Litchfield enquirer., 1862-01-30

Who Vlolate tne la"s or war. But If any of l Prices men are captured in the garb of soldiers. they shall be treated as prisoners of war. He promises further communication with Price when he shall receive instructions from his Gov ernment. THE First Battery of Connecticut embarked Friday on board the ship Ellaeood Walter for Port Royal Accompanying the battery 1S4 horses. The total number of men is l54. Near lv ten tons of ammunition have been sent with the battery.
 BISHOP Ames and Hon. Hamilton Fish have been appointed by Secretary Stanton, Commis- sioners to proceed to the rebel States to look after the wants of the National prisoners. 1 DRAFTING M1L1TIA.-As there has been con- siderable discussion on the drafting process, now going on in this State, and as the Militia Law under which the drafting has been made, is somewhat blind to some, we copy the follow ing explanations of the law, from the New Ha- ven Journal and Courier, for the benefit of allin- tercsted. The editor says:
 l As under the present unpopular and oppress- i've Militia law, it is impossible to raise any Mi litia force to take the place of that disbanded by it, Gov. Buckingham has resorted to the al ternative permitted by the act, and issued or ders to draft from each town it's quota, from those enrolled as militia subjects. An organ ized militia is of great importance, and we do not see how the Governor could have done differ ently under the circumstances. The idea of '' drafting is an unpleasant one, and it's sgnif- canoe in the present case is not exactly under stood.
 
 The law provides that every ablc-bodied white male citizen between the ages of Is or 45 years, 1 except those mentally or physically imbeeile, or especially exempt under this or previous laws, shall be enrolled on or before the 10th of Janu- ary, in each year, and the said persons shall be taxed one dollar annually, unless they are mi nors or in the active militia. The militia thus enrolled are exempt from duty except Tn case of
 war, invasion or insurrcction, when the Govern
 or may order them out by draft or otherwise.-
 When called out under such circumstances, the
 Selectmen may either draft their quota or ac
 ccpt volunteers. The State is to furnish them
 arms and equipments, and pay them while in
 service.
 All this is applicable to the "inactive'' mili- tia, or military subjects, who do not "take an
 interest" in the thing. But the law provides for "active militia" of about $500 men, to be apportioned in proportion to the population.
 It is this organization, we suppose, with which l
 that when any county does not raise it's quota of active militia, the Governor may supply the same by the draft, and that is what he is trying now to do. The militia thus organized are not
 to go into the United States service, and are no part of the volunteers for the war, but when a
 call is made for the services of the militia these men to be the first ordered into service As
 the government will never, if it can help it, cal
 for militia, tied up by the endorsements ot
 State regulations and control, it is not probable l that the forces thus raised will ever take the
 field such.
 The method of drafting is, first, acquisition | upon the Selectmen for the quota of the town s The selectmen draw the victims by lot, and mo- I tify them of the fact within forty fight hours.-
 Every person notified has five days to prove that he IS exempt, or to procure substitute, or pay 5 a fine of ten dollars, at his option Every per f son thus made a soldier must furnish himself c with a regulation uniform, and the State is to provide him with arms He must make two , company parades between April and December. and if his regiment votes to do so, regimental parade of one day in the fall. For this outlay of time and money he receives pay, but the , company to which he belongs gets Sl00 year for Armory rent, and he is personally exempt
 from poll tax and jury duty. We do not notice
 anything in the law regulating the organization of the drafted militia into companies, but we
 presume that is expected to be conducted in the
 old militia style.
 This is the substance of the requirements un- der draft. It will amount to little unless the
 men go into it with the same spirit that actuates
 volunteers, and make up their minds to estab- fish good healthy organization in spite of tho laws, trusting to the intelligence of future Leg
 isature to supply the defects of the present
 system.
 THE PRESIDENTS LEvEE.-With single OK cepton, Mrs. Lincoln's costume was in exquis- . ite taste. She wore dress (decoIlete) of azure f silk shot with white, mottled wi;h velvet leaves
 of deeper hue. A shawl of point lace hung over her arm and point lace berthe, of mar r vicious fbrous texture, encircled her neck. Her f ornaments were pearl bracelets and necklace i;
 her head dress of blue and white plumes.
 MT. Lincoln looks little care-worn, thought
 full, if not anxious. But in such an assembly, how easy it is to see that he is nota selfish man.
 Every motion, every look, indicates the genial
 kindness of his heart The Hutchinson family , were present. Taking both of sJohn's' hands, the President told him with what pleasure he D remembered bis singing in Springfield, and ask ed if he would sing for him the dramatic song of the "Ship on Fire.' In moment more, tho B great drawing rooms were vocal with the rich
 melody of the Hutchinson voices. Only think, ,
 said little Viola Hutchinson to me, with child ish naiuete, "after I was through, N. P. Willis kissed my hand, and thanked me fer the song. 5 No one ever kissed my hand before. And you
 know he is such lion." "Yes, born lion, D , replied, as watched him promenade with Mrs. Lincoln, beaming down on what he calls her e 'motherly face.'' At least he is inevitable
 At concert, reception, lectures, the first object stamped on the retinue is the Brummclish fig ure and Byronic forelock of \. r. He does not I at all resemble the man who from the death bed
 of ga consumptive," composed many fare wells to the world as John Shivery did epiaphs , to his own memory, when expecting to die daily for the love of Little Dorrit.
 RELIEF OF THE NATIONAL TRooPs.-The fol
 lowing has been issued by the War Department:
 "This Department recognizes as the first of its duties to take measures for the relief of the brave men who, having impcrilled their lives in
 the military service of the Government, are now
 prisoners and captives
 It is therefore, ordered that two Commi ssion- } CTS be appointed to visit the City of Richmond, in Virginia, and wherever else prisoners belong ing 10 the army of the United States may be
 held, and there take such meas ures as may be
 needful to provide for the wants and contribute
 to the comforts of such prisoners, at the expense
 of the United States, to such extent as may be permitted by the authorities under whom such prisoners are held.
 (Signed) EDWIN NJ. STANTON, I Secretary of War.
 How there can be any heistation on the part
 of any member of the Senate to expel Bright from their midst after such an exhibition of treachery as his letter to Davis makes, will pug gle ordinary minds. He wrote thus:
 WASHINGTON, March 1, 1861. MY DEAR SIR: Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance my friend Thomas B. Lincoln of | Texas He visits uo,r CnoiJ0J rn,;nlr (. #.