Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-09

eouip provisional force Of volunteers for the de-
fnce of the State TO consist of ffty-ive thousand
volunteers, twenty-five Thousand of whom or any
less number which the wants of the service NAV
demand shall be fitted for the field at the earliest
practicable moment, and the remainder of which
shall be held in reserve, ready to march at short
notice. And should it become necessary for the
safety of the State, the Governor may call out the
whole available military strength of the State.
SEC. 2. Be IL further enacted, That in the perfor
nance OF this duty the Governor shall take charge
Of the military direct the military defence of the
State, organize the different arms and with the
concurrence of the Military and Financial Board,
hereinafter provided for control the Military fund.-
make contracts for arms, ordinance. ordinance
s,Ures, procure material for the construction of
arms employ artlfceTs, organize one or moresr-
morles Tor the construction OF arms and do I'll other
things necessary for the speedy and efficient organi-
zatlon OF force adequate Tor the public safety And
he shall organize Military and Financial Board, to
consist OF three persons, of which he shall be &c
ottci0, President. and who shall discharge such
duties as he may assign them in eectng the objects
and purposes OF this act, and appoint such number
of clerks as may be necessary under such rules
and regulations as they msy adopt.
SEC g. Be IL further enacted, That the force pro-
gided for by this act snail De organized into regl-
ments, brigades and divisions, and the whole to lie
commanded by the senior Major General, who shall
Immediately enter upon the duty of organizing the
entire force for the field, the force authorized by
this act shall be mustered into service for the
neriod of twelve months unless sooner discharged.
SEC L. Be ii further enacted That the staff of said
force shall consist of one Adjutant General, ore
Inspector General, one PaymastPr General, one
Commissary General, one Quartermaster General,
and one Sergeant General with such number of as
sistauts of each the wants of the service may re-
ouire and that the rank of Quartarmaster General,
Inspector General, Adjutant General and Commits
sary General shall be that of Colonel Of Calvary.
and the rank of their assistants shall be that of
Lieutenant Coonl and Major Of Infantary and
Captain of Cavalry, all of whom shall be appointed
by the Governor subject to the confirmation OF the
General Assembly in joint session.
Provided, That the Governor may fill vacancies
in said Ufices, occurring wien the Legislature may
not be in session, and the appointees shall at once
enter upon the discharge of their duties, subject to
the confirmation of the Legislature when thereaf-
ter in session. There shall likewise be appointed
by the Governor subject to like confirmation, one
ordnance officer with the rank Of Colonel OF infan-
try who shall take charge of the Ordnance Bureau
of the State direct the construction Of arms, under
the Governor and Military and Finance Board, re-
ceive or reject the same, certify the fulhlment Of
contracts, and have the general supervision OF the
armory of the State with such assistants as the ser
vice may require, not exceeding three. who shall
have the rank and pay of Captain of infantry. The
members of the Military and Financial Board shall
be nominated by the Governor and eonnrmrd by
the General Assembly.
SEC g. Be Il further endcied. That there shall be
organized by the Governor a Medical Department,
consisting of the Surgeon General, and two other
Surgeons, the members of which Department shall
| be nominated by the Governor and confirmed by
the General Assembly. who shall examine all
applicants for Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon, and
certify their qualifications to the Governor for COM
mission in said service and which department shall
be subject to Field service other Surgeons of the
| army Ard the said Department are hereby di-
rected, other things being equal, TO recommend
f-orp vol, Rpp1mEOtQI SURGEONS
| and Assistants as the service may require.
SEC 6. Be i further enacted, That there shall be
| two Major Generals and such number OF Brlgader
| Generals as the proper and efficient command Of
said force NAV require. who shall be nominated by
| the Governor and confirmed by the General As
sembly, with power to appoint their own stall; and
| Chief of Engineers with such assistants the
service may qure, 10 be nominated and confirmed
| IN the same manner.
| SEC Z Be 1t further enacted. That the senior Ma
iOr General shall Immediately enter upon the duty
of organizing the whole force for the field.
SIC s. Be ii further enacted, That the Governor
be authorized to determincthe field OF duty which
the safety of the State may require and direct said
forces accordingly.
SEC 9. Be Il further enacted. That for the purpose
of carving out the provisions of this act the Gov
ernor of the State is hereby authorized 10 issue and
dispose of five million dollars of the bonds of the
State of Tennessee, similar in all respects to the
bonds of the State heretofore issued, except that
,
maturity and bear interest at the rate Of eghtper
cent. per annum. payable semianRualy at such
point as may be therein designated; PrOuided, That
three millions of said bonds shall be held as con-
tngent reserved fund, and not used unless in the
OpinIou of the Governor, by and with the concur
renee and advice of the Military and Financial
Board, the exigences Of the service and the public
safety lmperatively demand it; and said bonds
shall be in denomination of not less than one hun
dred, or greater than one thousand dollars.
SEC. 10. Be It further enacted, That the public
faith and credit of the State is hereby pledged for
the payment of the interest on SAID bonds and the
final redemption Of the same: and that an annual
tax of eight cents the hundred dollars on the
property and one half cent upon the dollar on the
sales of Merchandise or invoice cost, whether
bought in or out Of the State Of Tennessee, which
said one half of per cent is TO be in lieu Of the
one fourth of one per cent levied, be assessed
and set apart and held sacred for the payment of
the interest on said bonds. and the creation of
sinking fund for their final redemption; PTOUda7.
that no more of said than is sufficient TO pay the
interest on said bonds shall be collected, until the
expiration of two years from the issuance Of the
same. and that the whole amount of said sinking
fund shall from time to time as the same may &C
simulate be used by the Governor IN the purchase
of said bonds; Provided, They be had at price
not exceeding par rates.
SIC H. Be Il furtber enacted, That Banks and
Branches purchasing said bonds from the Governor,
shall have the privilege Of CHASING the bonds so
o..
specie funds: and that the banks Of the State
hereby authorized to invest their means in said
bonds; Provided That the State shall have the right
to pay said bonds purchased and held by said
banks in their own notes; and individuals owning
slid bonds having purchased the same previously
of the State shall hold the free from taXaIon
either State, county, or otherwise.
SIC y. Be Il further enacted. That in order to
save expenses much of the act Of the late extra
session of the Legislature as requires the Supervi
sor to make monthly publications Of bank move
ments, be. and the same Is hereby repealed.
SEC Is BE ifa1tLer enacted That when peace shall
be restored to the country, the present danger
pass away that the Governor of the State or other
rlghtiul authority under which said force may be
at the time acting, shall issue proclamation de-
clarng the fact and shall thereafter discharge the
forces raised under this act, and from and after
which this act shall cease TO be in force.
SEC. IA. Be further enacted, That the County
Courts OF this State are empowered to assess and
collect tax properly and privileges in their res
pectiye counties provide fund for the relief and
support of families of volunteers whilst in actual
service when, from stfiiction indulgence, it may
be necessary: PrOUided, That the said fund thus
raised shall in all cases be expended for the benefit
of the families of volunteers residing IN the county
where the same is raised: and the Revenue COllec-
tor for collecting said tax shall receive COmpen-
saton-and the same shall be paid by him, under
order Of the County Court, to the persons TO whom
the same NAV be appropriated.
SEC i. Be it further enacted. Inst the County
Courts be authorized to issue County Scrip antIci.
pating the tax necessary in affecting the objects of
the preceding section
SEC. lG. Be ii further enacted, That the County
Courts of this State are authorized and empowered
to appoint and raise semi-annualy Home Guard
of Minute Men, whose term of service shall be three
months in their respective limits, to consist of COM
panes OF not less than ten for each Civil District
whose officers. when elected by the companies re-
spectively. shall be commissioned by the County
Courts and whose duty it shall be to procure war
rant from some Justice of the Peace and arrest all
suspected persons and bring them before the Civil
Authorities for tral-to that all slaves are dis
armed-to prevent the assemblages of slaves in IN
usual numbers-to keep the slave population in
proper suhjectioh and to see that peace and order
: observed. The Home Guard of Minute Men shall
be armed and equipped by each County at its own
expense, and a tax may be assessed and collected
for the purpose well as to compensate those en-
gagged in this branch of duty, if in their discretion,
compensation should be made. The Home Guard
shall assemble in their respective Districts to take
precautionary measures at least once IN each week
at the call Of the commanding officer and shall: be
momentariy ready for service at his call. Persons
engaged in this branch of duty shall upon failure
IL. 70 lt,fyr H.