Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-10
DESCRIPTIONS ON qBE Acts OF
THE LAST GENERAL .fSSE l1BL Y
OF VIRGINI.6..-co

or LhbL sf lsI.....C IHUE
WE come now to a very important
branch OF our enquiries that relating to the
public police.
When VIC speak of police in this country,
we do not mean system of esfionsge and
terror, like that established in France by
the emperor Napoleon but such degree
of discipline and restraint as is adequate to
the preservation of good order in society
without diminishing the liberty of the pco-
pie. The free citizens of Virginia have
the happiness of living under a govern
ment by which the enjoyment of all their
rights is protected and secured The mild
system of police, administered by the ma
gstrates, who are conservators of the peace,
and the sheriffs and constables their Off
GERS, is therefore sufficient TO prevent even
the most poor and ignorant from frequent
violations OF the laws and certain it is that,
considering the number Of the people,
crimes are very rare in this state.
But the same observations are not appli-
cable to an unfortunate race of men the
importation Of whom into Virginia, the ty-
ranDy OF the king of Gieat Britain long ago
would not permit our legislature to prevent !;
and whom the multitude to which they have
increased, renders it impossible for us to
exclude from among us, or to emancipate
with safety. AS Icing as dire necessity COM
pels us to retain than in slavery, they must
ot course be denied the privileges of free
men, and kept in proper subsection to their
masters
One of two measures NAV be resorted to
tor that purpose that is to say, either q
weIl-dIsciplined and weIl-armcd militia,
and rigid system of patrolcs; or a regular
army.
The militia, we admit, must be chiefly
relied upon as the mode of defence most
suitable TO cur republican government for
we hope the spirit of liberty which animates
the citizens of Virginia will forever prevent
their conserving to the introduction among
them OF that odious engine of despotism, a
standing army. But since our militia are
not yet as well-disciplined as they ought to
be; since, notwithstanding the existence of
the militia, dreadful conspiracy was form
ed by the slaves in the year 1900, and might
have occasioned incalculahlc mischefs, if
1t had not been frustrated, more by the pro-
violence of the Almighty than by the vig-
lance of the militia it must be acknow-
lodged that the militia are not altogether
sufficient to keep in awe and control the
Vaccinations ofthese domestic enemies -
itmay be said that the appointment ofpa-
troles is better regulated now in certain
cases than it was formerly; because any
JuStiSC vi tlC pCdCG ~ dulDOTiSGu TO order
out patroles when he may deem it necessa-
ny. But this is very poor safeguard to
the commonwealth. A justice of the peace,
being unwilling to subject his neighbors to
the hardships of military duty, without
great necessity, will never order out a pa
troic,untl conspiracy has been discover
ed; and, then, II may be too late TO prevent
its execution. The correctness Of this OBJ
servation is evident from the circumstance
that, altho' the law, passed during the De-
Cember session of 1901, concerning patroes,
has now been ~ force upwards of years,
1T has scarcely been carried into effect by
single magistrate. The truth is, that,
in all cases, where dangers are not re-
garded as Immediately pressing it is the
nature of man to sink into a state of
apathy, or careless security, quite in
compatible with uniform exertions to guard
against the return of those dangers.
Besides there are some parts of the
state much more exposed to the danger OF
an attack than others; particularly, the
metropolis. The distribution of the public
arms, now directed to be made by the exc
cutive, will indeed remove one ground
OF temptation but the treasury and
the bank still remain. The public record.
also might be destroyed by sudden insur-
rection for altho' such destruction would
be productive of M bent fat to the insurgents
they might wantonly perpetrate it, merely
frr the purpose of injuring US. That the
preservation OF the city of Richmond is more
important to the general good, than that
OF any otner town in the state is certainly
true; and tits no less SO, that greater and
constant czertions are necessary to pro-
tcct IT, Itfoliows, therefore, that it would
be unreasonable to subject the militia ofthls
city TO service so much more laboriou,
than is borne by the militia of any Other
place. Ii would be unjust and unequal tC
require Of them to perform the duties of an
army in time OF war, or topatrole our streets
every night in he year.
To protect, therefore, this most vulner.
able and most vital part of the body poll
tic, it became indispensable to have re-
course 70 some armor Of an cxtraordinar,
kind; and "A small police establishment, un
der the name ofthe public guard, was ere
ated for that purpose. Yet, by an act pas
sed az the last session Of Assembly, tina
establishment is 70 be abolished on the frs
dav Of January NEXT
The wisdom and policy Of this act hav,
been attempted to be supported on various
grounds. The aversion justly INHERITANCE