The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-27
The Consumption Bill.

~AS So3sSAAEs@~ D~~'
Mr.. Wilson's bill, which passed the Senate
on Monday night, the 10th instant, provides in
substance as follows: .AA3
All able-bodicd male citizens, and those who
have declared their intentions to become such,
or have exercised the right of suffrage, between
the ages Of 20 and As years, constitute the Ma
tional forces of the United States and are liable
to perform military duty when called out by the
President. The exenpts are those who are
physically or mentally unfit, the Vice President,
heads of Executive Departments, United States
Judges, Governors of States, only son of an in
digent widow, or infrm parent, or one such son,
where there are two or mOre to be selected by the
parent, also the only brother of orphan children
under twelve years, also the father of mother
less children of the same age; and where two
of q family are in military service the remain
| der of such family, not exceeding two, shall be
exempt. No person convicted Of felony shall
be enrolled or permitted to serve.
The National force not now in service is to
be divided into two classes, the first class en-
bracing all between 20 and 35 years Of age, and
all unmarried men between 80 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 enrolment,
! districts are made corresponding with the Con-
grcssional districts; in each of which the Pres
ident shall appoint Provost Marshal with the
rank and pay Of u Captain of Cavalry, or he
may detail an officer of similar rank who shall
have a Bureau IN the War Department, and
shall make the needful rules and regulations for
carrying out the provisions of this act These
Niarshals are to arrest descrters report treason
able practices, ard detect spies, &c.
In each district there is to he Board of En-
rOllment, consisting of the Provost Marshal and
two other persons, appointed by the President,
one of whom is to be physician and surgeon.
This board shall divide the district into conve-
nient sub-districts and perfect an enrolment
once in each year, each c,,ss to be enrolled sep
arately. Persons thus enrolled are subject for
two years to be called into service to serve for
three years or during the war, on the same foot
ing with the present volunteers, advance pay,
bounty money, &c, inc luded.
When necessary to make draft, the Presi-
dent shall indicate the number for each district,
taking into considers tion the numbor already
furnished since the beginning of the war, so as
to fairly equalze the burden; the enrolling otli-
addition and within ten days serve notice upon
the drafted men,
Substitutes may be furnished, or commuta-
ton made not to exceed three hundred dollars,
at the discretion of the Secretary of War. ANY
person drafted and failing to report, Or furnish
a substitute, or pay his Communication, shall be
deemed a dsserter, and subject to immediate ar
rest.
The bill provides for the proper surgical ex-
animation of drafted men, and the punishment
of surgeons WHO receive bribes.
When the craft is finished, all those not taken
are allowed travelling pay to their homes. Those
who furni sh substitutes are exempt for the ell
tire time Of draft, and the substitute has the
same pay, &c, as though originally drafted.
The till also provides that volunteers now in
service W no re-cnist for one year shall have a
bounty OIL $50, one-halt paid down; those who
enlist for two years receive $25 of the regular
500 bounty.
Their. are also provisions for the consolda-
tion OF skeleton regiments; also that Generals
in the feld may execute court-martial sentence
against spies, dcserters, mutineers, or murderers
without reference to the President; courts-mar-
clothing, arms, &C., shall not be sold, pledged.
or given away, and may be taken wherever
found in illegal hands; persons who entice SOL
diers to desert, or harbor them, OF buy their
arms or uniforms, and ship captains or railroad
conductors who knowingly convey descrters
may be fined $500 and imprisoned from six
months to two years.
Amy person who resists draft, or counscls
others to lilo so, Or dissuades them from perform
ing military duty, shall be summarly arrested
locked up until the draft is finished, then be
tried by civil Court, and fined $500 OF impris-
oncd two years, or both.
The President, on the passage of this act
shall issue proclamation recalling absentees
from the army, who may return without pun
ishment within the time indicated, except the
forfeiture of pay for the time of absence; those
who do not return will be d,,serters.
Officers absent with leave, except for sickness
or wounds, receive half-pay; officers absent
without leave, no pay Mt all. There are other
provisions, but chiefly of details not particular
ly important.
This bill, it viii be observed, confcrs new and
extraordinary powers upon ta>c President In
effect, it establishes martial law over the whole
Union. 1t over-rides the constitutional and stat
ute authority of the State Governments over
their citizens, in respect to milirary service, and
consolidates the supreme power in all things
pertaining thereto, in the hands Of the President.
1t would be useless to discuss the constitution.
ality of this or any other measure, in view of
the present policy of the administration; but we
may be permitted to question the necessity for
SO radical a change in the established Militia
System of the country, in consideration of the
fact that every requisition heretofore made by
the Federal Government upon the State author
tiles, has been promptly and patriotically an
swered; and in no case, except that of Massa-
chusetts, has there been the slightest indication
on the part of the Governors of auy of the loyal