, 1862-07-13
How Negroes were Armed In she War
OF 1912

HOW Negroes Were Arned In t1le War
OF 1912
We publish below copy Of the law passed
By the Legislature Of the State Of New York
during the war Of 1912, authorizing tie enlist
ment Of two negro regiments. The recent
discussions OF the action Of General Hunter
lend fresh interest to this enactment:
An ACT to authorize the raising Of two tacl-
meuts OF men OF co1or- Passed Uctcbcr a, 1si4.
SCI. l. Be it enacted by the people Of the
State OF New York, represented in Senate and
Assembly, That the Governor of the State be
and he is Hereby authorized to raise. by vol
untary enlistment, two regiments oi frce men
Of color, for the drfeLs1 of the State, for
three years, unless sooner discharged.
SEC. :. And be it further enacted, That e1ch
Of the said regiments shall consist Of 1850
men; and tue said regiments sila.i be formed
into brigade, or be oFgauized in such mall
the Governor OF the State Of New York shall
derm best adapted TO defend the said State.
SEC. s. And be it further enacted, That Ill
commissioned officers Of the said regiment:
and trigades shall be white men; and thc
governor Of the State Of New York shall be,
and he is hereby authorized to commission by
breyet, MI the officers of the said regiment
and brigade, WHO shall hold their respective
commissions until the council Of appointment
shall lave appointed the officers of the said
regiment. and brigade, in pursuance Of the
constitution and laws Of the sid State
Sec. !. And be it further enacted, That the
commissioned officers Of the said regiments
and s'rl4ades SHALL receive the same pay, H.
tlons, forage and allowance rs officers Of the
same grade in the army Of the United Ssat2E
and tue non-conmissioned officers, musicians,
and prlvatcs Of the said regiments shall receive
TIC same pay, rsltious, clothing and allowances
| IS the non commissioned officers, musicians
and nrlVatcs Of the army Of tue United Statts;
aud the sum OF Ss2.5 shall be paid to each Of
the said non n-commissioncd Officers, nluslci .ns
ard Iriyatrs, at the time Of enlistment, in lieu
| Of all other bounty.
| SEC. S. And be it further enacted, That the
| troops to be Tai5cd rs aforesaid may be trans
ttrred into the service Of the United States,
! if the government Of the United States shlll
! aeree 10 pay aud subsiSt them, and to refund
10 this state the moneys expended by this
state in clothing and arnliny them; and until
! such transfer shall be made, NAV be ordered
! into the service of the United States in lieu Of
an equal Iumbcr Of militia Of the stltc uf
thu United States.
SEC. T. And be it further enacted, THAT It
shall be lawful for any able-bodlel sll7e with
tue written assent Of his muster OF mistress,
to enlist into tic said corps, and the master or
mistress Of such slave shall be entitled to the
| sHty and bounty allowed him for his service !:
ard further, that :he said flave at the time OF
receiving his discharge, shall be deemed and
adiutscd to hav,. been legally mauuulit.ctl
from that time, and his said master or mis-
tress shall not thenceiorward be liable for lis
| maintenance.
SEC. :. And be it further enacted. Tint ey-
cry such enrolled person, who shall have be,
come free By manumission OF otherwise, if he
shall thereafter become indieent, shall be
deemed to be settled in the to Tn in which
tie person who nauumitted him was settled
at the time Of such nanunlisSion, or in such
other town where lie shall lasc gained set.
tlement subsequent to his discharge from III:
said service; aud the former owner or owner:
IF such manumittcd person, and his legal rep
rcscntativcs, shall be exonerated from hi:
maintenance, any la~ to the contrary hereo
Notwithstanding.
SEC, S and be it further enacted, Th7
when the troops to be raised as aforesaid shal
l'e in the service OF the United States, ttc7
shall be subject to the rules and articles which
have been or may be hereafter established b.
the bylaws Of the United States for the gov
ernmtnt of the army Of tho United States
that when the said troops shall BIZ in the sc1
vice Of the State Of New T York, they shall b.
subject to the same rules aud regulations
| and tho governor Of the said State shall b.
| and he is hereby authorized and directed t
| exercise all the power and authority which b,
the said rules and articles are required to b
exercised by the President Of the Uni! e.
! States.