The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-24

most matter of necessity that there should be an
addition to our day police, now embracing the
enormous number five. II we bear In mind, also,
that this police have watch violations of and carry
into effect the very large number Of ordinances
through city, whose extent equal that of some
cities with three times the popuiation-an addition.
al and weighty reason presents itself in favor Of
this increase At almost every meeting Of the Coun-
Gil new ordinances requiring the strict attention OF
the day officers passed. In fact to carry all of
these ordinances into proper effect, would occupy
the entire attention of the police without reference
to the criminal condition of the city. The new or
dinance relative to negroes, which published in
yesterdays paper, and which will doubtless become
law, will increase the duties OF the Mayors guard
of five almost double. To see that every section
of that ordinance ia efectualy enforced, and laws
relative to negroes should be strictly enforced and
not be suffered to become dead letters the statute
book, for impudence and arrogance then will take
the place Of fear and respect in the hearts OF that
class Of our pop uation-will certainly require the
closest application the part of officials With
city of such vast extent, and furnishing SO many
convenient hiding places, with SO many laws to be
enforced, with the rapidly augmentng additions to
the practitioners of crime, how can it be expected
that five men can hunt to their secret Launts the
thief or the murderer with the celebrity and prompt
ness necessary to their arrest if they to be ar
restedq LOOK over the annals of crime in our city
within the last year, and see the murderers' the
burglars, the ncendiaries that have euded arrest
Their name is legion. Why is thisi From what
we have seen of the action of our police, we believe
that they do as general thing, all that men can do
to arrest criminals and hunt out the authors OF
crime But the work of dozen or score OF men
cannot be performed by five. 1t Is folly to tninK OF
it The vast increase in the trade OF the clty-the
immense additions of goods and OF treasure to It's
already magnificent resources require that addi'
tional security should be furnished the owners and
other distributors of this wealth. Every member
of society is interested in this protection Our mer
chants, our storekeepers, our business men, our
mechanics demand it.
t may be said that the majority of thefts ard
crimes are committed at night, when the watch
men, who are large and picked body, can arrest
them. But how many arrests do they make-can
they make-when the streets are yelled with dark.
ness and guards are set to watch their movements,
and our numerous lanes and alleys afford safe
treats and hiding places for criminas 1t is for the
day police to ferret out the hauns of vice and trace
to their dcns, in the broad light of day, punderers
and midnight robbers. This is one of their pecu-
liar duties. 1t always has been such in the large
cities. Property overed and arress made
in the main made by the day police in every civi
lized country.
Ere spring we shall have in operation scores OF
new tobacco, cotton and other factories and estab
G,L will md odd ~ brp
dreds of negroes to the already enormous number
among u.s. They will require watching. Other
avenues inviting to immigration are open, and will
be opened for the whites. Large accessions of ad-
venturesome spirits from every cline will bring the
untuly and hardened. Who is to look after them
Who is to keep the intractable in place9 We can
not close this desultory article in recon mendaiion
of an addition to our present police force-an add
ton which necessity makes mperative-without
referring the fact that day after day, without any
respite the members of our present day police know
no cessation of labor To them no Sunday speaks
of a quiet rest from harsssing and dangerous EN-
ployment-but on the contrary, through the potent
agency of rum, is made their hardest working day
Ia other cities relays Of aid and seasons of rest arc
afforded-but the toiing five of Richmond, in viola
uon OF the oruln Hhce requiring tnat every man
shall keep one Sabbath-one day free from all labor
tramp, tramp their daily rounds through our
streets every day of the year, unchurched by law
and public opinion. We are in favor of dealing
kindly with these servants of the city. We are in
favor of atfording the relief fro their present Ia
bors by additions to their number, and we are also
in favor of those additions because they will fun.
nsh much required security and protection to the
inhabitants of our city.