Gi. 16!^ 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 The ConscriptJo 
 Conf Pam #500 
 
 DTT13TST13 
 
State Convention — 3rd Ad. Ses.] [May, 1862. 
 
 Ordered to be Printed. 
 
 John W. Syme, Printer to the Convention. 
 
 THE CONSCRIPTION ACT— LETTER FROM TUE 
 SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 Executive Department, > 
 Ralekjh, N. C, May 5th, 1862. \ 
 
 Hon. Weldon N. Edwards, 
 
 President of the Convention: 
 1 have the' honor to enclose to the Convention, through you. 
 a copy of a letter addressed to me l)y the Secretary of War, 
 in answer to some inquiries about the construction of the Con- 
 scription Act. This lettct" contains all the information I have 
 of the Law, except such publications as have been authorized 
 by the War Department, and published in the newspapers. 
 I have the honor to be, most respectfully, 
 
 HENRY T. CLARK. 
 
 )F AxMERICA,) 
 
 IPARTMENT, V 
 
 )ril 30th, 1862. j 
 
 CONFEDERATE STATES OF AxMERICA, 
 War Dbpartm] 
 Richmond, Apr 
 His Excellency, 
 
 Gov. Henry T. Clark, 
 
 Jlalci;/h, N. a 
 Sir: Y'our letter of the 24th instant was received on yes- 
 terday. In reply I have the honor to say, that the effect of 
 
 P3591^ 
 
2 State Convention. [^J^ajj 
 
 tlip Conscription Act is tu suspend calls oi» the States for 
 quotas. The number of men between the ages of 18 and 35 
 is assumed to be precisely in the ratio of population. 
 
 The first effect of the Act is to retain in the service all sol- 
 diers who were there on the 16th April. The next, to fill up 
 the regiments and companies with men liable to military duty 
 under the act, by replacing those men on service who will be 
 exempt from age, w ith those not npw on service, not so exempt, 
 and thus to fill and keep full the existing corps to the maximum 
 allowed by law. If any States have not enough regiments in 
 the service, or heretofore authorized by the Department to be 
 raised to absorb the material between the ages 18 and 35, the 
 excess will be collected in Camps of Instruction, disciplined, 
 and brought into service, pui'suant to section 9 of the Act. 
 
 I will accept the State Troops in their present organization, 
 to be received on the same footing Avith other regiments already 
 in the Confederate service, the men over 35 and under 18 to be 
 discharged within 90 days from the 16th April, and their places 
 supplied from the enrolled Conscripts. The right of re-organi- 
 zation, by election, belongs only to 12 months men. Those 
 whose enlistment is for a longer or a shorter period, remain in 
 the service on their existing organizations. These general 
 remarks are supposed to answer several of your specific inqui- 
 ries. The enroiment of Conscripts will be made as soon as the 
 requisite regulations can be prepared, in order to relieve the 
 men now in service who are over 35 years of age. 
 
 2. The State Troops will be received as stated above. 
 
 3. Men over 35 years of age now in service will be discharg- 
 ed within 90 days. They or others not now in service will be 
 at liberty to serve by voluntary enlistment, but not in lieu of 
 Conscripts, except as substitutes. 
 
 4. Vohmteering is not stopped by the Conscript Bill. By 
 section 13, persons liahle as Conscripts may volunteer in any 
 company now in service. You are referred specially to Regu- 
 lations 8 to 11 inclusl\e. I'he act approved December 11th, 
 1861, providing for the jtayment of bounty to volunteers for 
 the war continues lu torco. 
 
1862.] State Convention. ', ,3 
 
 5. Militia officers l)etweeu 18 and 35 arc embraced by the 
 Conscription Act. 
 
 The quota of each State, under e.xissting laws, vill be jril 
 liable to military duty under the Act of April 16th. 
 
 I enclose a copy of the Act and Regulations established for 
 carrying it into effect. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 GEO. W. RANDOLPH, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 P35913 
 

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