The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-26

THE PROGRESS OF THE CIVIL WAR.
HOW RECRUITS ARE REREIvED AT NEW YORK
When q man offers himself for enlistment
the recruiting officer has him stripped and
examined, the slightest bodily deformity, q
crooked finger even, being sufficient for his
rejection. The new candidates for soldier
life are sent over to the island every night,
and are there again examined by the com.
mandant and surgeon. If they pass inspec-
ton they get their clothing, their personal
description is noted down, and they join u
company. The first instruction to the new
recruit is in the use of bis legs he learns
how to mark time, march, right about, and
so on, and if he is smart will get hold of q
musket in the course of fortnight. He
goes on in what is called the school of the
soldier, passes into the school of the com.
pany, learns battalion drill, and is then fit
to 60 into regiment. After thorough
discipline the recruits are sent of to various
posts of the country. Their residence on
the island varies from three days to three
months. Those who arrive in November,
when the roads west and over the plains are
closed for the winter, generally remain at
this post until spring.
"wHo ARE EXEMPT FROM MILITARY DUTY ?"
Not very warlike interrogatory, but one
frequently made. In answer to this ques-
ton, we publish an abstract OF the acts Of
Congress, which enumerates the persons who
are not liable to be enrolled in the militia,
together with references to the decisions of
tie courts, in which the construction of that
statute has been the subject of adjudication.
The second section of the act OF Congress
approved May 8, 1921 Stats. at Large,
27l-entitled An act more efectually to
provide for the national defence, by estab.
fishing an uniform militia throughout the
United States" provides as follows
That the Vice President of the United States,
the officers judicial and executive of the gov.
eminent of the United States, the members of
both houses of Congress and their respective
officers, all custom house officers with their
clerks, all post officers and stage drivers who
are employed in the care and conveyance Of
the mail of the post Office of the United States,
all ferrymen employed at any ferry on the post
road, all inspectors of exports, all pilots, all
mdTlucTS ACTUALLY eIuplOyeu III luc sea ScrVlce
Of any citizen or merchant within the United
States, all persons who now or may hereafter
be exempted by the laws of the respective
States, shall be, and are hereby, exempted
from militia duty, Notwithstanding their being
above the age Of eighteen and under the age of
forty-five years.
By the 35th section of the act of March
3, 1924, Stats. at Large, 1l2-"post-
masters, post riders, and drivers of the mail
stages" are exempted from militia duties.
And the 34th section of the act of July 2,
1865 Stats. at Large, 88-exempts
assistant postmasters, and clerks regularly
employed and engaged in post Offices"
The circuit court of the United States for
the District of Columbia, in the case of er-
parte Smith, Cranche, 693-decided that
clerks employed in the several departments
of the government are officers OF the United
States, within the meaning of the I'd section
of the act of May 8, 1892, above cited, and
not liable to militia duty.
The same court, in the case of SANFORD
VS.. BOyd-2 Cranch, 78-ruled that a sail
maker at the Washington navy yard, ap,
pointed by warrant under the hand of the
Secretary of the Navy, and seal of the
Department, is likewise an officer of the
United States, and exempt from militia
duties. And the Supreme Court Of the
United States, in the case OF Wise VS..
Withers, e Cranch, 33O held that Justice
of the peace, in the District of Columbia, is
also an officer of the government OF the
United States, within the meaning of said
statutes, aud not liable to be enrolled in the
militia.
THE PAwNEE PASSING MOUNT VERNON.
The steam sloop Pawnee, sailed from
Norfolk, on the 10th, with troops, under
sealed orders. On her way to Norfolk,
from Washington, che passed Mount Ver-
non, when the following scene, described by
an officer, took place:
In passing down the Potomac river and ar
irving opposite Mount Vernon, beautiful and
graceful tribute was paid to the sacred remains
that lie entOmbed in that hallOwed spot. All
hands were called, officers in swords and epau-
lets, sailors in their neat uniform, the fine guard
of the Pawnee drawn up, with belt and musket;
at given signal the large American ensign
fell at half mast; the ships bell tolled out its
muffled tones, the melancholy drums rolled
their funeral solute, while the presented arms
and uncovered heads of officers and men paid
sad tribute of respect to him who was first
in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of
his countrymen and so the Pawnee passed
on silent and mourning, for he by whose grave
she glided was the Father of his country-a
scarcely life time old, yet the children of the
second generations are ready to tear it to
pieces, and with its ruins hide forever from the
eye of men that grave and all the deeds which
make it SO famous in the renowned world.
Pass by this grave, oh Americans, as did the
Pawnee and her gallant crew, and if after you
have the hearts to rend each other, to scatter
ashes and ruin over the land of Washington,
then, indeed. is vain all virtue, all patriotism,
and the sooner the iron heel of despotism is
planted firmly upon the neck of the people the
better. Let both North and Soutt remember
the cry, "Those that rule by the sword shall
perish by the sword
PRESIDENT LINCOLN's PROCLAMATION.
Although we have published the sub.
stance of the Presidents proclamation, no
official and correct copy has yet been
printed in the State. The following is the
document as it appears in the New York