The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-29
By the Governor:
GEORGE w MUNFoRD,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

AN ACT, amendatory of the act passed October q,
1863 entitled all act authorize the arrest of de
serters by the civil authorities. Passed Jan ~,
1864.
first second and third sections of the act passed
October the twenty seventh, eighteen hundred ana
sixty three entitled act to authorize. the arrest OF
deserters by the civil authorities, be amended and
re enacted so as TO read as follows: That all ma
gisraes sheris, sergcants, and constables, OF the
several counties and towns III this CommonWeaith
be required to inform the nearest confederate ON
Ger of all deSeiters and other delInqu nts owing
military service to the Confederate Government,
who may be found In their respective counties,
cities towns and to arrest and aid in the arrest
of all such deIinquents, whether deserters, con-
scrpts or absentecs without leave from the army
or navy of the Confederate states And they shall
promptly notify the nearest Confederate officer
Aduant General, or the secretary Of War, Of such
arrest, and shall commit such deserter or other de-
linQuent to some secure county or corporation jail
until he can be delivered to the Confederate
thorities.
2. The said officers may summon SO many Of the
people of their county corporation require the
nearest commissioned officer of State forces to
call out such portion of his command as may be
sufficient for the purpose, to aid In aresting and
safely guarding such deiinquents until they can be
secured in Jail as aforesaid. And in making any
arrest herein directed, the officers whether civil or
military, shall have the same powers and jurisdic
ton conftned I'm the 2ith section, chapter 49, Of
the Code.
g. If any officer shall wiilfuily fail or refuse to
perform any duty herein required of him, and any
citizen who shall fail or refuse to obey the summons
provided for i'm the second section, shall refuse
when called on by any officer authorized TO arrest
deserers and other military delinqurns, to assist
In making any arrest, or In securing and safely
keeping any prisoner after his arrest, such officer
or citizen shall be deemedSuilty of misdemeanOr,
and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined by the
Jury not less than fifty nor more than five hundred
dollars, and shall be Imprisoned in the county or
| corporation jail not less than two more than
six months but If any such Jail shall, for any
cause, be insecure as place of confinement, he
shall be removed to the nearest county corpora
ton Jail that may be deemed safe. upon the order
of the Court, or presiding Justice of the Court in
which he was convicted.
Be ii further enacted, That TO facilitate the arrest
and return of drserters and other delinauents from
the Army aud Navy of the Confederate States, it
shall be the duty of the presiding Justice Of any
county, city, or town, whenever thereto requested
by the Governor Of the State, the Secretary of War
| OF the Confederate States, or the Commanding
| General of the District or Department, and also
| when reliable information shall be brought to him
| that there are deseners or other delinquents, as
| aforesaid, lurking about or ,passing through his
county, city, OF town, to convene iumed ly two
other magistrates to act with him. and shall detail
from the body of the county suicien patrol, un-
| der charge of officer to be appointed by said
Court, who shall be required diligently to patrol
| and maka search for deserters and other dein-
| gnents, and TO arrest and dispose of the same as
| h6IeinbeiOfe prescribed. And the officer of said
patrol shall have all the power conferred In the
| first and second sections, of this act. The Coul
| herein mentioned may meet at any convenient and
| sale point designated by the presiding Justice.
| ). The orders of said Court shall be certified by
the presiding Justice To the Clerk of the County or
| Corporation Court when the shall not be
| held at the Court house thereof, and shall be is
| sued and executed as other orders of the Court.
| 6. Any wiliu neglect refusal TO perform the
duties prescribed in the last two preceding sections
| shall be- deemed misdemeanOr, and subject the
offender to the pains and penalties mentioned In
| the third section of this act.
oh ha iatIt mir f,, I,o
al. grand juries, and shall Immediately after its
passage be published by proclamation Of the Gov
! sTuor.
o. This act shall! be In force from its passage.
copy from the ros-Teste:
------- YIN, +. GoRpos, Jr.,
| ia 2l-sWN T.. ii. ID. and X. of T.