Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-06-19
oTISIoS

II e made the duty # Provost Marsh,ls " 10
obey 81 lawful orders and regulations Of the
Provost Marshal General, and such as shall be
prescribed by law concerning the enrolment snd
calling INFO service Of the national f0rcc~ (Act
March s, 1868, section -
The 26th section Of the same act provides thst
II any person shall resis, any drat Of men en-
rolled under the set into the service o. the Unitel
States, or shall counsel or all any person To TO-
sist any such draf, or shall assault or ob-truct
any officer in making such drsft, or in the per
formance Of any service in relation thereto, oI
shall counsel any person 20 assault or obSiruct
any such officer. OF shall counsel anv drafted
man not 10 appear al the place Of rendezvous, or
wilfullv persuade them from the performance af
military duty as required by law, such person
shall be subject 10 summary arrest BY the Pro-
vcs; Marshal AMI shall he forthwith delivered 70
the civil authorities. and upon conviction thereof.
bc punished by a fine not exceeding 6vo hundred
dollar. or by Imprisonment not exceeding two
years. or by both Of said punishments "
To do any set which shAll prevent or impclc
the enrolment Of the nstionsl forces (Which on
rollment IS essential to the drsf). is 20 prevent
and impede the draft itself
The enrolment Is a service 20 be performed by
the Provost Marshal in relation 10 the draft Il
is not the act of drawing ballots cut oi n ballet
box itself. but It is m relation to it," aud is tho
frs; step that must by law be taken preparatory
to the draft Il =, therefore, clearly within the
duty Of the Provost Marshal 70 subject all per-
sons who ob.truct the enrolment, the meeting u
the Board, or any other proceeding which is
preliminary and essential to the draft, 10 sum
mary srres; according 10 the provisions Of -cr-
ton -.
There are many WAYS of oh>truciins oficers IN
the Performance Of their services or duties IN
making. or in relation 70 the draft. without en-
ploving physical force. The neglect or refusal 70
do an act required nv lsv to be done. may itself
be such an Obstruction - to subject the offender
O. arrest. SUPPOSE person To be found stand
ins in a passage through which the drafting off,
GERS are required 10 enter the place designated
by law as the place i.r the draf. and supposo
that his s;snding in that place wouli prevent A.
cess by these officers 70 the place Of draft. II
they request him to move away and he neSlects
or refuses TO do So for the purpose Of preventing
the draFt the non-porfurmance Of the act Of re-
rnoyal would he of itself an obstruction Of the
draft, or Of an officer in the performance Of his
duty In relation 10 it.
Standing mute in civil courtsis. unier oertsin
Circumstances. n punishable offence. And soifs
lcrson. with intent to prevent the draft, refuses
20 give his true name when lawfully requested 50
to 20 bv an oiFcer whose legal auty it /. to "a
certain and enrol II, it Is sn obstruction Of that
officer in the performance Of one Of Ii. duties in
relation to the draft. So also is the giving Of
false names. with the came Illegal intent and the
offender viii in either case be suhis't TO summary
srr,st by the Provost Marshal.
WIrLIAN WHTTIsG.
Solicitor Of the War Department
T.,,r, 6 FRI. Pro-cst Marshal General