The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-17
pROCLAMATIONS.
DY THE GOVERNOR {

DY THE GOVERNOR OF VIliGI-
ID MIA pROCLAMATION.-T General
Assembly of this State, on the Goth OF January
1854, passed act containing the following PROV
sioBs:
L. 'That all magistrates, sheTiffs, seTgeants and
constales of the several counties and towns in th'
Commonwealth be required to inform the nearest
Confederate officer of all desrrfeFs and ether deifn-
asfats owing military service TO the Confederate
Government who NAV be found i'll their respective
counties cities or towns. and to arrest and to aid III
the arrest Of all such denquents whether deserters
conscrpts absentees without leave, from the army
or navy of the Confederate States And they shall
promptly notify the nearest Confederate officer
Adlutant-G General, the Secretary of War; of sue
arrests. and shall commit such deserter other de-
linquent to some seizure county or corporation jail
until he can be delivered to the Confederate autho.
rites.
2 "Said officers may summon so many of the
people of their county corporation for assist
ance IN the execution of the law they may deem
proper.
s. IF any officer shall wllfully fail or refuse to
perform any duty herein required Of him." any
summoned citizen shall fail 10 do, such officer
or citizen shall be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor
and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined by the
jury not less than fifty dollars than five
hundred dollars, and shall be imprisoned i'll the
county or operation jail not less than two MOI
more than SIX months.
4. 1t shall be the duty of the presiding justice -
when requested by the Governor OF the State. to
summon two other magistrates and TO organize tot
the arrest of all such dehnquentS failing III which,
he shall be subject to the pains and penalties before
referred to.
The importance of Tigidy enforcing the provisions
Of this law, at this time cannot be misunderstood
The Government OF the United States is exertne
itself to reinforce its armies, and it becomes our a,-
thorities, State and Confederate, to meet these
efforts of the enemy with corresponding energy and
determination. Our ;timies must be strengthened
Distinguished as they by marvellous sallantry,
and animated with AN undying spirit, they yet re-
Quire the assistance Of greater numbers, and these
numbers must be speedily forthcoming. This law is
intended to restore deiinQuents to their commands
and it is the duty Of the officers referred TO to en-
force it with all their activity and power
am invested by llw with authority to certify for
exemption from military duty such officers as l may
deem necessary to ute the laws the State and
to carry on and administer its government Accord
ingly, with view to the execution of this law l
have certified for exemption large nuIsher OF JUS
tees of the peace ana other county officers, and ana
panied to believe that the duty imposed upon them
has not been efficiently dischaig ed and am, there
FORE bound to declare that, II thus apathy and neg
hgence continue, snail feel it my duty to revoke
many of the certificates which have already grant
ed, in order that such officers may be required to
take the places of the delinQtents whom, by tLeir
negligence they have failed to restore to their
eral commands
The State must have the services of her abe-bodied
men, and delinQuentS must be brought bl ok to their
duty, those neglecting TO arrest them must take
their places. call upon all officers to read the law
which have partly quoted, and to it that it is
rigidly enforced.
-, Given under my hand at Richmond. and
l.. 5. under the seal of the Commonwealth, this
- 18th day of September, 1861.
Teste: WILLIAM SMITH
GEORGE W. MUSFoRD,
sc 17-3t Secretary of the Commonwealth.