The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-19
Liability of British Subjects to Com.
pulsOry Military Service.

J. Edward wilkins, British Consul, re-
siding 1T St Louis, who is now in Wis
onsin on official business, furnishes the
Wisconsin, with the following statement
OF the liability OF British subjects to com
pulsory military service in tie United
| States:
First-No claim is made by the United States
| government on any foreigner who has not de-
| c!ared his intentions to become Il citizen of the
| United States, with exceptions hereafter re-
| ferred to.
Secon,!-!il residents of Congressional dis
tricts must comply with the regulations pre-
scribing the mode and time of enrolment there
| existing. After they have done this, those
| who wish to claim exemption on the ground of
their alienage should lose no time in furnishing
such evidence of their claim to exemption as
may be required by the United States author
tiles During the recent draft for the militia,
numerous cases have occurred where foreign
| ers have been subjected to much embarrassment
and have given much unnecessary trouble TO
the United s ates authorities by not claiming
their Exemption at the proper time and in the
proper manner.
ercised the right of franchise in any of the
States OF the United States. and who are desir-
Gus of establishing their claim of exemption.
can ii occasion arises, resort to the American
law courts for the purpose of establishing such
claim. Though still British subjects it is
possible that this voluntary act OF theirs may
under certain circumstances, render them liable
to military duty.
FOURTH Children of British subjects who
have simply declared their intention, at some
future time, to become citizens of the United
States, are not claim d as liable to military
duty.
Ffth-The position of the children of Brit
ish suberts who have not become naturalized
American citizens is as follows: l. Those
born in tni, country are liable to military duty.
2. Those torn in British dominions, whose pa
rents have not become naturazed, and who
have not themselves done any act to alter their
condition. are exempt.
.sSGh-The children of British subjects, born
in the British dominions, and whose parents
have become naturalized, are embraced in three
classes: / Those not in the United States at
the completion of the naturalization of their
parents, do not appear to be Claimed by the
United States government; 2. Those in the
United States at that period are to be cOnsid-
cred American citizens, until they attain the
age OF Il 3. As such who have attained the
age of q, | must request IN exact statement of
I the circumstances of each case should my ad-
vice he required.
Those British subjects who wish to claim ex-
emptiOn should ascertain what evidence is re-
quired by the Uni ed States in their district to
establish their right to exemption. In cases
where Consular certificates are admitted as ey-
idence, such will be granted by Inc on compli-
auce with instructions herein inclused 1t
must be recolected, however, that in any in.
stance where that has been granted under mis-
taken facts or otherwise, and the holder is
clearly liable to duty, the possession OF such
Consular certificate will not exempt More
over it is desirable that British subjects. be-
fore making application to their Consuls,
should exhaust all measures afforded them by
the United States authorities for obtaining eX-
cmptiOn.