Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-02-26
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 26,r 1863.


The conscrptlon bill of Mr.. Wilson, whicl
passed the Senate on Monday night, was pre-
pared to meet any exgency which may aflS'
in the prosecutions of the present contest, ol
s,o,n any new complications growing out OF 1t
Mr. Wilson, in urging its passage, said the
In 0assumed that it was the duty of every
GOOD citizen to do his utmost to preserve the
nations life Congress had the right, under
the Constitution to raise armies to put down
'ipsurrection. and if necessary, it had the right
to call into the service of the country every
citizen. either as volunteer or by draft. 1t
might not be necessary to put this bill into ex-
ecution He hoped it would not. But it was
the duty of Congress to provide alp necessary
means to carry on this contest. The bill pro-
posed to enroll the whole people of the coun-
try, and not merely the militia"
The bill is very comprehensive in its provis
ions, and many officials who have usually been
exempted from the operation of State militia
laws, il will be seen, will be liable to enroll
ment if this bill should become law by pass
ing the House. 1t is remarkable that men,
bers of Congress, even, have voted themselves
in, ESQ far as the bill has passed, as well as
members of State Legislatures.
The bill provides that all able-bodied male
citizens between the ages of 20 and 40 years,
constitute the national forces of the United
States, and are liable to perform military duty
when called out by the President. The ex-
empts are those who are physically or men
tally unfit, the Vice-President, heads of Exec
utive Departments, United States Judges,
Governors of States, only son of an INDECENT
widow, or infrm parent,o one such son, where
there are two or more to be selected by the
parent, also the only brother of orphan chill
dren under twelve years, also the father of
motherless children of the same age; and where
two of family are in military service the re-
mainder of such family, not exceeding two,
shall be exempt. ..r.r. r...g .... .~
The National force not now IN service Is to
be divided into two classes, the first class en-
bracting all between 20 and 80 years of age,
and all unmarried men between 35 and As
years of age. The second class embraces all
the others and will not be called into service
until after the first class.
For convenience of enrolment, districts are
made corresponding with the Congressional
districts.
In each district there is to be Board of |
Enrolment, consisting of the Provost Marshal |
and two other persons, appointed by the Pres
ident, one of whom is to be physician and
surgeon. This board shall divide the distr
into convenient sub-districts and perfect an
enrolment once IN each year, each class to be
enrolled separately Persons thus enrolled are
subject for two years to be called into service
to serve for three years or during the war, on
the same footing with the present volunteers,
advance pay, bounty money, &c. included
When necessary to make draft, the Pres-
dent shall indicate the number for each district,
taking into consideration the number already
furnished since the beginning of the war, so
as to fairly equalze the burden. Substitutes
may be furnished, or Communication made not to
exceed three hundred dollars, at the discretion
Of the Secretary of War Those who furnish
substitutes are exempt for the entire time of
the draft, and the substitute has the same pay,
&c, as though Originally drafted.
The bill also provides that volunteers now
in service who re enlist for one year shall have
bounty of fifty dollars, one-half paid down
those who enlist for two years receive twenty
five dollars of the regular 500 bounty
There are also provisions for the consolidation
Of skeleton regiments
1t is provided that the President, on the
passage of this act shall issue proclamation
recalling absentees from the army, who may 8
return without punishment within the time in
Heated, except the forfeiture of pay for the t
line OF absence; those who do not return will
% deserters. Officers absent with leave, eX- t
'ept tor sickness or wounds, receive half pay;
'thcers absent without leave, no pay at ALL
There are other provisions, but chiefly of de-
alls not particularly important.