Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-07-24


The bill authorizing the President to
drsft the militia Of the United States. one
of tffe most important acts of the late ses
sion of Congress is now law. A briei
abstract Of its provisions is as follows:-
The first section provides that whenever
the President shall call forth the militia oil
the states he may specify in his call the
period for which such service will be &C
quired. not exceeding nine monthsl and
the militia so mustered in shall serve for
the term specified. unless sooner discharg-
ed. II. by reason of defects in existing
laws. or in the execution of them in the
States, or any of them, it shall be found
necessary to provide for enrolling militia,
the President is authorized to make all
necessary regulations, and the enrolment
shall in all cases include all able bodied
men between the ages of eighteen and for
ty-five. and shall be apportioned among
the States according to population. and
when so enrolled shall be organized after
the mode prescribed for volunteers.
The second section authorizes the Presi
dent to call one hundred thousand volun-
tcers as infantry into the field. in addition
to the number already authorized b. law.
for period of nine months, unless sooner
discharged, and every soldier who shall en-
list under it shall receive his first months
pay in advance and also twenty-five dol
lars as bounty. upon the mastering OF
his company or regiment into the serv ice.
And 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 the volunteers raised
under the provisions OF this section.
This third section authorizes the Presi-
dent to accept such number Of volunteers
as may be required for filling up the regi-
ments of infantry now in the service for
twelve months unless sooner discharged.
All volunteers when mustered into service
shall DO on footing with similar troops.
except as to service bounty. which shall
be fifty dollars. c-half of which is to be
paid upon joining their regiments, and
the other half at the expiration Of the term
of enlistment.
Section fourth authorizes the appoint
ment of Judge advocate-gencral, with the
pay Of colonel Of cavalry. to whose office
all proceedings ia courtmartial shall be re-
turned. and no sentence OF death or impris-
onment in the pcnitentiary shall be carried
ont without the approval of the President.
Sections five and six authorize judge
advocate for each army. and section seven
requires al battalion officers. quartcrmas-
tiers, an adjutants of cavalry authorized by
law. aud 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 quarter msster. one commissary. and
one assistant inspector general, with the
rank of lieutenant lonels, and three aids
e-camp.
Section ten regulates the number of off,
GERS of cavalry regiments.
Section eleven authorizes the President
70 receive into the service for the purpose
Of constructing entrcnchnents and perform
ing camp service or any other labor. or
any military or naval service for which
they may be found competent. persons of
African descent; and such persons should
be enrolled and organized under such reg
ulations. not inconsistent with the consti-
tuition and the laws. as the President may
prescribe.
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. during the pres
ent rebellion. has levied war or borne arms
against the Government. or adhered TO its
enemies. and shall render any such service
as enumerated in the section. he, his wife,
and children shall forever be free. any law
or custom 10 the contrary notwithstanding
And where such persons owe service to 10y
al masters, provision is made for compcn-
sation.