Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-04
Milf q Rill.

The Senate bill, in reference to organizing
Virginia's quota of the Confederate army pass
ed the Senate BY a vote of 35 ayes to nays
This bill authorizes the Governor to call out
force of not less than fifty thousand nor more
than seventy five thousand men to serve Tor TWO
years, unless sooner discharged, to be rendered
to The Oonfederacy, and to constitute Vlrglnias
quota of the Confederate army; that the troops
be levied from the entire military population OF
the State, and drafted by lot; but the popula-
ton of those districts now held by the enemy 10
be excluded, but volunteers still to be accepted
from such districts. The times and places Of
drafting TO be appointed by the Governor. To
facilitate drafting, the whole population between
Is and 45 years of age to be enrolled, whether
now in service or not; that whenever 66 men
shall unite TO form a company, or "a shall be
dfawn, the same to be forthwith organized, and
to elect their captain and two ieutenants to b,
commissioned By the Governor, or four to bat
terry of artillery; and no distinction as to rank
between those drafted and volunteers Nom
commissioned officers to be appointed by the
Captains. Whenever thirty-6ve men in an en-
listed company shall agree to re-enlist, the def-
clenoy to be made up by draft from the district
where they were raised, and the new company
to have the same designation as the old. Depots
to be established as rendezvous for the eves at
convenient places, to serve also as camps of in
structon, until they are duly called for by the
President. The Governor to appoint and COM
mission officers above the rank Of Captain; tor
four companies, not to exceed one Major; from
six to ten, Lieutenant Colonel and Major; .
Brigadier General to four regiments; and to four
Ibligades, a Major General Drafted companies
assigned to any arm of the service, but only one
troop of cavalry and one battery to regiment.
Volunteers to select their own arms. The Gov
ernor may order drafts whenever needed.
All persons liable to military duty to report
themselves forthwith. Penalty tor failure, three
days OF service for each day of failure. Citizens
OF other States, being here, may organize them
selves and be accepted by the Governor
/ Volunteers now in service may re-enlist, and
II they choose, can re- organize otherwise, to
return to the militia. Those who e-enlist en-
titled to receive fifty dollars within six months
after the termination of the war; Officers re
enlisting to retain their seniority, but the com
missions of others TO be vacated
After the force shall be embodied, whether
under draft BY enlistment, they shall determine
whether to serve for two years or for the war
, In addition to those exempted, all millers ac-
tually engaged; one physician to one thousand
Inhabitants; the Lieutenant Governor, and mem
bers and officers OF the General Assembly. Mar
, iners liable to draft for naval service. 7'
To this bill the Richmond WHO suggest, the
following objections:
1. 1t disbands the present army, and creates
new one-leaving US 10 the mercy of the enemy
at the moment of re-enlistment.
: 2. The companies are too small. Sixty eight
, is not enough.
. 3. The cumbersome and costly machinery oi
camps of instruction.
4. Volunteers may re enlist; hut no mode is
provided for aeceI tanning in time how msny
will; and it viii not be known till the expira
ton of their term whether we have an army al
all.
The first objection is sufficient We cannot
afford to lose this army before we get another
That must be the result, according to this bill -
: The draft is to te made indiscriminately from
those now in the field and those pot. They can.
not organize until the present terms OF service
are at an end. Even admitting that the presen,
volunteers are entitled to no special considers
ton, this mode of blending the two sets, ard q!
} SO late day, cannot fail to resnlt in confusion
, and disors anization.