth-
ing ola AFOREMENTIONED officer or private Gas
the case may beg in the regular troops Of the
United States.
SEc.5 And be il further enacted, That the
eaid volunteers 80 Offering their services shall
be accepted by the President in companies, bat
taIions, squadrons, and regiments, whose Off
GERS shall be appointed in the manner prescri.
bed by law in the several States and Territories
TO which such companies, battalions, squadrons,
and regiments shall respectively belong.
SEC. 6. .fnd be hfurther enacted, That the
President of the United States be and he is
hereby authorized to organize companies so
rendering their services into battallons or squad
rons, battalions and squadrons into regiments.
regiments into brgades, and brgades into di~
visions. as soon as the number Of volunteers
shall render such organization, IN his judgement,
expedient; and the President shall, If necessa.
~, apporton the staff, field, and general officers
among the respective States and Territories
from which the volunteers shall tender their SER
vices as he may deem proper.
SEC. 7. And bel further enacted, That the
volunteers who may be received into the service
of the United States by virtue of the provisions
of this act, and who shall be wounded or other
wise disabled in the service, shall be entitled to
all the benefit which may be conferred on per.
sons wounded in the service Of the United
States.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the
President of the United States be and he is
hereby authorized forthwith to complete all the
public armed vessels now authorized by law, and
TO purchase or charter, arm, equip and man such
merchant vessels and STEAMBOATS, as, upon ex-
animation, may be found fit, or easily converted
into armed vessels fit for the public service,
and in such number as he may deem necessary
for the protection of the seaboard, lake coast,
and the general defence Of the country.
SEC. 8. .And6e ii further enacted, That when
ever the militia or volunteers are called and
received into the service of the United States,
under the provisions of this act, they shall have
the org animation ofths army ofthe United States,
and shall have the same pay and allowances ;
and all mounted privates, non-commlssioned Of.
ficers, musicians, and arificers, shall be allowed
40 cents per dsy for the use and risk of their
horses, except Of horses actually killed in ac-
ton !; and if any mounted volunteer, private,
non. commissioned officer, musician, or artficer
shall not keep himself provided with servic ;.
able horse the said voiuDtee shall serve on foot:
Approved, May 10, 1916.