The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-07

NATIONAL MILITIA LAW.

~. Act for Enrolling and Calling Out the Ma
IA tionoi Forces, and for other Purposes.
/ WHEREAS, There now exist in, the United
States an iusurrection and rebellion against the
authority thereof, and it is under the Constitu-
ton Of the United States, the duty OF the Gov
ern nent to suppress insurrection and re6eiiion,
to guarantee to each State Republican form OF
Government, and to preserve the public tran
guilty and sehereas, for these high purposes,
military force is Indispensable. to raise and sup,
port which all persons ought willingly to con-
tribute; and ,ohereas, no service can be more
praise orthy and honorable than that which is
rendered for the maintenance of the Constitu-
ton and Union, and the consequent preserva-
ton of Free Government; therefore
: Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiues of Tie United States Of America, IN
Congress Assembled, That all able-bodied male
citizens of the United States, and persons OF
foreign birth, who have declared on oath their
intention to become citizens under and in pur-
suance Of the laws thereof, and who have exer-
csed the right of suffrage IN any State, between
the ages Of twenty and forty FIVE years, except
o. hereinafter excepted, are hereby declared to
constitute the national forces, and shall be liza.
Bile to perform military duty in the service OF
the United States when called out by the Presi
dent for that purpose.
EC.
following persons be, and they are hereby ex-
cepted and exempt from the provisions of this
act, and shall not be liable to military duty un-
der the same, to Wit: Such as are rejected as
physically or mentally unfit for the service al
SO, FIRST, the Vice Presiden: OF the United
States, the Judges of the various Courts of the
United States and the heads OF the various E1-
ecutve Departments of the Government, and
Governors Of the several States; SECOND, the
only son of widow, liable to military duty, de-
pendent upon his labor for support; third, the
only son Of aged or in6rm parent or parents
dependen, npon his labor for support; fourth,
where there are two or more sons OF aged or in
firm parents subject 10 draft the father, or if ne
be dead, the mother may elect which sop shall
be exempt; ff;h, the only brother OF children
not twelve years old, having neither father Tor
mother ard dependent upon his labor for sup
mort: sixth, the father of motherless children
under twelve years of age, dependent upon his
labor for euppor, : seventh, where there are q
father and some in the same family and house,
| hold. and two of them are in the military SER
vice of the United States as non-commissioned
officers, musicians or priva:es, the residue Of
such family and household, not exceeding TWO,
shall be exempt; and no persons but such as
are herein excepted shall be exempt: Prorided,
hopeuer, That no person convicted Of any felony
shall be enrolled or permitted TO serve III said
forces.
Sec. 8. And belt further enacted, That the ma
tional forces of the United States, not now in
the military service, enrolled under this act,
shall be divided into two classes, the first of
which shall comprise all persons subject to
do military duty between the ages of 20 and IS
years, and all unmarried persons subject to do
military duty above the age of 80, and under
the age of As the second class shall comprise
all other persons subject to do military duty.
and they shall not, in any district, be called
into the service of the United States until
those of the FIRST class shall lave been called.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That for
greater convenience in enrolling, calling out,
aud organizing the national forces, and for the
arrest of deserters and spies of the enemy, the
United States shall be divided into districts, Of
which the district Of Columbia shall constitute
one, each Territory of the United States shall
constitute one OF more, as the President shall
direct, and each Congressional district Of the
respective States, as fixed by law of the
state next preceding the enrolment, shall
constitute one Provided, That In States which
have not by their laws been divided into two or
more Congressional districts, the President of
the United States shall divide the same into 80
many enrolment districts as he may deem fit
and convenient. ~ lzs
Sec. 5. And be ii further enacted, That for
each of said districts there shall be appointed
by the President Provost Marshal, with the
rank, pay, and emolumsnts of q captain Of
cavalry, or an officer of said rank shall be de-
tailed by the President, who shall be under the
direction and subject to the orders of Pro-
vost Marshal General, appointed or detailed
by the President of the United States, whose
office shall be at the seat Of Government, form
ing separate bureau Of the War Department
and whose rank, pay; and enoluments shall b
those Of q colonel Of cavalry.
u Sec 6. And be it further enacted, That il
shall be the duty Of the Provost Marshal Gen
eral, with the apr oval Of the Secretary Of War
to make rules and regulations for the govern
ment Of his subordinates; to furnish them with
the names and residences Of ali deserters from
the army or any Of the land forces in the ser
vice Of the United States, including the militia
. when reported to him by the commanding off
GERS; to communicate 70 them all orders Of ID,
President in reference to calling cut the IA
tional forces; to furnish proper blanks and in
, structions for enrolling and drafting: to FL
J and preserve copies Of all enrolment lists :; t.
: require stated reports Of ell proceedings o,
the part Of his subordinates; to audit all &C
counts connected with the service under hi
direction, and to perform such other duties a
> the President may prescribe in carrying on
the provisions of this act. :.
Sec. Z. And be 1t further enacted, That i
shall be the duty of the provost marshals t
arrest ali deserters, whether regulars, volun
teers, militiamen, or persons called into tn
service under this or any other act Of Congress
. wherever they may be found, and to send then
. to the nearest military commander or militar,
!, post; to detect seize and con6ne spies of tn
enemy, whoshall without unreasonable delay b
delivered to the custody of the general com
6 handing the department in which they ma
= be arrested, to be tried as soon as the exigeu
cies of the service permit; to obey all lawfs
o orders and regulations of the provost marsh,
# general, and such as may be prescribed by Law
' cVncerning the enrolment and calling into SCI
2 vice of the national forces. 7es
D Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That
: each of said districts there shall be board ,
it enrolment to be composed Of the provost mai
j. shal, as president, and two other persons,
,s be appointed BY the President Of the Unite