The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL
The National Forces to be Organized.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 1863
The defeat of the Illinois and Michigan. and
New York Ship Canal bill to-day was rot whoi-
ly unexpected after the developments OF last
Friday and Saturday. Friends of the bill say
they lost two votes on Ohio and Indiara by the
, recent action of the Legislatures of those States,
also that the Democratic party made it q strict
| party question, and under the leadership of al
landigham took away from its support all the
Democrats from Missouri and New Yo,k every
one of whom they had ample reason to reckon as
favorable to the bill till within the last two days.
Senator Wilson reported from the Committee
on Military Affairs, to-day, one of the most inns
portant bills ever considered in Congress. Af>
ter setting forth, in a preamble, the objects OF
the war and a necessity of a military force TO at
tain them, it enacts that every able bodied male
citizen of the United States, between eighteen
and forty five shall constitute a part of the ma
tional forces, and shall be liable to perform mil
ilary service when called on by the President
A long list follows of the classes of persons
exempt from this requirement.. including IN sd-
dition to ordinary exempts those who are the
sole support of infirm, aged, or helpless, only
brother of Dung orphan children, and like cases,
as under the French conscription law. -
The third section divides the national forces
not now in service into two classes, viz:
First, Those between eighteen and ;hirty,snd
the unmarried above that age.
Second, All others. The second class not to
be called into service till the first are exhaust
ed.
For the convenience Of enrolment and the
apprehension Of dcserters, the United States is
divided into districts answering to Compression
al districts in States aud Territories, the Presi-
dent to designate the districts where the State
may have neglected to do So.
Provost Marshals are to be appointed for
each district with the rank Of Capt. Of Cavalry,
subject to tho orders of the Provost Marshal
General. 4 Board Of Enrolment Tor each dis
trict, consisting Of the Provost Marshal and two
others, one of whom il to be a surgeon,i is to d.
vide il into sub-districts of convenient size, to
! appoint enrolling officers for each before March
I0th. who shall by Apii! report all persons so
enrolled, to be subject TO 4 call for two years af-
Ter JAY II, 20 serve during three years or the
war, aud 20 be on the same footing with the
volunteers with the same period.
| When it shall be necessary 10 call out the ma
tional forces, the President Is to assignto each
district the number required, who, with sixty
per cent. additional, shall t%hereupon be drafted.
The President is 70 assign drafted meH to such
corps, regiments, &c, as the exigencies of the
service may require.
The bill goes at length iuto the details touch.
ing the duties aud penalties connected with en-
rollment and desertiOn.
This bill has been for a long time the subject
of consultation and discussion among Republi
cans, aud will doubtless be put through by near
" a strict party vote. An amendment will per
haps be moved, providing for the Government
procuring substitutes after the French tash~
ion, when drafted men are willing to pay tor
( them.
Another important bill introduced by Sumner
to-day provides for the enrolment of able bodied
blacks between eighteen and forty>fve who
have been freed by act of Congress or procla-
nation of the President, by the commanding
officer of the department within witch they shall
be found
They are to be organized, armed, equipped
and mustered into the service for the war,theiI
pay to be seven dollars per month, half to be
paid at the end of each month. and half at the
end of tho term of service.
Privares are also to be entitled on their dis
charge to ten acres of confscated land, andcom'
missioned officers to twenty-five acres, such
land to be occupied as a homestead by the re-
ceiver and his family
Another section authorizes voluntary enlist
ment Of free blacks between the ages of eight
cen and thirty-fve, on the same pay as white
volunteers. The aggregate enrolled under the
act not to exceed 300, 600. A bill will shortly be
introduced in the House empowering the Pres
ident, Secretary of War and Surgeon General, t(
establish homes for INDECENT and disabled sol
diers at some central lacality.