The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-02

The Militia Drafting LAW.
The following is . synopsis Of the bin
passed by Congress, authorizing the Pfesi-
dent to enroll and cal into military service
sR men of the loyal States capable of bear
ing arms:
The. frst section provides that whenever
the President shall call forth the militia of
the States, he may specify in his cau the
period for which such service win be required
not exceeding nine months and the militia
so mustered in shall serve for the time spec.
fed, unless sooner discharged e. by res..
son of defects in existing laws, or in the ex-
ecution of them in the States, or any Of
them, 1t shall be found necessary to provide
for enrolling militia, the President is author
ized to make all necessary regulations, and
enrolment shall in all cases include all able
bodied men between the ages Of eighteen
and forty FIVE, and shall be apportioned
among the States according to population,
and when so enrolled shall be organized af-
ter the mode prescribed for volunteers
The second section authorizes the Presi-
dent to cali one hundred thousand volunteers
IS infantry into the field, in addition to the
number already authorized by law, for the
period of nine months, unless sooner dis
charged, and every soldier who shall enlist
under it shall receive his first months pay
in advance and Also twenty-five dollars as
bounty, upon the mastering Of his eompa-
ny or regiment into service. And all pro.
visions Of the law relating to volunteers en-.
listed in the service Of the United States for
three years or during the war; except in
relation to bounty, shall be extended to EN-.
brace the volunteers raised under the pro-
visions of this section.
The third section authorizes the Presi-
dent to accept such number Of volunteers
as may be required for filing up the regi-
ments of infantry now in the service for
twelve months, unless sooner discharged.
All volunteers when mustered into service
shall be on footing with similar troops,
except as to service bounty, which shall be
fifty dollars, one-half Of which is to be paid
upon joining their regiments, and the other
half at the expiration of the term of enlist
ment. .-. -s
Section fourth authorizes the appointment
cfa Judge Advocate General, with pay Of
Colonel Of Cavalry, to whose Office all pro-
ceedings in court martial shall be returned,
and no sentence Of death or Imprisonment
in the penitentiary shall be carried out with
out the approval of the President.
! Sections i've and six authorize Judge
Advocate for each army, and section seven
requires all battalion officers, Quartermas-
ters and adjutants Of cavalry, authorized by
law, and now in service, to be mustered out
Of service.
Section eight authorizes the President to
establish and organize the army at his dis
cretion, and section nine regulates the stats
Of commanders Of army corps, as follows
One Assistant Adjutant General. one Quar-.
termaster, one Comnaissasy, and one Assist
ant Inspector General, with the rank OF
Lieutenant Colonels one Assistant Inspect
or General with the rank of Lieutenant Col
onel, and three aids-de.camn.
Section ten regulates the number of off,
GERS of cavalry regiments.
Section eleven authorizes the President to
receive into the service, for the purpose OF
constructing intrenchments and performing
camp service or any other labor, or any mil.
itary or naval service for which they may be
found competent, persons Of African decent;
and such persons shall be enrolled and or.
sanized under such regulations, not incon-
sistent with the Constitution and the laws,
IS the President may prescribe.
| Section twelve enacts that whenever any
man or boy Of African decent, who by the
laws Of any State, shall owe service or lahar
to any person, who during the present re-
bellion, has levied waror boine arms against
the Government or adhered to its enemies,
and shall render any such service as EMU
merated in the section, be, his wife and his
children, shall be forever free, any law or
custom to the contrary notwithstanding
And where such persons owe service 10 layal
masters, provision is made for compensa-
ton. 4