The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-02-27
The Censcrtpsien Bill.

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NJ. Wilson's bill which passed the Sem
ate ou Monday night, provides. As regards
conscriptioa. in substance As follows:
All able bodied male citizens. and those
who have declared their intentions to be-
come such, or have exercised the right Of
suffrage. between the ages of 90 and IS
years, constitute the National forces Of the
United States, and are liable to perform
Hilary duty when called out by the Pres
&, ident. The exempts are those who are
! physically or mentally unfit. the Vice Pres
ideut. heads of Executive Departments.
United States Judges, Governors Of States,
only son of an INDECENT widow or in6rm
parent. or one such son. where there are two
or more. to be selected by the parent. also
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. No person convicted of
felony shall be enrolled or permitted to
serve. The National force not now in SER
vice is 10 be divided into two classes. the
first class embracing all between go and 35
years Of age, and all unmarried men between
80 and As years of age. The second cl2ss
embraces all :he others, and viii not be
called into service until after the first class.
For convenience Of enrollmens, districts are
made corresponding with the Congressional
districts. in each of which the President
appoints Provost Marshal, with rank and
pay of captain of cavalry, or he may detail
an officer Of similar rank, who shall have a
Bureau in the War Department, and shall
make the needful rules and regulations tor
carrying out the provisions OF this act
These Marshals are to arrest deserters, re-
port reasonable practices, and detect spies.
&c In each district there is to be Board
of Enrolment, consisting of the Provost
Marshal and two other persons, appointed
by the President, one OF whom is to be a
physician and surgeon. This board shall
divide the district irto convenient sub dis
tricts. and perfect an enrollment once in
each year, each class to be enrolled sepa-
rateiv. Persons thus enrolled are subject
tor two years to be called into service to
serve for three years o. during the war. on
the same footing with the present volun.
teers. advance pay. bounty money. DC.
included. When necessary to make the
draft. the President shall Indicate the mum.
Der for each district, taking into considera-
ton the number already furnished since the
beginning of the war, so as to fairly equal
ize the burden, the enrolling officers shall
then make the draft with fifty per cent, ad-
dition, and within ten days serve notices
upon the drafted men. Substitutes may be
furnished. or commutation made not to ex-
ceed $500. Any person drafted and failing
to report, or furnish substitute. or pay his
commutatiou. shall be deemed deserter.
and subject to immediate arrest. The bill
provides for the proper surgica, ex animation
of drafted men, and the punishment of sur.
geops who receive bribes. When the draft
is finished, all those not taken are allowed
travelling pay to their homes. Those who
furnish substitutes are exempt for the entire
time Of the draft, and the substitute has the
same pay. &c. as tho originally drafted.
The bill also provides that volunteers
now in service who re-enlist for one year
shall have bounty Of $50, one-hslf paid
down /; those who enlist for two years re-
ceive $50 Of the regular 800 bounty
There are also provisions for the consolida-
ton of regular regiments also that generals
in the field may execute court martial SEN
tence against spies, deserters. mutineers or
murderers, without reference to the Presi-
dent !; court-mar,isls may reduce absentee
officers to the ranks clothing, arms, &C.,
shall not be sold, pledged or given away,
and may be taken wherever found in illegal
hands; persons who entice soldiers to de-
sert, or harbor them. or buy their arms or
uniforms, and ship captains or railroad con-
ductors who knowingly convey deserters,
may be fined $500, and imprisoned from
six months to two years. Any person who
resists draft. or counsels others to do 50.
or dissuades them from performing military
duty, shall be summary arrested, locked
up until the draft is flushed. then be tried
by a civil Court. and fined $500, or impris-
oned two years, or both. The President,
on the passage Of this act, shall issue q
proclamation recalling absentees from the
army. who may return without punishment
within the time indicated, except the for
feiture of pay for the time of absence
those who do not return will be deserters.
Officers absent with leave, except for sick
ness or wounds, receive half pay officers
absent without leave, no pay at all. There
are other provisions. but chiefly Of details
not particularly important.