Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-22
OUR ClTY-THE POLICE.


OF law which distinguishes our cizens--renders the
Mayors Court little more than tribunal for-the cor
recon oimproper passes given slaves by their owners
or employers or the gate through which Migrants gain
admission to the city JAIL where they are fed and clad
during the winter at the expense of the State,
and for which they do not render any remuneratve
service whatever.
Speaking of the good order at all times observable in
the city brings to eco lection the remark of gentle
mana cosmopoite in the fullest sense of the term
who, during sojourn OF some months in Richmond.
remarked that 1t was certa nly the most quiet and
derby city he had yet yisted--and we believe he has
resided in all, or nearly all the cities in the Union
The feature however, which created the greatest sur
prise in his mind, was, that with the limited number
OF watchmen on duty good order should be preserved
in all quarters OF the city, at all hours of the night.
This struck him with the greater force when he re-
Elected that there existed in midst selvile popu~
lation, capable OF perpetating the viest crmes--a
population at untutored and brutal, who were
ly restrained from the commission OF the widest
ses by sing motive--tbat of Fear Had our friend
looked little below the surface, be would have read
y discovered that to the presence OF this serve popula
ton mainly indebted for the security we enjoy.
They occupy position i'll the social scale of South
cities not dssmilar from that filled in the Northern
nihcantly styled. Hence, in the South we have no
"Rowdys." Our eoloured population have been al
ways under the most perfect control and are, we verify
believe, less vicious and depraved in their natural
tastes than the white rowdy population of the NORTH
Thus, then, instead OF our servile population being
evil, their presence is acknowledged blessng-and
insofar at sast as the cities concerned we hearti.
y subscribe TO the doctrine advanced by Mr. Calhoun
some years since, that SLAVERY is public blessing"
But there are other causes which operate render
our city quiet and orderly beside the absence of row.
dy population. We are essentially law-loving and
law abiding people. In our courts, ven-handed ius-
tice takes her course without let or hndrance pop.
ular demonstrations having for their object the control
OF judicial proceedings wholly unknown here and
would meet with prompt and etiectual rebuke, were
they attempted. Moreover our police corps, though
not large IN numsers, is nevertheless effective and be-
ing composed OF men who cannot be induced by any
consideration, to from the execution of their
whole duty offenders against the laws are sure to be-
brought TO condlgn." Many of them have been in
office number of years. and the best commentary upon
the manner in which they have discharged their duties
Is afforded by the continued confidence OF the represen.
tatlv yes OF the people, as manifested in the recent cleo
tion
Our police are better paid, probably than those of
majority OF the northern cities but, when we reflect
that they hold Offices the duties of which frequently
conpels them to expose their lives surely no one cau
be found so niggardy to deny them liberal recon-
pense Sometimes, even in this peaeeabe city, the Sc
Hen have to pass through scenes, in which few wouId
Dc willing to act, and all OF them are prepared we
hesitate not to say lay down their lives in the pertor-
nance Other duties The city is rapidly increasing
IN wealth and population; yet few years more OF ndi-
Vaua and national prosperity. and it twill be reckoned.
amongst the principal cities ftheUnon-nay its NOR
atyand high reputation for good order, keep pace with
its prosperity