The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-02-21
The CONSUMPTION Bill.

VT. WILSON, hlli, Whlch passed the Sen
ate On Monday night. provides, as regards
CONSUMPTION. in substance as follows: All
able-bodi"d male citizens, and those who
have declared their intentions to become
such. or have exercised the right of suffrage
between the ages Of 20 aHd 4j years, con
,titulc the National forces of the United
States, and are liable to perform military
d"ty whom called ont by the President. -
The eXampts are those who are physically
or mentally unfit, the Vice President, heads
Of Executive Departments, United States
Judges, Governors of States, only son of
an ndigcnt widow, or infrm parent. or one
such son. where there are two or more. to be
selected by th" parent, also the only brother
of orphan children under twelve years. also
the father Of motherless children of the
same age and where two of family are
in military service the remainder of such
family, not exceeding two, shall be exempt
No person convicted Of felony shall be en-
rolled or permitted to serve. The National
force not now in service is to be divided into
two classes, the first class embracing all
between 20 and 35 years Of aye, and all
unmarried men between 81 and s. 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 cores
pond.ng with the Congressional districts in
each OF which the President appoints IL Pro-
vost Marshall 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 need
full rules and regulations for carrying out
the provisions Of this act. These Marshalls
arc to arrest deserters, report reasonable
practices, and detect spies. &c. In each
district there is to be Board of Enroll.
mcnt, consisting of the Provost Marshal
and two other persons, appointed by the
President, one Of whom is to be physician
and surgeon. This board shall divide the
district into convenient subdistricts and
perfect an enrolment once in each year,
each class to he enrolled separately. Per-
sons thus enrolled are subicc for two years
to he called into service to serve for three
years or during the wal. on the same foot
ing with the present volunteers, advance
pay, bounty money, Nc, included. When
necessary to make draft. the President
Shall indicate the number for each district,
taking into consideration the number already
furnished since the beginning of the war.
50 as to fairly equalize the burden the
enrolling officers shall then make the draft
with 30 per cent addition, and within ten
days serve notices On the drafted men,
Substitutes may be furnished, or commuta-
ton, made not to exceed three hundred dol,
lars, at the discretion of the Secretary of
War. Any person drafted and failing to
report, or farnish substitute, or pay his
Communication. shall he deemed a dcserter.
and subject to immediate arrest. The bill
provides for the proper surgical eyanna-
ton of drafted men, and the punishment of
surgeons who receive brides. 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 though originally
drafted.
The bill also provides that volunteers now
in service who re.pnlst for one wear shall
have a bounty OF 500 one half paid down:
those who enlist for two years receive S25
of the regular ) 100 bounty. There are also
provisions for the consolidation of skeleton
regiments also that Generals in the field
execute may court-martial, sentence
against spies, dcscrtcrs, mutineers. or muir
derers, without reference to the President ;
rts-martial may reduce absentee officers
to the ranks; clothing arms, g., shall not
be Sold pledged or given away, and may be
taken wherever found in illegal hands per-
sons who cnticc soldiers to desert, or har
Dor them, or buy their arms or uniforms,
and ship captains or railroad conductors
who knowingly convey desertcrs, may be
fined 500 and imprisoned from six months
to two years. Any person who resists Il
draft. or counscls Others to do so. or di ssua-
dcs them from performing military duty
shall be summarly arrested, locked up until
the draft is finished, then be tried by a civil
Court, and fined $500 or imprisoned two
years, or BOTH The President on the pas
age Of this act, shall issue proclamation
recalling ahscntecs from the army, who may
return without punishment within the time
indicated. except the forfeiture of pay for
the time of absence those who do hot re-
turn will be deserters. Officers absent with
leave, except for sickness or wounds, receive
half.pay; officers absent without leave, no
pay at all. There are other provisions, but
chiefly Of details not particularly important