Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-25
RICHMOND VIRGINIA,

Wafu anu pledged themselves Ia submit 10 an IN
crease OF taxation, to effect The important change
Here no additional taxation is required. The
simple question is, whether The money now ap-
propriated 10 simple "poice." shall mol he de-
voted 10 the education Of Il large number Of young
men, who can perform The same police service,
and serve hereafter as teachers in The primary
schools. IL The people are convinced that this
important end can be attained, without costing
dollar more, can they receive with kindness
their public agents who shall throw away So slo-
rious an opportunity Of pushing forward The great
cause of Education
The average annual cost Of the Public Guard,
stationed al the Armory, has been about d., 3Ta.
The duties performed are The guarding The exile
rior Of the Penilentiary, The Capitol the arms and
other public property a! The Armory, and 10 be in
readiness for any emergency which may demand
prompt action.
The question now is, cannot all this he dcne,
and, al The same Time The cause OF education be
advanced 10 a very considerable extent. without
calling upon the State for one more dollar than
is now appropriated
By reference 10 the last Annual Report Of Tie
Board Of Visitors of the Military Institute at
Lexington, il will be seen that the annual cos, 10
the State for each State Cadet is Sl72; The Cadet
furnishing his clothing only the cost OF which is
abou, SIS.
By supposing The salaries Of The necessary
Professors and agents 10 be $4,000 per annum
and deducing this sum from the S!2,500 there
remains $500 TO meet The expenses OF State
Cadets, which sum, al SIP per head per annum'
will support al all times lO Cadets
II, mex pay Cadets be admitted, they paying
the entire cost besides S25 in addition Tor tuition
per annum, and surprising 80 10 be TIE number
there will arise from these fees the sum ol 81 2Jp,
which win go TO educate seven more State Cadets
per annum; so that The whole number will then
be--Staie Cadets los pay Cadets 5o--n all 10.
With this number, the suard.du,y Will come
round once in eight days, .he remaining seven 10
be exclusively devoted 10 The study-nol, IS many
suppose, Of military science alone, bnl Of all lie
branches Of civil knowledge.
But can these young men 10 the duty OF seali-
nes eiiicienty2 Taking them irom fifteen 10
seventeen years OF age alone, there can be 10
doubt upon The point; il reference be had 10 the
historical fact, that all able and distinguished COM
manders have ever selected young men OF about
this age for their confidential guards, and for the
crisis in action. The mere duty OF a >entine is
10 walk his post for two hours, then 10 come CT
and rest four hours; TINS alternating during the
lwcnty-four hours, for which he has been put on
guard; which, in The case here supposed, is once
in eight days. Ii is here taken Tor granted, that
Tie same number OF sen,inels shall be posted "a
now.
Then, for any sudden call, when The whole
force is required TO turn oul, there will be balla-
lion OF l3S, instead Of the 81 now composing the
Guard--nearly double; SO that here also will the
efficiency be fully sustained.
So much for one grand objection urged 10 any
change of the present system. Ia our next, We
will speak of The advantages Of the iraast,rma
tion.