Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-20
THE MILITIA ACT.



Indispensable to raise and support which all persons
Ought willingly 90 contribute; and whereas no service
can DE more prlscworthy and honorable than that
which Is rendered Tor the maintenance Of the Consi
tuition and Union, and the consequent preservation "
ffcc government Therefore
be q enacted By tie Senate aud House Of Representa-.
tires Qf The United States Of america IN Congress
seDbd That all able bodied male citizens Of the United
States and persons Of orenn birth who shall have de-
cared on oath their Intention 10 become citizens under
md IN pursuance Of the laws thereof between the ages
NJ twenty and foryhye years, except hereinafter
ccpted, are hereby declared 20 constitute the national
forces and shall be liable perform military duty In the
service Of the United States when called out by the Pres
SIC Aad be Il further enacted. That the follow.
ing persons be aud 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 reject
ed as physically or mentally unfit for the service also,
FIRST, the Vice President the United States the judges
Of the various courts OF tho limited States The heads OF
the various executive departments of the Government,
aud The Governors " the several States Second, the
only son liable Co military duty of widow dependent
or nhrm parent parents dependent upon hts labor for
support Fourth, where there are two or more sons
Ct, or u he be dead the mother may elect which
son shall be exempt. Fifh, the only brother Of
children not twelve years old, having neither fath.
CT nor mother, dependent upon his labor for sup
port. Sixth the father of moherlcss children under
twelve years " age dependent upon his labor for sup.
port seventh where there are ther and sons in the
same family household and two Of them are in the
military service NJ the United States
ed oihees musicians or privates the residue Of such
Prortded tofrer That no person who has been con-
vieted of any felony shall be enrolled or permitted to
serve In said forces
SIC. g. and bctt further enacted That the national
forces Of the United states not nus in the military
vice. cno! ed under This act shall be d idd into two
classes the first Of which shall comprise all persons
subject 70 do military duty between the ages Of twenty
and Thirty five years, and all unmarried persons subject
To military duty above the age ofthitty hye and under
the age u 1tthvo the second class STALL comprise a
other pcrsuus subject to do military duty and they shall
not in any district be called in the service ofhe United
states until those Of the first class have been called
SIC. 4, and be Il further enacted, That for greater
convenience curolliug calling out and organizing the
national forces and for the Of descrcfs ami spies
~ the enemy, the United states shall b. divided into
districts, of which the District Of Columbia shall
suiute one, each Territory OF the United States shall
constitute more the President shall direct and
each congressional district u the respective states
fixed by law Of the STATE proceeding the enroll
ment. shall constitute one Pr6uided That in States
which have not by their laws been divided into
more congressional Districts the President Of United
states shall divide the same ins 50 m ny enrolment
districts as he may de- m fl and convenient
SIC D. and he Il FURTHER cndctcf, That flr each Of
said districts there SHAH be appointed 10y the President
provost MARSHALL with the rank pay and emolumens of
captain Of cavalry OF an officer II said rank shall be
detailed by the Pres dent, who shall be under the deo
ton and subject to the orders Of provost marshal
general appointed detailed by the President Of the
United States. whose office shall be the Of gov
crument forming seperate bureau Of the War Depart
ment aud whose rank pay emoumens shall be those Of
SIC 8, Andb H further enacted That it shall be
the duty Of the provost arhal general with the apprl
]
uons for the government Of his subordraos 10 furnish
them with the aud residences Of all deseTes from
The army or any The land forces Ia tn service Of the
United States, including the militia when reported TO
him by the commanding officers; 10 communicate 10
them all orders Of the President in reference 10 calling
out the national foces to furnish proper blanks and in
sructon for enrolling and drafting; 10 file aud preserve
copies of all enrolment lists 10 require stated reports Of
all proceedings on the part OF his subordinaes to au
dit all connected with the service under his d
reotion and perform such other duties the Pres
dent may prescribe IN carrying out the prescribe in car
rying out the provisions " this act.
SIC. l. And be u further enacted, That il shall be
the duty of the provost mTshas 70 arrest all deserets
whether regulars volunteers militiamen, persons call
ed into the under this any other act Of Con-
gross, wherever they be found and to send them
the military commander military post; 10 de
tect seize and confne spies Of the enemy who shall
without unreasonable delay be delivered to the custody
of the general commanding the department which hey
may be arrested, TO be tried the exigences Of
the service permit obey all lawful orders and rcgula
tons Of the provost marshal general and such may be
prescribed by law concerning the enrolment and calling
into orvice u the national forces
SEC 8 And be Il further enacted That in each Of
said districts there shall be board OF enrolment, to be
composed Of the provost marshal presideut and two
other persons TO be appointed by the President Of The
United States Of whom shall be licensed and prao
Using physician aud surgeon.
SIC o. And be IL further enacted That It shall be- the
duty Of the said board to divide the district into subds
riets Of convenient size, Il they shall deem necessary
MOI exceeding two without tho direction III the
Of War and appoint before the tenth lday Of
March next, and in each alternate year thereafter.
rolling officer for each subdisiiet and furnish him
.
diatey proceed TO enroll all persons subject to military
duty noting their respective places of residence, ages
the first day oi July following and fheir occupation aud
shall or before the first day Of April report the same
the board " enrolment, to be consolidated into
list, copy Of which shall be transmitted 20 the provost
marshal general on before the first day Of May sue
ceedug the enrolment; PSorided neretheless That il
from any cause, the duties prescribed by this section
not be- reformed within the lime specified then the sam,
shall be- reformed snon thereafter practicable
sEc. 10 Ind be 10 further otacted, That the enroll
men OF each class SHAH be made separately and shal
only embrace those whose ages shall he on the first day
Ut July thereafter between twenty and fnry-hve years
SIC. H. Ind BE- q FURTHER eH1cted, That all personi
thus enrolled shall bee subject for two years aiicr h'
first day OF July succeeding the enrolment TO be called
into the military service Of the United States, and 70
tinue in seryi during the present rebellion not how
ever exceeding the three years aud when Gale,
into service shall be placed on the same footing in al
respects volunteers for three years, during th
war including advance pay and bounty as now PROVIDED
| by law
sKc II Ind bet further enacted, That whenever i
may be call out the national forces for nilt
tary service. the President is hereby authorized asgr
10 each district the number Of men 10 be furnished By
said district; aud hereupon the enrolling board shs I'll
under The direction OF the President make draft VI th
required number aud MY per cent IN addition an'
shall make exact and complete roll Of the names @
the persons drawn, and Of the order in which the
drawn, that the first drawn stand FIRST upoI
the said roll. and the second may stand second and
And the person drawn shall be notified Of IN
same within ten days thereafter by written or PRINTED
notice, to be served personally or by leaving copy
the last place OF residence requiring them 20 appear at
designated rendezvous TO report for duty In assigning
from, the President shall take into consideration tn
number Of volunteers aud militia furnished by and from
the several States in which said districts situated
the period OF their service since the commencement o
the present rebellion, and shall make said assignmen
10 equAlize the numbers among the districts Of tn
several States considering and allowing for the mum
beTs already furnished aforesaid and the time Of hei
! service.
\ SIC. 49, And be further enacted That any person
drafted and notified 20 appear aforesaid, may,
before the day fixed for his appearance, furnish
cepabe substitute TO take his place in the draft, he
pay TO such person the Secretary Of War may author
ize receive IT, such exceeding three hundred
dollars the Secretary may determine for the prooura
ton Of such substitute, which shall be fixed az
uniform by general order made at the time order
ing draft for any State Territory; and thereupor
such person furnishing the substitute, paying tn,
money shall be discharged from further liability under tina
draft Any person falling 10 report after due service
notice herein prescribed without furnishing subsii
tue, paying the required therefor shall be deem
ed desertef and shall be ested by the provost mar
shall and sent the military post for trial b,
couf-martia unless, upon proper showing that he il
not liable 70 do military duty, the board Of enollmen
, shall relieve him from the draft
SIG a. Ind be a. FURTHER enaefed That all drafte,
,rsons shall on arriving at the rendezvous be carefully
report the board the physical condition Of each one
aud all persons drafted aud claiming exemption from
military duty account Of disability any other
shall present thrr claims TO be exempted TO the board
Q whose decision shall be final
SEC. 10, Ind BE- q further enacted, That any sur
geon charged with hc duty Of such inspection who shall
receive from any person whomsoeyer any money ohe
valuable thing, agree, directly indirectly. recei
the same TO his own or anothers for making in