From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/17/1864, p.1, c. 6

Important Case in the Confederate States District Court. – The attention of this Court was occupied on yesterday with a long argument with reference to the right of the Confederate States to conscribe citizens of Maryland who have been here since the commencement of the war. The case was that of Robert F. Hobbs, a citizen of Maryland, who came to the Confederate States in the month of May, 1861, and who from that time to the present has been engaged in various peaceful occupations, but who has never performed military service. The petitioner was an able-bodied man, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, but denied that he was a resident of the Confederacy.

It was contended by the petitioner’s counsel that he was like thousands of other Marylanders, an exile, whose right of asylum in this country should not be disturbed by the enrolling officers.

The counsel for the Government contended that he was a resident, having voluntarily cast his lot in the Confederate States, and insisted that he should be required to perform all the military duties imposed upon other residents.

The great importance of the case induced Judge Halyburton to postpone to a future day the rendition of his opinion, as it will affect the status of a large number of persons in this city as well as elsewhere.

The petitioner was represented by General H. Marshall and Mr. Ratcliffe, the Confederate States by District Attorney P. H. Aylett.

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