The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-05-11
The Militia Law.
How Volunteer Companies
ARE TO BE FILLED UP BY DRAFT
FROM THE ENROLLED MILITIA.

The act to organize and discipline the
militia recently passed by the Legislature
has not been published in such a shape
as to give it general circulation, and its
provisions are very impsrfectlyl under
stood, even by many Of those who helped
to make the law. We give below sum-
mary Of those provisions authorizing the
draft from the enrolled militia to fill up
volunteer companies, in which people gen.
orally are most interested at this time, in
view of the probability for draft at an
early day: 8 9 icaa
When any company now organized, or
that may hereafter be organized, under
the militia law shall become reduced be-
low the minimum standard by death, dis
charges or otherwise, 1t shall be filled by
draft from the enrolled militia, from such
district as the Governor may designate
within said county where said company
was organized The draft to be made as
follows: first, from those of the enrolled
militia who have not committed their SER
vice by the payment of FOUR dollars into
the county treasury; second, from those
who have so commuted their service; and
in such cases those who have paid the
Communication money and are drafted, their
communication money shall be returned to
them; provided the money was paid with
in three months preceding the call.
Whenever the Governor, shall order a
draft from the enrolled militia, as author
lied by Sec II, as above described, or
whenever a general draft of the militia
shall be made, such draft shall be deter
mined by lot, to be drawn by the Auditor
of the county, in the presence of the Pro-
bate Judge, Commissioner. Clerk, Sher-
if, or Trustees of any city, ward or town
ship, or any two of the same
Any person drafted may, within five
days after receiving notice of the same,
present to the County Auditor of such
county his certificate of exemption, or
other proof of his non liability to mill
tary duty, which shall be duly verified;
and if such County Auditor shall decide
that such person is exempt. or not liable,
he shall be discharged, and another per-
son shall be drafted in his stead
Any .person drafted as above stated
may offer substitute at the time of the
rendezvous of the drafted military force
duQ uuQ eQOSbllUlS, IL lie D6
an able-bodied man of the age of twenty
one years and upwards, and shall consent
voluntarily to subject himself to all the
duties, fines, forfeitures and punishments
to which his principal would have been
subject, shall be accepted by the COM
lrandant of ahe company to which his
principal may belong.
The minimum of companies is as fol-
Infantry, So; Cavalry, So; sArtil-
lery, two gun battery, 40; four-gun bat
terry, 90; six-gun battery, IA. ALI per-
sons subject to military duty, and who
are not now members Of some volunteer
organization, shall either become mem
bers of some volunteer organization OF
pay into the County Treasury, annually
the sum of four dollars, which sum shall
be communication for fines and penalties
for neglect to perform military service
ercept under calls to prevent rebel inva.
sion, or suppress insurrection. .
After the enrolment of the militia is
filed with the County Auditor, he shall
give two weeks notice in the county pa
pers, requiring the payment of the com
mutation money, or The presentation O
exemption papers, before the 18th o.
August, and if any enrolled person shall
fail to pay the 81 or file, his exemption
on or before that date, the Auditor il
required to proceed to collect the sam,
with penalty added of thirty pei cent.
and the Auditor is required to collect th
same by Distress together with the pen
atty and such costs as are allowed t,
County Treasurers Give per cent: upol
distraint for taxes; he is also empowered
to appoint collectors at remuneration o
not over twenty per cent. on the amour
collected, together with the costs.--,S.ates
man.