The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-03-06
The Conscript;on.

os oI OonRreee, ana doubtless ap
proved before this time by the Pres
ident, is one Of the most important,
enacted since the commencement OF
the rebellion. 1t does what should
have been long since, provides in
effect the whole force Of the nation,
to be called into service 60 and
when it shall be Necessary. That
1t was bitterly opposed in Congress
was becsuse OF The existence of
party there bent on peace on any
terms s--"pence" when JEFF. Davis
would have mo peace" except on
surrender 10 him and the rebel Con-
fedcrscy. The Senators and mem
bers OF the uouse who were not
ripe for submission, supported il
aud voted for IL This simple fac,
accounts for the seeming disagree
mentas to its support by Democrat.
ic and conservative members of Con
gress.
The moro important provisions of
tho act are as follows:
Sec. /. That ell able bodied
male citizens OF the United States.
and persons of foreign birlh who
she'll have declared on oath their 10.
iention to become citizens under
and in pursuance OF the laws there.
OF, between the ages Of twenty and
iorty five years, except rs beveinaf
ter excepted, ars 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 Pres
,dent Tor that purpose.
Sec. 9. That she following per.
cons be, and they are hereby except.
ed and exempted fro,u the provis.
ions OF this act, and shall not be lis.
BILE to military duty under the came;
to wit. Such ss are rejected as
physically or mentally unfit for the
service; also first, the Vice Plesi,
dent of the United States, Judge.
Iot the various Courts OF the United
States. the heads Of the various de,
partments Of tie Government, and
the Governors OF the several States;
and, second, the only con | able to
military duty OF widow, depend
ell upon his labor for snpport; third,
the only son of aged or infirm par
ents dependen, upon his labor for
support; fourth, where there ere
two or more sons Of aged or inflrm
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; sixth, the father
of motherless children under twelve
years OF age, dependent upon his
labor tor support; seventh, where
there Hre father and sons in the
same family and household, and
two Of them are in the military ser.
vice Of the United s stes rs non
commissioned officors, musicians or
privates, the residue OF such family
and housebold, not exceeding two
shall DO exempt; and no persons
but such as are herein excepted.
shall be exempt: Provided, howev,
Ter, Thst no person who has been
convicted OF any felony shall be en-.
rolled or permitted to servo in said
orces.
Sec. 8. That all national forces
OF the UUited States, not now in the
military service. enrolled under this
act, shall be divided into two class.
es, the first OF which shall comprise
all persons subject to do military
duty, between the ages of 20 and
35 years, and all unmarried per
sons subject TO do military duty
above the age 80 and under that OF
As; tho second class shall comprise
all other persons subject to 60 mill.
tary duty, and they shall not in any
district, be called into the service
OF the United States until those OF
the first class have been exhausted.
Sec. 26. That Immediately after
the passage OF this act, the Presi
dent shall Issue his proclamation
declaring that all soldiers now ab.
cent from their regiments without
leave. may return within the time
specified to euch place or places as
he may indicate in his procIama
tion, and be restored to their re
spectlVe regiments without punish
ment, except the forfeiture of their
pay and allowances during their ab.
se nee; and all deserters who shall
not return within the time so speci.
fled by the Precedent, shall, upon be.
ing arrested, be punished as the law
provides.
In the place off provision allow.
ing the drafted men to employ sub
stltutes to serve in their stead, the
law provides that the sum OF $500
shall be the maximum, on payment
OF which, the government itself pro-
yl1es the substituta In o,ba. l