MAY 1781—5th OF COMMONWEALTH.

CHAP. III.

An act to amend the act for raising two legions for the defence of the state.

WHEREAS the act for raising two legions for the defence of this state needs amendment, in order to induce the well disposed citizens to enlist therein; Be it enacted. That all persons now enlisted, or who may hereafter enlist to serve in either of the said legions, shall be exempted from the present draft for filling up this state's quota of continental troops. And the county lieutenant, or other commanding officer of the militia, shall, in making up his accounts of men on whom the said draft hath fallen, or may fall, distinguish such as belong to the said legions, for which his said county shall have credit in the number demanded for the purpose aforesaid; Provided, That the presiding officer at any draft shall cause the men so inlisted in the said legions, to be fairly drawn for as in other cases, and such officer or other person guilty of collusion to throw the draft on any person so inlisted, shall forfeit and pay twenty thousand pounds of tobacco, to be recovered by the commanding officer of the legion, in any court of record by action of debt in the name of such commanding officer, to which the drafted man shall belong, and applied by him towards procuring hospital stores for his sick.   No person engaging either as officer or soldier in the said legions, shall be thereby debarred from enjoying or exercising any right, office or privilege which he might otherwise possess as a citizen of this commonwealth.

And whereas if the time of service was shortened it might conduce to the inlisling of men; It is farther enacted. That the officers may, and they are hereby empowered to recruit men for the term of three years.