Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-03-03
ARMY CoNscRrprtoN Law.

lures Of tue law, promising to print next
week the entire enactment.
There is probably no foundation for the
New York Herald report that the Presi-
dent is about 10 call out six to eight hun
dred thousand men. II may require sew
eral weeks to organize under the law. II
is designed for drawing men from particu-
lar parts that have thus far neglected to do
their duty. Parts Of the country that have
furnished more than their quota may have
a credit for the excess.
In substance the law is as follows:
All able-bodied male citizens, and those
who have declared their intention to be-
come such. or have exercised the right Of
suffrage, between the ages of 20 and as
wears, constitute the National force OF the
United States, and are liable to perform
military duty when called out by the Pres
ident. The exempts are those who are
physically OF mentally unfit, the Vice Pres
ident, heads of Executive Departments,
United States Judges, Governors of States,
only son Of an INDECENT widow or infirIn
parent. or one such son, where there are
TWO or more, TO be selected by the parent,
also the only brother Of orphan children
under twelve years, also the father Of moth
elIess children of the same age; and where
two ofthe family are in tie service, the re
mainder of such family, not exceeding two
shall be exempt. No person convicted Of
felony all be enrolled or permitted to
serve. The national force not now in SER
vice is to be divided into two classes, the
first class embracing all between 90 and
30 years of age, aud all unmarried men be-
tween 50 and As years of age. The sec
ond class embraces all tie others, and will
not be called into service until after the
first class. For convenience Of enrolment,
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,
J who shall have Bureau in the War De-
partment, and shall make the needful rules
and regulations for carrying out the pro-
visions Of this act. These marshals are
to arrest deserters, report REASONABLE prac-
tees, and detect spies, DC. In each dis
tlict there is to be Board of enn lment
consisting of the Provost Marshal and two
other persons, appointed by the President,
one of whom is to be physician and sur
geon. This Board shall divide the district
into convenient subdistricts, and perfect
an enrolment once in each year, each class
to be enrolled separately. Persons thus
enrolled are subject for two years to be
called into service to serve for three yeaIs
or during the war, on the same footing
with the present volunteers, advance pay,
bounty money, DC, included. When nee
essary to make the draft, the President
shall indicate the number for each district,
taking into consideration the number al
ready furnished since the beginning of the
war, so as to fairly equalize the burden.
The enrolling officers shall then make the
draft with so per cent. addition. and with
in ten days serve notices upon the drafted
men. Substitutes may be furnished, or
communication made. not TO exceed $780,
Any person drafted and failing TO report. or
furnish substitute, orpay his commute
tim, shall be deemed deserter, and sub
iect to immediate arrest. The bill provides
for the proper surgical examination Of
drafted men, and the punishment of sur
geons who receive brides. When the draft
is flushed, all those not taken viii be al
lowed 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 DC, as though originally
drafted.
The bill also provides that volunteers
now in service who re-enlist for one year
shall have bounty of $50, one half paid
! down; those who enlist Tor two years re-
celve $25 of the regular 500 bounty.
There are also provisions for the consolida-
ton of skeleton regiments; also that lhe
generals in the field may execute court
martial sentence against spies, deserters,
mutineers or murderers without reference
to the President; court-inattIals may re-
duce absentee officers to the ranks; clothing
aims. &c, shall not be sold, pledg or Civ
en- away, ard may be taken wherever found
in Illegal hands; persons who entice sol
diers To desert, or harbor them, or buy
their arms or uniforms, and ship captains
Or railroad conductors who knowingly con-
vey deserers, may be fined $500, and i'm
prisoned from six months to two years.
Any person who resists draft, or counsels
others to do so, or uissuades them from
performing military duty, shall be sum
mlriN arrested, locked up Until the draft
is finished. then be tried by 4 civil court,
ana fined $500, or imprisoned two years.
or both. The President, on the passage
Of this act, shall issue a proclamation recall
ing absentees from the army, who may
return without punishment within the time
indicated, except the forfeiture Of pay for
tie time Of absence; those who do not re-
turn will Ge deseiters. Officers absent
with leave, except for sickness or wounds,
receive half pay; officers absent without
leave, no pay at all There are other pro-
Visions, but chiefly of details not particu-
larry important