Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-11
SPECIAL DlSPATC HE'S,
ITO the Chicago TrbuneJ
FROM WASHINGTON.
Big Scare at Oharleston---British
Consul LeaVing---The New
General Enrolment
All Citizens Liable
to Draft.
WASHINGTON Feh G

| W O4N4ga
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.
The fact that the British man-of-war has
touched at Charleston and taken off the
British Consul, as well af that residents Of
the city were deserting in large numbers,
serves to show that they already begin to
have arealizing sense Of what is awaiting
them.
Senator Wilson reported from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, to-day, one of
the most important bills ever considered
in Congress. After setting forth, in a
preamble, the objects of the war, and the
necessity of military force to attain
them, it enacts thatevery able-bOdied male
citizen Of the United States between Is
and 45, shall constitute part of the Ma
tiOnal forces, and shall be liable toperform
military service when called on by the
President. -- .-....
A long list follows of the classes of per-
sons exempt from this requirement, includ-
ing, in addition to ordinary exemp,s, those
who are the sole support of infrm, aged,
or helpless, only brother of young 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 thir-
ty, and the unmarried above that age.
Second, All others. The second class not
to be called into the service till the first is
exhausted
For the convenience of enrolment and
the apprehension of deserters, the United
States is divided into districts answering
to Congressional districts in States and
Territories, the President to designate the
districts where the State may havs neg.
lected to do so.
Provost Marshals are to be appointed
for each district, with the rank of Captain
of cavalry, subject to the orders of the Pro-
vost Marshal General. A Board Of Enroll
ment for each district, consisting of the
Provost Marshal and two others, one of
whom is to be surgeon, is to divide it
into sub-distriots of convenient size, to ap-
point enrolling officers for each before the
10th of March, who shall, by April, re-
port all persons SO enrolled, to be subject
to a call for two years after July Is, to
serve during three years or the war, and
to be on the same footing with the vOlun-
t9ers with the same period.
When it shall be necessary to call out
the national forces, the President is to as
sign to each district the number required,
who, with sixty per cent. additional, shall
thereupon be drafted. The President is to
assign drafted men to such corps, regi-
ments, &C., as the exigencies of the service
may REQUIRE.
The bill goes at length into the details,
touching the duties and penalties connect
ed with enrolment and dessrtion.
This bill has been for long time the
subject of consultation and discussion
among Republicans, and will doubtless be
put through by nearly strict party vote.
An amendment will perhaps be moved,
providing for the Government procuring
substitutes, after the French fashion,
when drafted men are willing to pay for
them.
Another important bill introduced by
Sumner to-day, provides for the enroll
ment of able bodied blacks between
eighteen and forty-fve who have been
freed by act of Congress or proclamation
of the President, by the commanding Of
fcer of the department within which they
shall be found. .T --
They are to be organized, armed, equip
ped, and mustered into the service for the
war, their pay to be seven dollars per
month, and half at the end of the term
of service.
Privates are also to be entitled on their
discharge to ten acres of confscated land,
and commissioned officers to twenty-five
acres, such land to be occupied as a home
stead by the receiver and his family.
Another section authorizes voluntary
enlistment of free blacks between the ages
Of eighteen and thirty-fve, on the same
pay as white volunteers. The aggregate
enrolled under the act not to exceed 900,-
900. A bill will shortly be introduced in
the House empowering the President,
Secretary of War, and Surgeon General,
to establish homes for INDECENT and dis
abled soldiers at some central locality.