The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-07-26
MIR. AsIILEY,s DEsEnTER BILL

The following is a correct copy Of the bill
introduced by Mr.. AsHLEY, for the relief OF
certain class OF desorters. The bin has
passed the House
BILL for the Relief Of Certain Volunteer Sol
diers and Sailors therein designated.
WHEREAS, large number OF men who voluu-
tarily enlisted in the service Of the United States
for definite period or during the war, and who
faithfully served until after the surrender Of Lee
and Johnston in April eighteen hundred and sixty
Eve, under the impression that they bad faithfully
fulfcd their contract with the Government, did
without authority, leave their respective commands
and 60 home and whereas, all who thus left the
service are marked upon the rolls as deserters,
and are uniustiy classed with those guilty of the
great crime Of deserving " the enemy desertog
during the therefore,
Be Il enacted by he Senate and House of Repre-
sentdtges oEae Uahcd States Of America ia Oongress
aseB,blsd That no soldier or sailor shall be taken
or held 10 be desottcr from the army or navy
who voluntarily enlisted to serve and who did
faithfully serve the prescribed period Of his enlist
ment, or until the nineteenth Of April, eighteen
hundred and sixty-fve, and who without proper
authority or leave first obtained, did quit his COM
mand or refused to serve after said date.
SIC. 2. And be Il jarther enacted, That any vol
unteer soldier or sal ior who may at any time have
absented himself from the service, and who vol
unfairly returned 10 duty and remained with his
proper command until il was regularly mustered
out, " or who was Killed in battle or died before
the expiration Of his erm Of SERVICE" shall not be
classed as deserter,
SEC. g. and Be Il further enacted, That the Sec
retary OF War and Secretary Of the Navy be, and
! they are hereby, authorized and directed, under
such rules and regulations as they may prescribe,
to cause all applications OF soldiers or sailors, OF
the class hereinbefore described as deserers, ask
ing for correction Of the rolls 10 be renstated,
which may be hereafter presented to their respect
i've departments to be examined and if It shall be
found that the applicant voluntarily entered the
service and faithfully served the term Of his en-
listnent, or until the nineteenth day OF April, eigh-
teen hundred aud sixty five, and only left the ser.
vice after said date his name shall be replaced
upon the rolls, and ho shall be entitled to his pay
up to the day he So left tho service but he shall
not receive any additional or extra pay. He shall
also be entitled 10 discharge, setting forth the
facts they exist; and the persons thus reinsta-
ted, paid, and discharged, shall not be subject to
any penalty, disability, OF forfeiture of citizenship
as deserter.
SEC. 4. And be Il further enacted, That all dis
honorable discharges given to any soldier or
sailor included within the provisions of this act
for such alleged desertion OF such refusal to
and whose pay was forfeited therefor, are hereby
vacated and set aside, and such soldiers and
sailors shall be entitled to discharges and pay as
other soldiers and sailors under this act.
SEC. 5. and be Il further enacted, That when any
soldier or sailor Of the late war, whose name is
borne on the rolls Of the army or navy as deser-
ter shall present to the Secretary of War or the
Navy satisfactory proof that such desertinn was
only technical, and without intention to abandon
the service, the Secretary is hereby authorized
and directed to give such soldier or sailor GER
tfcnte that his record Of desertion has been cam
ceed.
The billiu full, as signed by the President
is as follows:
That no soldier or sailor sh al be taken or held
MS deserter from the army or navy who faith
fully served according to his enlistment until the
10th of April, 1865; rudfwho, without proper au-
thorty or leave first obtained, did quit his com
mand or refuse To serve after said date. Bu
nothing herein contained shall operate as renis
sion of any forfeiture incurred by any such soldier
or sailor OF his pay, bounty, pensiin or other al
lowanccs. But this act shall be considered solely
as removal Of any disability such soldier or sailor
may have incurred by loss Of his citizenship il
consequence of his desertion.