The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-03-24
National Militia Law.

AN ACT FOR ENROLLING AND CALLING OUT
THE NATIONAL FORCES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
Whereas, There now exists in the
United States an insurrection and REBEL
ion against the authority thereof, and it
is, under the Constitution of the United
States, the duty Of the Government TO
suppress insurrecton and rebellion, to
guarantee to each State a republican
form Of government, and to preserve
public tranquility and mhereos, for
these high purposes, military force is
indispensable, to raise and support
which all persons ought willingly to
contribute ; and achereaS, no service can
be more praiseworthy and honorable than
that which is rendered for the mainten.
ance OF the Constitution and Union, and
the consequent preservation of free gov
ernment: therefore,
WHO ARE To BE ENROLLED.
BE ii enacted By tie Senate and House
Of Representatives. of the United States Of
-fmertca IN Congress 1SaemJlea, That all
able bodied male citizens of the United
States, and persons of foreign birth, who
have declared on oath their intention to
become citizens under and in pursuance
of the laws thereof, and who have exer-
cised the right Of suffrage in any State,
between the ages of twenty and forty.
five years, except as hereinafter except.
ed, are hereby declared 10 constitute the
national forces, end shall be liable to
perform military duty in the service OF
the United States when called out by
the President for that purpose.
WHO ARE EXEMPT
SEC. 2. dnd be IL further enacted,
That the following persons be, and they
are hereby excepted and exempt from
tie provisions OF this act. and shall not
be liable TO military duty under the same.
10 wit !: Such as are rejected as physi.
cally or mentally unfit for the service
also, FIRST, the Vice President of the
United States, the Judges of the various
Courts of the United States, and the
heads of the various Executive Depart
ments Of the Government, and Govern
ors Of the several States second. the
only son OF a widow, liable to military
duty, dependent upon his labor for sup.
port; third, the only son of aged or in.
firm parent or parents dependent upon
his labor for support fourth, where
! there are two or more sons Of aged or in.
firm parents subject TO draft. the father,
or if he be dead, the mother, may elect
which son shall be exempt; fifth. the
only brother Of children not twelve wears
old. having neither father nor mother.
and dependent upon his labor for sup.
por, sixth, the father Of motherless
children under twelve years of age, de
Fpendent upon his labor for support
seventh. where there is father and
sons in the same family and household
and two of them are in the military
service of the United States as non com
missoned officers, musicians or privates
the residue of such family and house.
hold, not exceeding two, shall be exempt
and no persons but such as are hereir
exempted shall be exempt; Provided
homerer, That no person who has beer
convicted ofany felonly shall be enrolled
or permitted to serve in said forces.
| THE TWO CLASSES.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted
That the national forces Of the Untes
States, not now in the military service
enrolled under this Act. shall be divided
into two classes. the first Of which com
prise all persons subject TO do miliIsr,
duty between the ages Of 20 and s.
years. and all unmarried persons subjec
to do military duty above the age of 8