Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-17
FOR THE ARGUS.
EonE nr1HuM CR1sp1xus.

did, ut a period of time not very dis
tsnt, address 10 your body some observations
upon an ordinance tie offspring of its Joint la
burs, purporting tn "provide against accidents
by ire" The object of those remarks was to
prove 10 yourselves, & the GOOD pecple of this
city in general, that the ordinance above men.
toned was made in violation OF the supreme
law OF the United States, and OF the laws Of
Virginia; that III lis operation il would be i'm
equal aud oppressive; and moreover was in its
character excessively ridiculous OF this Dur
pose, so lar US yoa concerned, these ami
maslversions have certainly failed, since the or
dmancc yet remains in the statute book of the
City :silli their author may, without vanity, de-
fy contutsltion he is Sc cure, from the eprepi.
Gus weakness OF what you have done; impreq-
nabie behind the bulwark of common sense and
OF positive law. One known effect of your pro-
ject he will mention, viz the declared de-
termination of persons hitherto active in ex
tmSuishIng fires, to attend no more on such
occasions, from AN unwillingness TO en,broi
themselves with ignorant or indiscreet men.
aud because they too highly appreciate their
rights and feelings as trecmen, to submit to
those lndiSnities, snd to that Violence which
you in-your wisdom have thought proper to au-
thorize. Permit nsc now, gentlemen. to an
proach you on subject of scarcely less impor
lance, subject OIL which YOU mar Ieci.i,aat.iy
act An annual sum OF IS 1850, equal to a CAPT.
Lawn W .'.'-&NV, Whole DODuIltlOn.
as by the last census, Ut 4798, is levied on the
City OF Richmond TO pay u night guard or
watch OH men. Ii the heads OF families or.
housekespers in the city be estimated at IIe0.
much bcrond the real number, land from these
the money is collected) then will each house
keeper pay for the watch alone q tax OF $40
per ani.u,n. In addition 10 this and many
we'ghty burthens, we pay police masteElae
sum OF 5 1900 per annuIn. From these facts
the natural lnieYeucp9 would he 4I,..
lice was well regulated and efficient, our streets
free from tumult, ourf properly protected
Need !, gentlemen, point your attention to the
woeiui reverse OF all this, which, unless you
arc insensibie as the dead, must meet your oh.
servation at every stepl The riotous assem-
biaSes OF negroes gambling and quarreling in
open day in every street, and Chiefly on The
Sabbath, make OF thenseive great evil and q
great scandal too; but it will siagger the faith
OF strangers, to be tod, (wlat cannot be denied)
tllatthe citizens ofthis town are the nightly prey
OF robbers & burglars ;thatwIilst paying liberal
L. the price ofsecurity and tepose, they are Ger
tainly plundered or harasscd with those very
tolls for which they hire others-that he only is
safe whose vigils are incrssant. From mischiels
so widely extended, an9 SO rapidly incI casing,
it inevitably follows, ahat our police oiiicers
are corrupt, or negligent, or that they are ina
dcquate to the protecJBn OF the town. Adopt
either conclusion, tie result Isrelation.-~ the
welfare OF our citlzeGs IS he saiDe&cvinoSs ra-
dical detects III our men Or our system; eft9.er
calls equallyiior an amendment ofthe one, or a
change OF tie ether Six men on horseback,
(but they were citizens who volunteered! heir SER
vices, moved by regard for the e. neral weal)
have patroit d this clty; and by their activity
and yigIlance, have carried TO the hearts OF
the boldest IN yilaii;y aGegree ofdismsy VIII ch
has eilectuai!y prevented the slightest disor-
der Cannot l8 watchmcn (pedestrians) SO far
substitute these horscmcn as, in some degree
nj least, 10 maintain the ascendency Of the laws!
How tar they have dcHc so let this statement
every word OF which can be proven, furnish, in
part, the reply. On one square in this city,
whilst protected by the officers ofthe police,
within thIrty-six hours, three houses have
been forced by burglars; and on the same
square, during tic present spring, two others
have been forced in tie same way and one of
those first mentioned was twice, broken; SO
that in q short lapse o, time, the crime of bur
riary has been SIX times committed within the
space of AN hundred yards square. The most
gloomy picture Grawn by Cohoun in his remark
able treatise OH the police of London, exhibits
no scene more dark and dreadful than this.
One more instance Of the fidelity OF the watch;
During tie races recently held ia the yeni-
~, and within the jurisdiction OF this city, a
gambling party were dispersed in The night by
some public spirited citizens. OF dis party,
IL, two whilcnen were taken, and lodged in
the custody OF The watch within the guard"
house; The next mo. ming they were not
forthcoming, but had disappeared. The capr
tain oil the watch, 10 whose care they were con-
fded, it is true, ai!edged in excuse OF himself,
that r- was awakened from sleep when intorni-
ed Of the deposit of these lenders; and being
told they were disposed ofin a place OF security,
took no pains to ascertain the fact. Forbcar-
,-+ne TO remark at present on the character of
the excuse, admitting every word it contains
70 lie true J will userely mention the proceed
ings of tie Grand Jury founded on The facts
lust detailed, as it evinces the faith given By
them TO the waichman's statement After pre-
senting the watch unfortunately as a Aai-
sance, they declare 1T as their opinion that 10
effect the escape aforementioned, 6yibsry had
been used.
Now, gentlemen, with facts like these, star
ing YOU IN the fsce--amidst these scenes Of riot
AMI plumber, do you not think that instead of
visiting on The yiItuOus portion Of our citizens
. rigors umaethcrised by the cbsuer Of your
powers, You would be much more Iaudably
|employed ia exerting your legitimate means
for detection OF fe.ons Not doubling tLat
Yourselves, on die reelection, will adopt the at
hrmative of this proposition, suffer me 90 drop
a few hints, which appear to me susceptible Of
useful Improvement. J. Let the appointment Of
Watchmen in future (instesd Of being the proc
vince, as am Informed it Is, Of the Police
MASTERY be devOIved on the Court or the Com
mon Council you will then have the vigilance
and respectabiiity of many, and those freehold.
ers, stated IN the selection, in lieu Of the re-
spOnsibility and care of an individual, who may