Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-01
THE CONSUMPTION LAW

s;ble post of Provost Marshal General, is the
first step towards the execution of this impor-
tani law, and one that will revive the public
interest in its provisions. We, Therefore feel
| that 1t will he of service to our readers to re-
cite such of the details OF the Act as they
more directly interested in.
The Act declares the sNational forces" TO
be constituted of all able bodied male citizens
OF the United States between the ages of
| twenty and forty-five years, and III persons of
foreign birth, between the same ages, who
shall have declared, on oath, their intention
to become citizens. in pursuance of the laws.
All persons embraced within those two COM
prehensive descriptions liable to perform
military duty in the service of the United
States, when called out by the President.
There are, however, certain exemptions,
some few of them being on account of office,
but most of them being in favor of private
persons or principles, at once just, discrimi
mating and benefcent. The official exempts
are the Vice President Of the United States,
the heads OF the Executive Departments, the
Judges Of the United States Courts, and the
Governors OF the several States. Those In
of aged or infirm parents, OF the only son, lIa-
BILE to duty, of widow, where the parent or
parents depend on such son for support the
only brother of orphan children not twelve
years old, depending on such brother for sup
port; the father of mothefless children under
twelve years of age: depending on such father
for support where there are two or more sons
infi n
the father, or, if he be dead, the mother shall
elect which son shall be exempt; where there
are father and sons in the same family and
household, and two of them are in the militia
ry service non-comm issioned officers mu-
sicians or prIvates, the residue of such house
hold, not exceeding two, shall be exempt;
and such as are rejected ply sically or men
tally unfit are exempt.
The N ational forces, as above described ARE
to be divided into two classes, the first class
to comprise all those liable to duty between
the ages of twenty and thirty years, and
all unmarried persons between thirty Eve aud
forty five the second class to comprise all
other persons subject to military duty. For
the purpose of making the above cassiications
there is to be an enrolment by the first of
April, or as soon thereafter practicable, and
for convenience in making that enrolment
the several States and Territories and the Dis
trict of Columbia are to be dstricted.
Each Congressional District is to be an en-
rolling district, and so is each Territory and
the District of Columbia. In each district
there is to be Provost Marshal, to be ap-
pointed or detailed from the military service
by the President; and the Provost Marshal,
with Surgeon and one other person, also to
be appointed by the President, are to consti.
tute Board of Enrolment for each district
This Board is to divide each district into two
sub divisions, and to appoin. for each an en-
rolling officer, whose special duty it will be to
make the enrolment.
1t was the original intent Of the trainers OF
the bill to have these enrolling officers ap-
pointed by the 10th of March, and that the en-
rollmeut should be made before the 1st of
April, and It so stands in the law, but pro-
viso added requires that if the dates specified
cannot be observed, everything ordered shall
be done soon thereafter as practicable. I'm
mediately after his appointment, the enrolling
officer of each sub-District is to proceed to
make the enrolment, In such manner that
each class shall be enrolled separately ,and the
age of the person enrolled is to be set down
on the list il wi II be on the first day of July
succeeding the date of the enrolment. That
is to say, if any person is not twenty, bu,
will be On the first of July next, be ia to be
placed on the list or if any married man is
not thirty five now. but will be on the first of
July next, he is not to go in the first class, but
in the second class; or if any person liable to
duty is not now forty five years of age, but
but will be on the first day of July next, he is
not TO be placed on the list at all.
All persons thus enrolled are TO be subject
to military duty for two years from the first
day of July after the enrolment, and If called
into the service shall continue during the Re-
hellion, but not TO exceed three years. But
| the persons of the second class shall not, in
any district, be called into the service of the
United States until those of the first class
shall have been called. Whenever the Presi-
dent shall make a requisition he is authorized
to assign to each district the number Of men
to be furnished, and then the Enrolling Board
above described shall make draft of the re-
CURED number, and fifty per cent. additional;
| and shall make complete roll in the order in
which the names are drawn. The drafted
men are to stand on the same footing with the
three years. volunteers, in respect to advance
pay and bounties as now provided by law and
the President, in assigning the required num-
bers to each district, is authorized to make
allowance in respect to the numbers already
furnished BY such district during the war