The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-02-26

The COnscription Bill.
Mr.. Wilson's bill, which passed the SEN
ate on Monday night, provides, as regards
conscription, in substance as follows: All
able.bodied male citizens, and those who
have declared their intentions TO become
such, or have exercised the right of suffrage
between the ages of20 and As years, con-
stitute the National forces of the United
States, and are liable to perform military du
ty when called out by the President. The
exempts are those who are physically OF
mentally unfit, the Vice President, heads Of
Executive Departments, United States
Judges, Governors Of States, only son of on
INDECENT widow, or infirm parent, or one
such son, where there are two or more, ia
be selected by the parent, also the only
brother or orphan children under twelve
years, also the father of motherless children
Of the same age and where two of family
are in military service the remainder of such
family, not exceeding two, shall be exempt
No person convicted of felony shall be en-
rolled or permitted to serve. The National
force not now in service is to be divided in.
to two classes, the first class embracing all
between 20 and So and 45 years of age
The second class embraces all the Others
and will not be called into service until after
the first class. For convenience of enroll.
ment, districts are made corresponding with
the Congressional districts in each of hich
the President appoints Provost Marsha:
with rank and pay of Captain of Cavalry,
or he may detail an officer Of similar rank
who shall have Bureau in the War De.
partment, and shall make the needful rules
and regulations for carrying out the provi.
sions of this act. These Marshals are to ar.
rest deserters, report reasonable practices
and detect spies, &c. In each district there
is to be Board of Enrolment, consisting Of
the Provost Marshal and two other persons
appointed by the President, one Of whom is
to be physician and surgeon. The board
shall divide the districts into convenient
snb-districts and perfect an enrolment once
In each year, each class to be enrolled separ
ately. Persons thus enrolled are subjec-
for two years to be called into service te
serve for three years or during the war, or
the same footing with the present volun
teers, advance pay, bounty money, &C., in
cluded. When necessary to make draft
the President shall Indicate the number fol-
each district, taking into consideration thu
number already furnished since the begin
ming of the war, SO as to fairly equalize the
burden the enrolling officers shall Their
make the draft with so per cent addition,
and within ten days serve notices upon thu
drafted men. Substitutes may be furnish
ed, or Communication made not to exceed
three hundred dollars. at the discretion o
the Secretary of War. Any person drafted
and failing to report, or furnish substitute
or pay his communication, shall be deemed .
deserter, and subject to immediate arrest
The bill provides for the proper surgical ex
animation of drafted men, and the punish
ment of surgeons who receive brides. Wher
the draft is finished, all those not taking
are allowed travelling pay to their homes =
Those who furnish substitutes are exempt
for the entire time of the draft, and the sub
stitute has the same pay, &C., as though or.
iginally drafted.
The bill also provides that volunteers
now in service who re-enlist for one veal
shall have a bounty of $50, one half paid
down; those who enlist for two years re-
ceive $25 of the regular 800 bounty
There are also provisions for the ccnsolida
ton of shelton regiments also that Gener
ais in the field may execute court martial
sentence against spies, deserters, mutineers
or murderers, without reference to the Pres
ident; courts-martial may reduce absentee
officers to the ranks; clothing arms, &C..
shall not be sold, pledged or given away,
and may be taken wherever found in illegal
hands persons who entice soldiers to de-
sert, or harbor them, or buy their arms o,
uniforms, and ship captains or railroad con-
ductors who knowingly convey deserters
may be fined $500 and imprisoned from six
months to two years. Any person who re-
sists draft, or counsels others to do so, 81
dissuades them from performing military
duty, shall he summarily arrested, looked
up until the draft is finished, then be tried
by OWL Court, and fined $500 or impris-
oned two years, or both. The President, on
the passage of this act, shall issue procla.
nation recalling a5sentees from the army,
who may return without punishment within
the time indicated, except the forfeiture of
ofpay for the time of absence; those who
do not return will be deserters. Officers
absent with leave, except for sickness or
wounds, receive half-pay; officers absent
without leave, no pay at all. There are
others provisions, but chiefly Of details not
particularly important.
The State Convention.
The call of the Republican Central Com.
mittee for State Convention has already
appeared in two or three issues of the DAILY
REGISTER. The time and place for the as