The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-05-09
An Act to Provide Military Force.

II
Section 1. The Governor is hereby
authorized and empowered to accept
and muster into the military service of
the State, the volunteer militia, and in
case of deficiency in numbers of such
uniformed volunteer militia, such of the
enrolled militia as shall volunteer to be
so mustered, and who, in conformity
with the army regulations of the United
States, would, in like cases, be muster
able into the service of the United
States, not to exceed twenty companies.
which shall be organized into two regi-
ments of ten companies each, by the
commander-in-chief who shall appoint
and commission such field officers to
each regiment as belong to a regiment
of infantry in the United States SER
vice; the regiments so organized shall
be subject upon the order of the COM
mander-in-chief, to be first used in case
of actual hostilities, or to be transferred
to the military service of the general
Government, whenever required by the
President.
Section 2. Minors may be mustered
on the written consent of their parents
or guardians, and those having no pa
rents or guardians, may be mustered
on the written consent of a justice of
the peace of the township or city where
for the time being, said minor resides.
The terms of service shall be for at
least three months, but for no longer a
term than three years, or while the ext
gency for which they were called out
shall exist, in the discretion of the Gov
ernor. But the Governor may disband
one or both of such regiments, at any
time after the expiration of three
months, unless they shall have been
previously mustered into the service of
the United States, if, in such opinion,
their service shall no longer be required
either by the State or by the United
States.
Section 8. All and every person en-
listed and mustered into said service
shall, so far as the same may be appli-
cable, besubject to all the laws and reg
ulations established for the government
of the army of the United States and
of this State.
Section 4. Such forces shall be i'm
mediately put on course of drill and
instruction, at such points, and devote
such time to that object, as shall be di-
rected by the commander-in- chief, and
for that purpose, shall meet for drill
and instruction not more than ten days
in each month, unless otherwise or
dered, and each member shall receive
pay at the rate Of one dollar per day,
for the time actually employed in such
military drill and exercises, and trans
portation ordered by the commander
in-chief at the rate of five cents per
mile.
Section 5. In order to settle and ad-
just the pay-roHs, the captain or COM
manding officer of each company shall
keep an accurate time book, setting
forth the number of hours each mem
ber of his company has been engaged
in drill and military exercise for each
week, copy of which, with an affida-
Wit that the same is just and true, shall
be transmitted to the Adjutant- General,
who shall lay the same before the State
Military Board /; upon the time tables
so reported, the said board shall make
up and adjust the amounts severalIy
due each member of said companies,
allowing for the number of hours actu-
ally employed, at the rate of eight
hours for days service; upon such
adjustment, approved by the Comman-
der-in chief, payment thereof shall be
made as the commander-in-ch chief shall
direct, field and staff officers shall be
paid for the time actually employed in
military service, at the same rate per
day, and five cents per mile for actual
travel under service.
Section 6. The Governor is hereby
empowered through the proper military
department to purchase and distribute
all military stores whether of subsis-
tence, clothing, pay, medicine, field and
camp equipage, which shall be properly
accounted for, to the Legislature, and at
the disbanding of said force he shall
store the property Of the State in as
good condition as practicable at the
seat of government, or at such other
place as he may deem best. Such re-
ports shall account for all moneys re-
received and disbursed, description and
cost of all articles purchased. He shall
have power, through the proper militia
ry departments, to collect and distribute
all arms and equipments, or any of the
military property of this State, whether
in the hands of volunteer companies OF
otherwise.
Section Z. All acts or parts of acts
contravening this act are hereby re-
pealed.
Section 8. This act shall take imme.
diate effect.
Approved March 16, 1861.