| The law said "That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia." |
| Shall. Not may. |
And the exceptions were few in number. If you would bother to learn some history, that is.
“The law said “That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia.””
So, according to the act, only white males are required to enroll in the militia.