New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-04-24
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The CONSUMPTION Bill.

amendments IL received, or winch were OHered TO
it. We are unable to say whether it has or has not
yet received the Executive sanction.
AT late hour copy of the bill, as printed
after the second reading, was placed in our hands,
with the information, which we believe correct,
that it passed its third reading without alteration
We give the entire copy Of this most important
OF all public measures, as follows:
BILL to be entitled AN Act Further Provide The
In view OF the eSigenees of the country, and the
absolute necessity of keeping in the services our
gallant army, and of placing in the field a large
additional force to meet the advancing columns of
the enemy now invading our soil; therefore,
SECr1oN /. The Congress of the Confederate
States OF America do enact, That the President be,
and he is hereby authorized to call out and place
in the military service of the Confederate States,
for three years, unless the war shall have been
sooner ended, all white men who are residents of
the Confederate States between the ages of IS
and IS years at the time the call or calls may be
made. who are not legslly exempted from military
service. All of the persons aforesaid who are not
now in the armies OF the Confederacy, and whose
term of service will expire before the end of the
war, shall be continued in the service for three
years from the date of their original enlistment
unless the war shall have been sooner ended
Provided, however, that all such companies, batta.
lions and regiments, whose term of original en-
lisment was for twelve months, shall have the
right, within forty days, on day to be fixed by
the commander of the brigade, to reorganize said
companies, battalions and regiments, by eecting
all their officers which they had right heretofore
to elect, who shall be commissioned by the Presi-
dent: Provided, further, That furoughs not ex-
ceedlng sixty days, with transportation home and
back, shall be granted to all those retained in the
service by the provisions Of this act beyond the
period of their original enlisments, and who have
heretofore not received turloughs under the pro
visions of an act entitled, " An act providing for
the granting of bounty and turloughs to privates
and non-commssioned officers in the Provisional
Army" approved 18th December, 1861, said
Burroughs to be granted at such times and in such
n Var ma aea
compatible with the public interest: and, Pro-
vded, further, That in lieu of furlough the com.
mutation value in money of the transportation
herein above granted shall be paid to each pri-
vate, musician, or non commissioned officer who
may elect to receive it at such time the furlough
would otherwise be granted: Provided, further,
That all persons under the age of Is years, or over
the age OF So years, who are enrolled in the
military service OF the Confederate States, in the
regiments, battaons and companies hereafter to
be organized, shall be required to remain in their
respective companies, battaons and regiments
for ninety days. unless their places can sooner be
supplied by other recruits not now in the service,
who are between the ages of Is and S. years, and
all laws and parts of laws providing for the reen-
listment of volunteers and the organization thereof
into companies, squadrons, battalions or res
ments, shall be, and the same are hereby re-
pealed.
SEC. 2. Be It further enacted, That such compa-
Mes sqaadrons, battalions regiments, organ
lied or in process of organization BY authority
from the Secretary of War, as may be within
thirty days from the passage of this act SO far
pleted as to have the number of men requisite for
organization actually enrolled, not embracing in
said organizations any persons now in service,
shall be mustered into the service of the Confed-
crate States part OF the land forces of the same
to be received in that arm of the service in which
they are authorized to organize, and shall elect
their company, battalion and regmental officers.
SEC. 8. Be further enacted That for the enroll
ment of all persons comprehended with the provi
sons of this act, who not already in service in
the armies of the Confederate States, it shall be
lawful for the President, with the consent of the
Governors of the respective States, to employ
State officers, and, on failure to obtain such con.
sent, he shall employ Confederate officers charged
with the duty OF making such enrolment in &C.
cOrdanCe with rules and regulations to be pre-.
scribed by him.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That persons en-.
rolled under the provisions of the preceding sec
ton shall be assigned by the Secretary of War to
the different companies now in service until each
company is filed to its maximum number, and the
persons SO enrolled shall be assigned to companies
from the States from which they respectively
come.
SEC. 5. Be ii further enacted, That all seameu
and ordinary seamen in the land forces of the Con-
federate States enrolled under the provisions of
this act, may, on application of the Secretary of
the Navy. be transferred from the land forces to
the naval service.
SEC. 6. Be 1t farther enacted That in all cases
where State may not have in the army a number |
of regiments, batlalions, souadrons, or companies
sufficient to absorb the number of persons subject
to military service under this act belonging to such
State, then the remains of excess thereof Shall be
kept reserve, under such regulations as may be
established by the Secretary of War, and that at |
stated periods of not greater than three months,
Details determined by lot shall be made from said
reserve, that each company shall, as nearly as
practicable. be kept full Provided That the per |
sons held in reserve may remain at home until |
called into service by the President. Provided, |
also That during their stay at home they shall not
receive pay. Provided, further, That the persons
comprehended in this act shall not be subject to
the rules and articles OF until mustered into the
actual service of the Confederate States except
that said persons, when enrolled and liable to duty
if they shall wiltuly refuse to obey said call each
of them shall be held to be deserter, and pun.
ished as such under said articles Provided, fur.
Their, That whenever, in the opinion of the Presi,
dent the eXigencies of the public service NAV re-
qure it, he shall be authorized to call into actual
sreVlce the entire reserve, or so much as may be
necessary not previously assigned to different COM
panles IN service, under provision of section four of
this act. Said reserve shall be organized under
such rules as the Secretary Of War may adopt |
Provided, The company, battalion and regmental
oincers shall be elected by the troops composing
the same:, Provided, The troops raised in any one
State shall not be combined in regimental bat
talon, squadron, or company organization with
troops raised in any other States.
SEC 7. BE i further enacted, That all soldiers
now serving in tho army or mustered in the mill.
tary service of the Confederate States, or enrolled
in said service under the authorizations heretofore
issued by the Secretary of War; and who are CON
tlnued in the service by virtue of this act, who
have not received the bounty of fifty dollars allow.
ed by existing laws, shall be entitled to receive
said bounty ~
Sec. s. Be ii further enacted, That each man
who may hereafter be mustered into the service,
and who shall arm himself with musket, shot.
gum rifle or carbne, accepted an efficient Wea.
pom, shall be paid the value thereof, to be ascer-
tanned by the mastering officer under such regula
tons as may be prescribed by the Secretary of |
War, if he is willing to sell the same and if he is
not, then he shall be entitled to receive one dollar
amonth for the use of said received and approved |
musket, rifle, shotgun or carbne.
. DEC. .. BE 1t further enacted, That persons not
liable for duty may be received as substitutes for
those who are under such regulations as NAV be
prescribed by the Secretary of War.
SEC. 10. Be Ntnrther enacted, That all vacancies
shall be filled by the President from the com. |
pany, battalion, squadron or regiment in which
such vacancies shall occur, by promotion accord. |
ing to- seniority, except in cases of disability or
other incompetency: Provided, however, That |
the President may, when in his opinion it NAV be
proper, fill such vacancy or vacancies by the bro
motion OF any officer or officers, private or pri
Yates from such company, battalion, squadron or |
who shall have been distinguished in the
service by exhibition Of valor and Skill and that |
whenever vacancy shall occur in the lowest
grade of the commissioned officers of a companv |
said vacancy shall be filled by election: Provided |
mat allappointments made by the President shall |
be by and with the advice and conaant cf tbn |