[SauronOfMordor]

>>I never understood how a U.S. military draft ever became an accepted institution in an allegedly free country<<

All males are part of the unorganized militia

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/246

Congress has the power to call the militia into federal service

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-section-8—2

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribe

[Alberta's Child]

The notion of “involuntary servitude” was abrogated with the 13th Amendment. I don’t see how a military draft could ever be reconciled with that.

[j.havenfarm]

Of course you’re right, Sauron, but there’s more: the right of the government to conscript people in defense of the state is ancient and universal. Besides military service, the common law right of posse comitatus allows the local sheriff to conscript residents to deal with insurrection, natural disasters, etc. I believe it to be correct that there has been conscription by the national and/or state governments in every US conflict up to Vietnam