Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-23

The following acts have passed the Confederate Con.
gress:
AN ACT to raise an additional Military Force to serve
during the War.
The Congress of the Confederate States of america
do enac-Ihat in addition to the volunteer forces
horzd to be raised under existing laws the President
be and he is hereby authorized to accept the services of
volunteers who may offer their services without regard
to tha place of enlistment, either cavalry mounted
rfemens artillery Infantry, to such proportion of
these several be may deem expedient to serve
for and during the existing unless discharged
Sec. 2 That the volunteers Offering their services
may be accepted by the President in companies to be
organized by him into sGuadrons battallions regi-
ments The President shall appoint all field and staff
officers, but the company officers shall be elected by the
men composing the company, and if accepted the officers
so elected shall be commissioned by the President.
SEC. g. BE it further enacted, That any vacancies
occurring n the ranks of the several companies muster
ed into service under the provisions of this act may be
filed by volunteers accepted under the rules of such
companies and any vacancies occurring in the Offices
of such companies, shall be filled by elections in accord
ance with the rules.
SEC. A. Except as herein differently provided the
volunteer forces hereby authorized to be raised shall in
regards be subject to and organized In accordance with
the provisions of act to provide for the public de-
fence and all other acts for the government of the
mics of the Confederate States
AN ACT to amend An act vesting certain powers in
the Postmaster General" approved March Is, 1861.
SEC l. The Congress Of the Confederate States OF
Amerca do enact, That the provisions OF act vest
ing certain powers in the approved
March l5 1861, be amended that he be and here
| by is authorized, and after to be named by
him, in Proclamation to be issued by him for that
purpose to take the entire charge and direction of the
Postal Service of the Confederate States.
| SEC. 2 Be at further enacted That the Postmaster
General be and he hereby is authorized and empowered
to annu contracts or to discontinue or curta the SER
vice and pay them when he shall deem it advisable,
dispense with the service in whole 10 part or to
place higher different grade of service the route
when the public interests shall require such discon-
tnuance curailment for any other cause, he allowing
months extra pay the amount of service dspen-
sed with, in full of all damages to the contractor
SEC. B. And be further enacted, That the railroads
in the Confederate States be and they hereby divided
into three classes the following basis viz the great
through lines connecting important points and carrying
heavy mails, to be class number complete roads
connecting less important points, but carrying heavy
mails for usual distribution to be class number two
and roads on which less important mails are conveyed
short branch roads, and such unfinished roads do not
carry great mails, connect important points, shall be
class number three.
SEC. /. And be further enacted, That in contracts
made with railroad companies for carrying the mail
day On schedules to be agreed on, the Postmaster
General may allow them compensation not exceeding
the following rates. viz on first class roads one hundred
and fifty dollars per mile; on second class roads one
hundred dollars per mile; and on third class roads fifty
dollars per mie the amount OF compensation to be de-
termned by the Importance and value of the service
performed :-Provided That if half of the servic
on any railroad is required to be performed in the nigh
time, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General t.
pay twenty-five per cent in addition to the above
3 maximum rates to pay Provided further, That tn
agents, messengers and other travelling employees
the Post Office Department shall pass free of charg
over such roads respectively; and this act shall TAX
effect and be of force after its passage
The LAW OF CLOTHING IN REGARD TO VOLUNTEERS
: ! RECE1vRD INTO THE CONFEDERATE SERyIcE.-Mucl
. misunderstanding seems to exist among the vountee
forces called into the Confederate service in relation t.
the subject of clothes and clothing, and yet the law
Congress controlling the question is quite Clear ant
, admits of constructions Many Volunteer Compan
les and Battaions and Regiments entered the Coned
crate service with the idea that the War Department
would supply all deficiencies of clothing among them
would moreover be prepared with future supplies to
the accruing wants of the soldiers and consequently
are now suffering in this respect because of the want
proper information in the beginning which their officer
> and the State authorities should have given. The ay
OF Congress, set forth in the act to provide for th
s. public defence" reads as follows, to wit
Said volunteers shall furnish their clothes
"When called into active SERVICE and while remainin
therein, instead OF clothing, every commits
"soned officer and private ia any company shall be en-
"ttled to money, in equal to the cost of clothing
"of commissioned officer private in the regula
"army of the Confederate States
By this law volufeerS proUade all times, their ow'
clothing, and receive therefor oommtatton none,
aud in the passage of the law, Congress evidently ha
n view those public exgencies that require large force
l. to be thrown into the field while yet the Governmer
was IN its infancy and stood provided with regula
! Quarter Master organization.
We have been thus explicit because it is highly deSirs
BILE the matter should be thoroughly understood as we
among those troops already 10 service among thos
- who are daily expecting to be called into service
\ AlG advertiser.