The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-20
DY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGI-

ID MIA PROCLAMATION. The General
Assembly uf this State on the 10Th Of January,
1864, passed act containing the following provi
sions:
T. "That all magistrates, 8heriffs, scrgeants and
constables Of the several counties and towns IN this
Commonwealth be required 10 inform the nearest
Confederate officer CT ali dcseTteTS and other dIn
qnctfts owing military service to the Confederate
Government who may be found III their respective
Counties eei Or nna to arrest and to ad N
conscripts abscntees without leave from the army
or navy of the Confederate States. And they shall
promptly notify the nearest Confederate officer OF
hdlutant- General the Secretary of War, of such
arrests, and shall commit such dcserter or other de-
hnquent to some secure. county corporation jail
untll he can be delivered to the Confederate autho-
rites,
9. ''Sdid officers may summon many oil the
people of their county corposation" for assist
ance IN the execution ot the law as they may deem
proper.
5 If any officer shall w,lfi,lly fail or refuse to
perform any duty herein required Of him. any
summoned citizen shall Erl Ia DO, such officer
or citizen shall he deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor,
and, on conviction thereof shall be fined by the
jury not less than fifty dollars nor more than five
hundred dollars and shall be imprisoned in the
county on corporation jail not less than two nor
more than SIX months
l. 1t shall be the duty OF THE presiding Justice
when requested by the Governor of the state, 10
summon two other MAGISTRATES and to organize for
the arrest of all such delnqucnts falling in which,
he shall be subject to the pains and penalties before
referred to.
The importance Of rig,dly enforcing thcproyisIons
Of this law ut this time, cannot be Misunderstood
The Government of the United State Is cxer't ug
itself 10 reinforce its armies, and 1t becomes our au-
thoritic7, State ami Confederate, 10 meet these
Efforts OF the enemy with corresponding energy and
dcteTminltion. Our armies must b" strengthened.
DiSngui. bel a they are by marvellous gIilIntry,
and animated with undyIng spirit, they yet re-
QuirC the assistance Of greater numbers, aud thcce
numbers must be speedily forthcoming. This ltwi
intended to restore delinqucntS to their commands,
and it is the duty OF the officers referred to to
force it with all their activity and power
| mn invested by lax with authority to certify for
exemption from military duty such officers as may
deem e1ery 10 execute the laws Of the state and
to carry on aill administer its government. Accord
ingly, with view to the execution Of this law,
have certified for exemption large number of jus
tees of the peace and uther county officers, and
PANIED to believe that the duty imposed up0n them
has not been efficiently discharged ana am, there
fore, bound to declare that, If this apathy and neg
Hgcnco continue, shall feel 1t my duty To revoke
many Of the certificates which have already grant
cd i'll order that such officers may BE- required TO
take the places of the delinqueuts whom, by their
negligence, they have failed to restore to their
eral commands
The State must havcthe services Of her adcb0dicd
men, and delinquents must be brought bi Ck 10 their
duty, those neslectiuR to arrest them must take
which have partly quoted, and see to ii ;hlt it is
rgdly enforced
-~i Given under my hand at r., hnoUl, and
L. S. under the seal of the Commonwealth. this
- 18th day oi September, 1851
Tcste: WILLIAM SMITH.
GEORGE w. NUEFoRn,
So l7-3t Secretary OF thc t"niIno wealth.