Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-09-19
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES,
Passed al the Third Session Of the Thirty
iSecenth Congress.
TPUpL1C-No. IS.

ICBLlC--\o. ~
An act for enrolling and calling out the ma
tional Forces, and for other Purposes.
Whereas there now exist in the United States
an insurrection and rebellion against the
authority thereof, and it is, under the
Constitution of the United States, the duty
of the government to suppress ins"rrectlon
and rebellion, to guarantee to each State
republican form Of government, and to
preserve the public tranquility; and where
as, for these high purposes, a military force
is indispensable, to raise and support
which all person ought willingly to contri-
butte: and whereas no service can be more
praiseworthy and honorable than that
which is rendt red for the maintenance OF
the Constitution and Union, and the con-
scouent preservation of free government:
Therefore
BE it enacted by The Senate ond Ionse 9T
Representatives Of tie U"ited States 3f amer
ira in Conyress assembled, That, all able
bodied male citizens of the United States.
and person of foreign birth who shall have
declared on oath their intention to become
citizens under and in pursuance of the laws
thereof, between the ages of twenty and for
ty-five years, except as hereinafter excepted,
arc hereby declared to constitute the national
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.
See. 9. And be 1t further cnacted, 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 Nicc-Prcsidcnt
of the United States, the judges of the vari
Gus courts of the United States, the heads of
the various executive departments of the gov
ernment, and the governors OF the several
States. Second, the only son liable to mill
tary duty of widow dependent upon his la
Dor for her support. Third, the only son of
aged or infirm parent Or parents dependant
upon his labor for support. Fourth, where
there are two Or more sons OF aged or lnfirm
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 years old, having neither
father nor mother dependent upon his labor
for support. Sixth, the father of mothcrless
children unlcr twelve years of age depend
ent upon his labor for support. Seventh,
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 non commissioned officers, musicians or
privates, the residue of such family and
household, not exceeding two. shall BE- ex-
empt And no persons but such as are here
in excepted shall be exempt: Provided,
homerer, That no person who has been con-
victed of any felony shall be enrolled or per-
mittcd to serve in said forces.
Sec. 3. and be it further enacted, That
the national force 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 sub
ject to do military duty between the ages of
twenty and thirty-fvc years, and all unmar-
ried persons subject to do military duty above
the age of thirty y-fve 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 until
those of the first class shall have been
called.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
for greater convenience in enrolling, calling
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 district of Col
umbia shall constitute one, each territory of
the United States shall constitute one or
more, as the President shall direct, and each
congressional district of the respective states.
as fixed by law of the state next preceding
the enrolment, shall constitute one: Proui-
ded, That in states which have not by their