, 1862-09-27
The Militia Bill.

The following is a synopsis of the bill which
passed the Congress calling the militia into the
field
The first section provides, that whenever the
President shall call forth the militia of the Statea
he may specify in his call the period for which
such service will be required, not exceeding nine
months, and the militia so mustered in shall con-
tnue to serve for the time specified, unless sooner
discharged. If by reason of defects in existing
laws, or in the execution of them in the States
any of them, it shall be necessary to provide for
enrolling the militia, the President is authorized
to make all the necessary regulations, so as to in
cude all able-bodied men between Is and 45, and
the number shall be apportioned among the States
according to their population. When so enrolled,
they shall be organized in the mode prescribed
for volunteers.
The second section authorizes the President to
call one hundred thousand volunteers as infantry,
into the feld in addition to the number already
authorized by law, for the period of nine months,
unless sooner discharged; and every soldier who
shall enlist under this law shall receive his first
months pay, and also twenty-five dollars as boun-
ty upon the mastering of his company, or regi-
ment, in the service. All provisions of the law
relating to volunteers enlisted in the service of the
United States for three years, or during the war,
except in relation to bounty, shall be extended to-
embrace volunteers raised under the provisions Of
this section.
The third section authorizes the President to-
accept such number of volunteers as may be re-
quired for filling up the regiments ofinfantry now
in the service, for twelve months, unless sooner
discharged. All volunteers when mustered into
service shall be on a footing with similar troops,
except as to service bounty, which shall be fifty
dollars, one-half of which is to be paid upon form
ing their regiments, and the other half at the ex--
piration of the enlistment.
Section fourth authorizes the appointment of a
Judge Advocate General, with the pay of Col
onel of cavalry, to whom all proceedings in Courts
martial shall be returned, and no sentence Of
death or imprisonmentsin penitentiary shall be
carried out without the approval of by the Pres
dent
Sections five and six authorizes the Judge Ad-
vocate for each army, and section seven requires
all battalions, officers, Quartermasters and Adju-
tants of cavalry, exceeding the number authorized
by law, and now in service, to be mustered out Of
service.
Section eight authorizes the President to estab--
lish and organize an army of his discretion and
section nine regulates the staff Of commanders of
corps as follows One Assistant Adjutant- General,
one Quartermaster, one Commissary, and one
Inspector-General, with the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel, and three ads-de-camp
Section ten regulates the number Of officers Of
cavalry regiments.
Section eleven authorizes the President to re-
ceve into service, for the purpose of constructing
entertainments, performing camp service, or any
military or naval service for which they may be
found competent, persons of African descent, and
such persons shall be enrolled and organized un-
der such regulations not inconsistent with the laws
as the President shall prescribe; and section
twelve enacts that whenever any man or boy of
African descent, who, by the laws of any State
shall owe service or labor to any person who, du-
ring the present rebellion has levied war or borne
arms against the Government, or adhered to its
enemies, shall render any such service as enumer-
ated in the section preceding, he his mother, wife
and children shall be forever free, any law or
custom to the contrary Notwithstanding and
where such persons service to their loyal mas
ters, provision is made for compensation.