American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-06

JACKSON. February 23d 1863.


above title, Containing some erroneous state
menis and conclusions, which seem to de
mand correction.
You arraign the military authorities of the
State for disobedience to the 4ih section ri
the late militia law, requiring "all militia
off GERS 10 discharge all men in active service
within the ages of ls and 40 and report Them
IN the camps of instruction as conscripts-"
The reason why this requirement. of the
legisia was not formally obeyed. Is
found in the same number of your paper
containing this article.---the order oil
the Governor. based upon the order of the
Secretary of War, Ito retain all men under
40 years of age. who have been detailed
or who have volunteered in the service
of the STATE" This order came Fl ON com
petent authority. and must be obeyed.-
The Secretary of War has the undoubied
right. under act of Congress. to designate the
service IN which these conscripts were To
serve. He has placed them among the State
troops. temporarily, and while these troops
are held in Confedt rate service. Nor does
this order initiate in any manner against the
provisions of our law requiring the conscripts
to be sent TO camp OF obstruction. In fact.
this law has been virtually obeyed The
conscripts may be considered as having been
discharged. and then. under this order, re-
turned to the ranks of the State troops The
idle ceremony of sending them to the camps
of instruction and returning them immedi
ately TO their original organizations would be
. Useless Ts * pehse
is not necssary IN d;scnss The m,ot;vas
that doubtless operated upon the mind of
General Johnston who requested it, and of
the Secretary of War, who issued il. under
the sanction of the President. was among
others, the fact that probably three fourtbs Of
would NOT 90 ~ -, s.a..IJ =
main at home shai.a.ai -, ~ - 80
of the Confederate eve,,,nt;on at TIE lot
ter of the Secretar. - war cerar; ~ -
on this subject conta;rs the fnllaw;nn is,.
guaee: 1.-The state org.n;-at;on &c icons =
too Important. aud the time - 10 cr;t;c.l
for anv in,erfsraa.a - :. 20 - ;,
You state also th.s che r,;i;t;, nraan;.o.
ton of the STATE il hav;no tha effs.t 81 ,,rs-
venting the enroIIr,.,,s r. co,scr;n,.n aana
that "the mil;t;. .,,thor;.;a. - nr.h.~;-,J
the enrolment If cnns.r;,,ts h.tr,aa,, 70 -
40. and large her 80 ,ha.s 49, .,-o.a
been draf,ads, ~ =. - '''ss1 nave s, a'ieauy
ernor raf.rrad =, -. l"e ''ue' u tue uos-
the same effs.,, az. ny orueis arc 20
liable to draft sxnras1is a.a.s.s e 80 IL,
..such as NAV he l;able ~ snJ bsve NJ. haan
DISCHARGED fror,, sa,..; :; % -.
by the m;staLe as anrniI;n,. .aws sa. u.
conscripts moi d;sch.rrad Nv. 49,, a,,~,Ilad
drafted ana 80. -, !, 10 =, III ,,
ordered ;m,oed;a,a,n 80 FL a.. .. s. .. 81
Tins MANY .,..ss.,,s Z. Sap.
rolled, and in the army who would not 9TH
erwise ba 70 ro.oI al H. ~ .''ss..;.,.:es.,
VIZ. 'a'p y eo"se' p''on
but you insist that those exempt from con-
scription ought not to he enrolled IN the
militia. 1t IS perhaps sufficient for me to re
ply that these exempts were enrolled by the
express orders OF the Commander in-Chitf,
based upon his construction OF the law re-
curing the enrolment OF "all white male
persons anose the age OF 10 and under %
years. Iestuing permanently or temporarily