Year: 1862

The Conscription Law in the House.


We are indebted to Mr.. Davidson, of the House
Of Representatives from this State for copy Of the
bill reported in the House by Mr.. Miles, from the
military committee, for increasing tie army by ex-
tending the call for troops to persons who are be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-fve. This
bill was read the first and second times on the lst
instant and made the special order for the 3d. to be
considered from day to day until disposed Of This
BILL with the amendments proposed by Messrs.
Gather and Smith, of this State is great improve
ment on the law on this subject which has already
passed the Senate. 1t provides first for a call by
the President on the Governors of the respective
States and thus protects as far as possible the mi
litia system and the rights of the States. We be-
lieve the States will respond with the necessary
number of volunteers and drafted men, provided
this bill should be passed, and that the President
will not be forced to resort to conscrption to obtain
troops. The bill introduced by Mr. Miles is as fol-
lows:


"a BILL.


To be entitled An Act to provide for the filling exist


ing companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments
aud 20 increase the Provisional Army of the Confed crate
States.


SECTION /. The Congress of tie Confederate States cf
Americr do enact That when the President shall con-





invasons for the public safety in the pending he
authorized as hereinafter provided to call into the mill
tay service of the Confederate States for three
during the present war; if it should be sooner ended all
white male citizens of the Confederate States legally
exempted from such service between the ages Of thirty
i've and Ortyve years and such authority shall exist in
the President during the present war; to all persons
who may hereafter become eighteen years Of
age and when enrood all persons between the ages
OF eighteen aud fortyve years shall their full term
and be entitled discharge because he have
passed the of orve years before such term of SER
vice expires.


SEC T. That the President shall make such call by re-
QUESTION upon the Governors of the several Confederate
States for all any portion of the within their
respective States between the ages and forty
ve years. and also for those who may hereafter
become eighteen years old as aforesaid not legally ex-
the several States they shall be assigned to and form part
Of the companies, squadrons batalons, and regiments
heretofore raised i'll their respective States and now in the
service of the Confederate States and the number that
may remain from any State after filing up existing
Panes, s9uadrons battaons, and regiments from such
State to their maximum legal number shall be differed
according to the laws of the State having such residue


SIC That if the Governor of State shall refuse
shall fail for unreasonable tme to be determined by the
President to comply with said requston then such per-
in such State hereby made subject in all respects
public deenee approved Snr is isss and the President
authorized to enforce said act against such persons


SEC T. That for the purpose of securing more speedy
enrolment of the persons rendered liable to military
vice under this act the President may Immediately upon
making the requison authorized therein, employ in any
State whose Governor shall consent thereto officers of the
Confederate States to enroll and collect in the respective
camps Of instruction. all the persons called into service
aforesaid.


SIC s. That the persons brought into military service
BY this act shall be assigned to the company from their
State the service of the Confederate States which
they prefer to on subject to such regulations the
Secretary Of War establish TO the filling of
existing companies squadrcns, battai9ns and regiments
to military service under the provisions Of this act and
able bodied over the ages Of forty years. may vol
their State as they select Procided That said company
shall not by thereof be increased beyond its legal
maximum number and PToUtdsd furter, That the right
of volunteering iu of being assigned to- any company
shall not interfere with the objects Of this produce
inequality confusion in the different Of military
service"


The following is Mr.. Gathers substitute:
"MR. GATHERS SUBSTITUTE FOR BILL TO IN.


CREASE THE ARMY.


Strike out all of the original BILL after the title, and sub
stitute the following:


SECTION l. The 5nQress of tie C5afedsyate States of
America do enact That whenever the President shall
slider increase Of the forces in the field necessary TO
pei INVASION for the public safety in the pending
he is authorized TO call upon the several States in his dis
creton for number of troops to for the term of
three years during the


SEC In making such requsition the President shall
take into consideration the number Of troops from each
State already enlisted for the war; at the time of the requi
soD and SHALL far practicable, equalize the same
amongst the States according to their respective poPu-
laton.


SEC g. That oil such troops shall be assigned TO- and
form part Of the companies squadrons, battalons and
regiments heretofore raised in their respective States and
the service of the Confederate States and the num-



ing companies squadrons battaons and regiments from
such State to their maximum legal number shall be organ
lied into companies squadTouS battsons and
the may be, under the laws of such State.


SEC That if the Governor of any State shall refuse or
fail for days, after any such call shall have been
made upon him BY the President to comply with said re;
QUESTION: then all white male citizens between the OF
thirydye and foryfve years in such State are hereby
further to provide for the public Defence April
l 1852 and the President is authorized to enforce said
act against such persons And in the event at any time
hall ot Oft
for the time being, upon whom the President can
make such CALL then all the white male citizens OF such
State between the ages of thtyhve aud fortyhve years.
made subject to the said act and the President is au
thorized to enforce it against such persons.


SEC s. That the persons brought into military service
State in the service of the Confederate States which
they prefer on subject to such regulations as the
Secretary Of War may establish to secure the filling up OF
existing companies squadrons battaons and regiments,
from the respective States Provided That persons liable
sbebsdisd men over the age Of foryTe years may vol
and be assigned to duty in such company from their
State they may select: ProUtded, That said company
shall by thereof be increased beyond its legal
maximum number And proUided further That the right
Volunteering in or being assigned to- any company shall
not interfere with the objects of this act produce in
equality or confusion in the different arms oil military
service.


SEC 6. That bounty of fifty dollars be, and the same
is hereby granted each mustered INTO service un
der this act, who has been may hereafter be- mus
tered into service under the said act Of the 18th of April
1852 the same being due each person from he time ne Is
mustered into the service of the Confederate Satss.


And the following is the amendment offered by
Mr.. Smith:


"AMENDMENT OF MR.. SMITH, OF NORTH.CARO-


LIMA.


That the President be authorized to call upon the several
States for their respective quotas of force in the aggre
gate exceeding three hundred Thousand men, in add
ton to those already in the field to for three years or
the war; whereof many shall be placed in the regiments
of the States from which they taken, necessary
to fill such regiments to the full number prescribed by the
act of April 49, 1862 and the residue of the quota shall be
received in bodies organized by authorities of the States
PrOude hos0 That the quota to be furnished BY each
State shall not exceed the difference between the whole
number of therein between the ages Of eighteen
and fortyve years. LIABLE under the laws thereof to mill
ary service and not exempt to be estimated according to
the returns of the census and the number which such
State has already furnished by volunteering conscrpton
otherwise the Confederate government for the term
of three years or the war;"