The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-24
poci.,on. In Relation to the Draft.

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Decisions IN Relation to the Draft.
AS the draft is approaching, it is
important that every one should be
posted in regard to exemptions, &c
We, therefore, have collated from the
opinions of Gen. James B. Fry, Provost
Marshal General, and Col. Joseph Holt
Judge Advocate General, the follow
ing decisions:
Circular No. 56.-Provost Marshals
will see that drafted mon, whether prin-
cipals or substitutes, are sent to the
designated general rendezvous on the
day they are accepted, if it can be
done if not, then as soon after as pos
sible. Where there are no military
guards available, Provost Marshals
must employ enough special guards to
accomplish. this purpose. Substitutes
especially should be sent promptly
to the rendezvous, and the Boards
should only accept them as they are
prepared thus to dispose of them.
Boards of Enrichment should con-
duct the draft for sub districts, and the
notification of persons drafted, in such
manner that the drafted men will be
required to report for examination in
SQUADS of manageable size and at sue
cessive convenient periods, and not all
the same day.
ONLY SONS.
Circular No. 57.-The following o.
pinion, in relation to section 2 OF the
Enrolment Act, which says: "where
there are two or more sons of aged ana
infrm parents subject to draft, the
father, or if he be dead, the mother
may elect which son shall be exempt"
is published, and will hereafter gov
ern:
"The only son of aged or infirm pa
rents dependent, &c, is absolutely ex-
empt; but where there are two sons,
both are subject TO draft until an cleo
ton is made by the parent, and the
name of the one elected should be re-
moved from the list. After the draft is
made the persons drafted are no long
er Subject to draft, but to duty, and
a parent cannot secure the practical
exemption of two sons from military
duty by waiting till one is drafted and
then electing to exempt him.
Circular No. 61.-The following
opinions of Col. Joseph Holt, Judge
Advocate General of the Army, arc
published for the information and gui'
dance ofall officers Of this bureau:
The only son ofaged or infrm pa
rent or parents-eXemption.
OPINION.
"The only son of aged or infirm pa
rent or parents is not exempted, unless
his parent or parents arc dependent on
his labor for support If he is in the
condition to support, and does support
them without his personal labor for
that purpose, he is subject to draft, be-
cause he is in condition to perform
military service, without depriving his
parents of the support the law, desires
to secure them. The parents need not
be wholly dependent on their son for
support. If they are so dependent for
the principle part of their support, the
right of exemption then arises"
In the case of q widow having four
sons.
OPINION.
"In the case of widow having four
sons, three of whom are already in the
military service, the fourth is exempt
provided his mother is dependent on
his labor for support"
In the case of a widow having two
sons, one of which is already in the
service.
OPINION.
"In the case of widow having two
sons, one of whom is already in tho
military service, and the other has beer
drafted, the latter is exempted, 'as thu
only son liable to militia y duty, il
the sense ofthe act. D."
In the case otaged or infrm parents
having two or moro sons subject tt
military duty.
OPINION.
In the case of aged or infrm parent
having two or more sons subject to mil
itary duty, election of the son to b
drafted must be made before the draft
and his name should not then appear
in the draft.box. If one of only tw'
sons of such parents is already in tn
military service, the other is exempt
provided his parents are dependent Oh
his labor for support.
Ofpersons having conscientious scru
pies in regard to bearing arms
OPINION.
persons having conscientious scru
Piles in regard to bearin arms are no
on that account exempt. They ar
not found in the list of exempted elias
ses, and the Act expressly declares tha
no person except those enumerated Il
that shall be exempt. Tho Society Q
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