The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-06-25
An Act.

For enrolling and calling out the ma.
tional forces, and. for other purposes
Whereas there now exist in the
United States an insurrection and re.
bellion against the authority thereof,
and it is, under the Constitution of the
United States, the duty of the govern.
ment to suppress insurrection and re.
bellion, TO guarantee to each State re-
publican form of government, and to
preserve the public tranquility; and
whereas, for these high purposes, mil.
itary force is Indispensable, to raise and
support which all persons ought will.
ingly to contribute; ; and whereas no
service can be more praiseworthy and
honorable than that which is rendered
tor the maintenance ofthe Constitution
and Union, and the consequent preser-
vation offree government: Therefore
BE at enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the United
States IN Congress assembled, That all
able bodied male citizens of the United
States, and persons of foreign birth
who shall have declared Oh oath their
intention to become citizens under and
in pursuance of the laws thereof, be
tween the ages oftwenty and forty FIVE
years, except as hereinafter excepted,
are 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 President for that purpose.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted,
That the following persons be, and they
are hereby, excepted and exempt from,
the provisions of this act, and shall-not
be liable to military duty under the
same. to wit: Such as are rejected as
physically or mentally unfit for the SER
vice also, first, the Vice President of
the United States, the judges of the
various courts Of the United States, the
heads of the various executive depart
ments of the government, and the gov
ernors of the several States. Second,
the only son liable to military duty of
a widow dependent upon his labor for
support. Third, the only son of aged
or infirm parent or parents dependent
upon his labor for support. Fourth,
where there are two or more sons of
aged or infirm 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, dependent upon his labor
for support. Sixth, the father of moth
erless children under twelve years of
age, dependent upon his labor for sup
port. Seventh, where there are ia.
thsr and sons in the same family and
household, and two of them are in the
military service of the United States as
non. commissioned officers, musicians,
or privates, the residue of such family
and houshold, not exceeding two, shall
be exempt. And no persons but such
as are herein excepted shall be exempt:
Prouided Ho,oeoer, That no person
who has been convicted of any felony
shall be enrolled or permitted to serve
in said forces.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted,
That the national forces OF the United
States not now in the military service,
enrolled under, this act, shall be dlyid-
ed into two classes: the first OF which
shall comprise all persons subject to 90
military duty between the ages OF
twenty and thirty five years, and all
unmarried persons snbjectto do military