Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-09
COMMUNICATE
MILITARY INSTITUTE.

To the Members Of the House Fl Delegates;
Gcni!emen-l sIsh to call your attention to the Re
por, of the Committee Of the House of Delegates,
s,uted 10 enquire and repo,, what changes may be
necessary TO alter the Armory into School for Ca
diets, &c. Here is the resolution
"Rno'5'i That the Committee Ills iTo;se the Armo,
he instructed 10 er aud repor; what changes, If any viii b
rriu'r to lit tia. haiins Tor schooi fer cadets and tr cost
ana s cS'aia'r expense oi supporting ne present es't
l"n h ' Ii1ltd to snppo! school Of Cad'is the mines
Guard and ha viii r the additional expense t.! suc. school
The Committee then adopt hei. report and give thu
whole plan the go.by. shall try 10 explain what
think is the present situation o; the Arrory buildings
and how they would answer for the accommodation o.
school Of Cadets. First, assert as my opinion, thu
the apartments occupied by the Captain and Lieutenant
double the size required for Professors, and ore
douby sufficient for the quarters or accommodations
required by the Professo The We3. Wing, calico
the Annoy proper by In Committee, which Lieuteu
ant Gay occupies, and two rooms for the Hospital, con
tains the work shops, &c. This part of the Arnory
.hnk double the size a. present wanted, and might bt
converted into other u=e, al least portion Of it
The East Wing the Committee say, is the chief de
pository for the arrls; aud the Committee say, the
floors defective from the great weight of the
arns that was deemed necessary TO repair the foun
dry for The purpose Of storing the Therefore,
according to the Committee, the East Wing, which IL
very large could be fitted up to receive the Cadets, be
cause it IS Of no use at present. The Committee IN
formed the House that the South Wing is low and
damp situation, and is occupied az quarters tor The sol
diers &c II is my decided opinion, that the South
Wing, with very little expense, could be made first rate
quarters for the Cadets ard for other purposes The
South Wing of the Armcry is well ventilated and il
generally healthy, as far ever came under my obser
vatlon.
The Committee say, they cannot perceive how these
buildings he changed Tor the purpose indcated.-
Here let me enquire OF the Committee, If they con
a.. a.. IL ,do11, Stnt.
Engineer: Had this been done, think they would
have found that the Armory buildings could have
been easily fitted up, and at small expense, SO as to
make frs, rate apartments for giving instruction, and for
quarters for rrotssors also, ample rooms Tor five times
the number of hands that at present work in the Armo
nv. believe the number IS about twelve hands, which
at present work in the A'mory, repairing arms, &c
md certainly reasonable will pretend TO deny
that twelve men, with such machinery and ample
as the Arnory Affords full sufficient 10 repair and
clean all the sent 10 the Armory in time of peace
II is entirely new TO me, that the Public Guard il re
ouired to clean other thnn their guns, NC, and
keen the quarters III good, healthy order, &c.
Az 10 the drudgery, &c., referred to by The COM
m;t,ee. cannot SEE into it. Certainly the twelve
workmcn employ by the State are employed to re-
na;r the arms, &c. Therefore, cannot see, how the
soldiers of the Public Guard have any thing to do
in cleaning arms, when, in fact, they are generally
precn horns even with arms, until they are regularly
drilled by the three experienced officers, who com
mand them with SO much ability, shall not examine
tho CuafJ further; but this will assert-and think
pubc opinion will bear out in the assertion-tha
At leas, one half of the Guard would answer why
ia il required 10 tax the people of Virginia. TO keep uT
comnany Of 60 men, costing the State S23,D0O, tc
GUARD the Penitentiary with 200 convicts: Show ine
the same number Of men required in any other State IN
this Union, 10 guard The public property and solitary
prnitentiary, SC. have often heard gentlemen from
other States laugh at the great number of men required
TO guard the treasure ofFirginia in times o! peace IL
the officers OF the Public Guard have the highest con
fdence-as to the good regulation of the Guard.
will also say they appear we'll drill"dIut s.ill, can
not perceive, when think Of the little service tha. u
required Of sixty soldiers, why The State should endure
auch heavy tax as they ccst-when, in fact, !.
case of war these soldiers could make officers
Whv. them not try some other scheme? Now, with
fe rood professors, and think the present oihcer
might make professors the poor orphan and iatheress
how could be brough! up with good military educa
,;on and he only be required TO do moderate duty, "
Guarding the reniten,lary and pubic property, ant
make them all useful members Of society. as to then
doiuu trudgery, that ia all farce All military stu
dents are required to do certain manual labor at all hs
military schools that ! have heard Of Look al the
American Navy, nj the American Army and, my Inc
upon H. the students have to go through me moss fgt
orercse Look at West Pon, for instance. The stu
d.n,s or cadets Of this institution have performed tins
rdest and most aboroas in the extreme west
=, the Canada shares, ard in the boys and swanps o.
Florida Then, why not form school Of instruction
for cadets at the Armary, that will BE- an ornament tc
The State: They will guard the Pcniten,ary ant
public property, and be prepared to do good service
IN the tented field, in case of war. have made 4
casunl estimate of expenses of G9 cadets, and tbs
necessary repairs on tho building and If am correct
sl7 0Go would answc. the arst year, saving to tbs
State $4,000 the first year; and $4,000 the mex. year
saving the second year $40 oJo and, at Inc same tune
giving Enod military education TO forty orphans
Or Or youths, tina, would otherwise, perhaps, go IN
educated Mr. Editor, l call upon you TO give u
your aid in sustaining 50 laudable and truly pstFl
otto a cause Recoect how education IS neglect
sd-see how essential it is for sons TO have nl
.ary education Often they enigrae far West, and In
essential and valuable 10 every neighboshood. slal
dismiss this subject ADLER hands having no other w's
than the true nteres, Of my beloved State, and lie
young and rising soma.
A TAX PAYER, but no Re'igionist If amy
Desomina,ior tat Fiair CW;.a n f"GatA
F,5rsaty Eth. ISIS