DRAFTS, or MILITARY CONSCRIP TIONS, in the history of the United States, aside from the drafts of the Confederate States of 18 July 1863, and the sweeping one of 17 Feb. 1864, which was in action all through the latter part of the Civil War —are those of 1814, 1863 and 1917. In the Revolution, the regular armies of the United States were recruited by drafts from the State militias (see CONTI NENTALS), but these transfers were made by requisitions on the States, who furnished and officered their quotas in such bodies as they chose. The Constitution gave Congress the twofold power to °raise armies,* and to organize and arm the militia.* Knox in 1790, and Jefferson in several annual messages urged a thorough plan for the latter, classifying the militia independently of the State organizations, and drafting one from each section as needed; but jealousy of the States' rights over the militia was too strong. In the War of 1812, re quisition was made on States for militia to re place coast garrisons, denuded for invasion of Canada, but Connecticut and Massachusetts re fused on the ground that as this country was not invaded, there was no constitutional right to summon the militia. When this excuse failed, others were found; in 1813 a militia or ganization bill passed the House, but failed in the Senate. In 1814 the increasing exigencies forced a bill through Congress (Senate 10 Nov.; House 9 Dec.), on suggestion of the New York and Virginia legislatures; but even its Democratic supporters doubted its being either constitutional or useful, and the House loaded it with an amendment on which the Senate dis agreed, as doubtless intended. The war ended shortly after. In the Civil War, volunteering filled the armies during the first two years, the quotas being apportioned by congressional dis nicts; then the numbers grew scant, and on 3 March 1863 the "Conscription Bill" passed. The intent was the old plan of militia classifica tion and draft, but the Democrats held it uncon stitutional, and their arguments were un answerable, The Republicans therefore fell back on the broad power to "raise armies,* as implying the right to fix the method of so do ing; this in turn was incontrovertible, and up held by the Supreme Court. The State militias were ignored. All able-bodied citizens between 18 and 45 were summoned to the national de fense, and were to be enrolled from 1 April on by the provost-marshals; quotas under future calls not filled by volunteers after a certain period were to be made good by lot from the enrolment; conscripts could furnish substitutes or buy exemption for $300; all persons refus ing obedience to be punishable as deserters.
Early in May 300,000 more troops were called for; many Eastern cities were already in ar rears, and the poorer classes, especially those politically hostile to the war, 'grew very bitter at the real hardships and the real and alleged unfairness of the conscription. The invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee had drawn the Northern State militia thither in June and early July, and the mob in several places undertook to resist the draft. The police easily put down the rising except in New York, where the great numbers of the rioters, reinforced by the criminal classes, gave the city into their hands for two days, 13 and 14 July, and they were not suppressed till the 15th. (See DRAFT Rion). The drafts in terrupted by these disorders were resumed and carried through. But their chief value was in goading the districts into filling the quotas by volunteers; however legal, they were incredibly scanty of direct results. The commutations were toward a third of the whole, the exemp tions nearly a half, and the number held and their substitutes together were but a sixth to a fifth. Also, many of the substitutes turned de serters or "bounty-jumpers.° It has been esti mated that of over 3,000,000 enrolled, less than 100,000 men were obtained by the drafts.
In 1917, upon the entry of the United States into the European War, it was decided by the Ad ministration to have recourse to a draft for the recruitment of the army. The bill authorizing this was passed on the 28th of April, with re markably little opposition. The draft applied to all citizens and those with first papers be tween 21 and 31, inclusive. No exemption by purchase nor by substitute was allowed, and clergymen, divinity students, and those belong ing to recognized sects forbidding military serv ice were exempted. Registration took place on the 5th of June. There was very little re sistance shown toward the draft, and the resist ance which occurred was readily controlled. The order of service was determined by lot. The men began going to camp in October. In December those who had registered were made to fill out questionnaires that they might be more readily classified for service. Married men were granted the privilege of being drafted later than single men, and other similar delays were allowed for those concerned in necessary occupations. Throughout 1918 other great movements of men continued toward the camps. On the whole, the so-called National army re cruited by the draft was a marked success in contrast to the unfortunate experiences of Civil War times. See CONSCRIPTION.