Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-27
THE CONSUMPTION BILL.

A Bill for Enrolling and Calling out
the National Forces, and for other
Purposes.
The following is an exact copy of the
bill, as it passed the Senate:
Whereas there now exist in the United
States an instruction and rebellion
against the authority thereof, and it is,
under the Constitution of the United
States, the duty of the Government to
suppress instruction and rebellion, to
guarantee to each State a republican form
of government, and to preserve the pub
lie tranquility; and whereas for these
high purposes military force is indis-
pensable, to raise and support which all
persons ought willingly to contribute
and whereas no service can be more praise
worthy and honorable than that which is
rendered for the maintenance of the Con
stitution and Union, and the consequent
preservation of free government; there
fore,
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House
| Of Representatives Of the United States Of
America IN Congress assembled, That all
able bodied male citizens of the United
States, and persons of foreign birth who
shall have declared on oath their inten-
ton to become citizens under and in pur-
suance of the laws thereof, and who have
exercised therigbt of suffrage in any State,
between the ages of twenty and forty five
years, except as hereinafter excepted, are
hereby declared to constitute the nation
al forces, and shall be liable to perform
military duty in the service Of the United
States when called out by the President
for that purpose.
Sec. 2. And be 1t furthtr enacted, That
the following persons be, and they are
hereby excepted and exempt from the
provisions of this act, and shall not be
liable to military duty under the same,
to wit: such as are rejected as physically
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 Departments of
the Government and Governors of States /;
second, the only son of widow or of
aged or infirm parent or parents depend
ent upon his labor for support; third,
where there are two or more sons Of aged
or infrm parents subject to draft, the ia
Their, or if he be dead, the mother may
elect which son shall be exempt; fourth !,
the only brother of children not twelve
years old, having neither father nor mo-
thcr, and dependent upon his labor for
support; fifth, the father of motherless
children under twelve years of age, de-
pendent upon bis labor for support; sixth,
where there are father and sons in the
same family and household, and two Of
them are in the military service Of the
United States as n-commissioned off
GERS, musicians or privates, the residue
Of such family and household, not ex-
ceeding two, shall.be exempt; and no
persons but such as are herein excepted
shall be exempt: Provided, ho'cerer,
That no person who has been convicted
of any felony shall be enrolled or per-
United to serve in said forces.
Sec. 3 And be ii further enacted, That
tbs national forces of the United States
not now in the military service enrolled
under this act shall be divided into two
classes, the first of which shall comprise
all persons subject to do military duty,
between the ages Of twenty and thirty-fye
years, and all unmarried persons subject
to do military duty above the age of thir-
ty-6ve, and under the age of forty-fve
the second class shall comprise all other
persons subject to do military duty, and
they shall not in any district, be called
into the service Of the United States un-
til those of the frst class shall have been
called.
See. 4. And be It further enacted, That
for greater convenience in enrolling, call
ing out and organizing the national forces,
and for the arrest of deserters and spies
of the enemy the United States shall be
divided into districts, of which the Dis
trict Of Columbia shall constitute one,
each Territory of the United States shall
constitute one or more, as the President
shall direct, and each Congressional Dis
trict Of the respective States, as fixed by
a law Of tho State next preceding the Gu
rollment, shall constitute one Provided
That in States which have not by theiI
laws been divided into two or more Con.
eressional Districts, the President Of the
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