The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-06
The Consumption Act.

the natlOndi uiSsOiutiOil, has passeu Wy, 10 SuS-
ceeded by grim resolution, such as we have
never seen before. The gay enthusiasm of
youthful volunteers after the fall of Sumter
will never return. 1t is enough, once In
lifetime to have witnessed and shared the
electric thrill of patriotism which then ran
over all the land. Every house was decked
with the national colors; every man you met
wore them in his button hole; it was like
holiday. There is no holiday feeling now. 1t
is very serious business, which the nation has
In hand. A merciess conscription at the
South has swept youth and age alike into the
field. Hard pounding this, gentlemen; but
we'll see who can pound the longest. The
temper Of the people is excellent; Republicans
and Democrats alike, they are determined to
conquer permanent peace; the Copperheads
are in an almost invisible minority. 1t is the
fashion TO decry the statesmen Of the late
Congress; they will receive their just need Of
honor in time; the credit of far reaching and
wise reforms will be rendered to them in hsto-
ry atleast; in passing the CONSUMPTION act, they
have given such expression to the national de-
termination, ominous of victory, as cannot
even now be mistaken. 1t is true, that this
Congress was not elected for period of rev.
olution; opinions will vary touching the wis.,
dom Of its connsels and dealings with revolu-
tionary questions; but there can be no doubt,
that in the passage Of this act, providing
military force adequate to the suppression Of
the rebellion, however obstinate, II has on
ly bodied forth the clear win of the people.
The CONSUMPTION act was reported from the
Senate, 18th February, passed the House of
Representatives with three trihing amend
inents, 25th February, and again passed the
Senate last Monday, to become a law on the
reception of the Presidents signature. By
the provisions Of this act. the President is au-
thorized to call out the national forces by
draft during the present rebellion. No en-
listments will be allowed. The business of
enrolling, calling out, and organizing the ma
tional forces will be subject to the supervision
Of provost marshal general, at Washington,
ranking as colonel of cavalry. The District
of Columbia. each Territory, and in the
States, each Congressional district, will con-
stitute q district of enrolment, for which
provost marshal will be appointed by the
President, to rank as captain of cavalry. 1t
viii be the duty Of these provost marshals to
arrest deserters and spies within their several
districts, and 70 preside over board of en-
rollment comprising two other persons, one
OF whom shall be licensed and practicing
physician and surgeon. This board will i'm
mediately divide each district into two SUBJ
districts, or more by direction of the Secreta-
ry Of War, and appoint on or before the 10th
OF March next, an enrolling officer for each
district, who will Immediately proceed to en-
roll all persons liable to do military duty with
in his limits, and report to the board of en-
rollment by the 1st April The consolidated
rolls are to be transmitted to the provost
marshal general by the LIST May. All persons
thus enrolled will be subject for two years af-
ter the LIST July. to be called into the military
service of the United States, and to continue
in service for three years, or during the war;
and when called into service will be placed on
the same footing, in all respects, as volunteers,
including advance pay and bounty as now
provided by law.
The following persons, and no others except
act: such as are rejected as physically or men,
tally unit for the service; also, first, the Vice
President of the United States, the judges of
the various courts of the United States, the
heads Of the various executive departments of
the government, and the governors of the sew
eral States. Second, the only son liable TO mill
itary duty of widow dependent upon his la
Dor for support. Third, the only son of aged
or iniirm parent or parents dependent upon his
labor for support. Fourth, when there are !
two or more sons Of aged or infirm parents
subject to draft, the father, or if he be dead,
the mother, may elect which son shall be ex-
empt. Fifth, the only brother of children not
twelve years old, having neither father nor
mother, dependent upon his labor for support.
Sixth, the father of motherless children under
twelve years OF age dependent upon his labor
for support. Seventh, where there are faith
er end sons In the same family and household,
and two Of them are in the military service o.
the United States as non-commissioned officers,
musicians, or privates, the residue of such fam
lily and household, not exceeding two, shall be
exempt.
AL obtscK duic-uOuicu uidlc CttlZtuS Oh the
United States and persons of foreign birth,
who shall have declared on oath their inten-
ton of becoming citizens, between the ages of
twenty and forty-fiye, are to be enrolled in two
classes, the first comprising all persons subject
to do military duty between the ages of twenty
and thirty-hve years, and all unmarried per-
sons subject to do military duty above the age
of thirty five; the second comprising all other
persons subject to do military duty, and
not to be called into the service of the
United States until those OF the first class shall
have been called. 1t is believed also, that the
deficiencies of the Middle aud Western States
under the last call for troops will be made up
before drafting begins elsewhere. In enroll
ing for the two classes, the age is reckoned for
the LIST of July next
Whenever it may be necessary to call ont
the national forces for military service, the
President is authorized to assign TO each dis
trict the number of men to- be furnished by
said district; and thereupon the enrolling
board will draft the required number. and tifty
per cent more, and will make an exact roll of
the names so that the first drawn may stand
first, the second second, and SO on. Persons
so drawn shall be notified within ten days by
written or printed notice, requiring them to
appear at designated rendezvous ANY ner-