The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-03-13
The Conscription Bill.

Mr.. Wilson's bill, which passed the Sen.
ate on Monday night, provides. as regards
conscr:p,ion. in substance as follows,-Au
able-bodied male citizens, and those who
have declared their intentions 10 become
such, or have exercised the right of suffrage,
between the ages of 20 and Is wears. consti-
tute the national forces of the United States.
and are liable TO 90 military duty when
called oct by The President. The exempts
are those who are physically or mentally
unfit. the Vice President. heads of E1-
ecutive Departments, United States judges.
Governors of States, only son of an INDECENT
widow, or intirm parent, or one such son.
where there are two or more, to be selected
I by the parent, also the only brother of ornhan
children under twelve Years, also the father of
motherless children of the same age; and
where two of a family are in military service
the remainder OF such family, not exceeding
two, shal! be exempt. No person convicted of
felony shall be enrolled or permitted to serve.
The national force not now in service Is to be
divided into two classes, ths srst class en-
braeing all between the asts of twenty and
thirty-tire years, AMI all unmarried men be-
tween thiriy-five and fortr-iire Wears of aye.
The second class embraces all the Others, and
will not be called into the service until after
the first class.
For convenience of enrallment. districts
are made corresponding with ,he Congress
ional districts; in each of hich the President
appoints Provost Marshal, with rank and
pay Of captain of Cavalry; or he NAV detail
an officer OF similar rank who shall have
bureau in the War Department. and shall
make the need!ul rules and regulations for
carving out The provisions ofthis act. These
MarshalS are II arrest GeSerierS. rennrt treas
onab.e practices. aad detect spies. ,Sc. In
each district there Is to he q board of enroll
meat. consisting Of the Provost Marshal and
two other aerS ms. appointed bv the President,
one Of whom iS TO he a physician and sur
geon- This board shall divide the district
into convenient suh-distr;cts and perfect an
enrolment o;.ce II eacl year. each class 70
h. enrolled separately. Persons thus en-
roied are subject tar two wears n ',e called
INTO service Ia Serve for three wears or
during the war. on the sane footing with
the present volunteers advance pax, bounty
money. &e, inciud-d When necessary Ia
make draft. the President shall indicate
The number from esca di>,rie'. taking into
consideration the number already farn-
lshed since the beginning nf the war. so rs 10
! fslriE eu1al'ze the burden The enrolling off
! Ger sna!t rrSt make the draft with 30 ,,e-
cent a,-Gii.ca, anl within ten DAYS ssr,..
notices u"on the drafted mem Substitutes
NAV n fur sled. or c 'mmu;a,ioa made not
"a exceed three hun lred dollars. At the dis
cre,ioa 20: iae Secretary of War.
Any person drafted and failing TO report.
or furnish a sRb,iiIure, or Dar MS camm1,a-
ton. shall he deemed deserter, and subject
to Immediate arreS'. TIE bill provides for
the proper surgical examination OF drafted
men. and the p Ini>hneni Of surgeons who
receive brlbes. When the draft Is finished,
all those who are not taken are allowed
trave Ing pax 10 lheir homes Those who
furnish substitutes are exempt Tor the entire
time o: The draft a73 the substitute has the
same paw. Ne, as those originally drafted.
rne bill also provide. that volunteers nog in
the selN.ce wnp re-enl5St for one wear shall
haSe bounty of SJ0-one-half pad do4n:
those who eali>t for two years receive 50 OF
the regular 800 hnan,v. There are also
provisions for the c,rsoiidation of skeleton
reglmeniS: also that Generals IN the fi-ld
mav execute eouTt-marlial >vatence against
spies, Ge>erlerS. mG'inesrs or murde2ers,
without reference ID the President: court
martial may rei;.ce ahSeatee officers 10 the
RANKS ciO1elHg. arms, Nc, shall MT he sold.
pledged or gwen aSay, and nav be taken
wherever found in iilegd hands: persons
who enlce soldiers 10. dSscrt. harbor them.
or buy their arms or uniforms, aud ship
clptilnS or railroad conductors, who know
lng!y convey deseriers NAV he fined 500
anu iun2ri>cned from SIX months 10 two wars.
Any person who ressls DRAFT. or eounsels
others 10 do so. or di>suadeS them from per-
forming military day, shall be summarilv ar
rested. locked up uail the draft is finished,
then be trie'; by civil court. and fined $500
or lGlprisoi e1 two years or both. The Presi-
dent un ;he passage of this act, shall issue
prCc.amltlon recalling absenlees from the
army, who may return without punishment
within the time indicated, except the forfeit
ure OF pay for the hme of absence; those
who d. not return viii be deserters. Off
GERS absent with leave, except for sickness
or wounds, receive half pay; officers absent
without leave, no pay at all. There are
ether provisions, but chiefly of details not
particularly important.