Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-02-07
THE ARMoRY school

Nessrs. Editors "B," member OF The Committee on
the Armoy in your paper of The 2lh nst requests dis
cusson upon the merits Of establishing School the Ar
mory doing away with the Public Guard Will yop then,
insert the following in your paper OF Wednesday morning,
question.
The Public Guard consists ofs4 non commissioned officers
musicians nd privatcs and three officers TINS Company was
created by law in l6Olits purposes, unders stand, be-
ing protect the large depot Of and accuuemen:s be-.
longing the Satelo be Instant ready act in Of
insurrectou of saves-and sccondary guard the Pen
tenary night and duy-to protect the Capitol and other
State buildings n Richmond from dpredations or re-und
also aid in receiving storing and issuing and equip.
ments for the State.
lis present duties of this nature and in the perform
ance Of which, understand, all hands arc diligently and
systematically engaged
THIS company is made up of Vrginaus generally and for
efficiency and moral character has superior In my enlist
corps in this any other county, The number OF this
compsny has been reduced law heretofore but as the du
ties found 10 be the complained, aud
could be induced reenist in consequence of which,
lis numbers were by law restored 10 the present.
The question Of dishandog this corps involves many con.
sdcrations of which the following the most prominent
What shall be done with The large number OF arms 10 depo,
al the Armory In city where ute 99O7 slaves and oS free
backs7 Would II be safe them beyond tho reach
our citizens residing in slave dstrcsl Should they not
point from which they be- oady sent OUT In
Of sudden demand? And is there any place better ha
Richmond for this facility OF removal 10 any District 10 Inc
SIate7
There is depot of arms over the mountains a, Le1ng
Should be this sidc where the slaves are
numerous and SO condensed7
Would it do to al distribute these arms throughout
The State and hIs get I d hscom NOW Sns p ss
vice. and when most required for Instant use be most unh
Who would be responsible for them7 who repair them
Indeed removal or distribution of these would be
impolic aud unsac and leave them without protection
dangerous.
of the post and formation Of s buildings, certain
number Of essential guard and defend its parts
lie Guard experience has proved TO be insufficient especially
when guard Ia sent daily from it 10 the Penentary and
another smaller one 10 the Capitol Square:
But cannot the Peniteuliay Capitol be guarded
economically than by de.achmcnts from the Public
Guard The soldiers of this Guard learn paid So per
months allowed ration per day. (cos l6 cents) their
clothing about $40 per annum fuel and garrison quarters
in ALL vaulng every Thing in dollars and cents about S2OO
per onnGm. Gun fii,hful watchmen be had cheaper q
Aud while other Capitcs and public bulldogs burned
down or broken into occasionally when has oeco 30 he'e
n what other State convics in gangs OF Fifteen twenty
wh oe iS or 9ee sae i
would huye of the prisoners n our Penen
liay when set fire by Inmate and burned down
aud all hands let loose but for the ready attendance oil me
Public Guard by which o kept secure and not one
escapeLf
Since theu the depot OF is necessary since this
depot should guarded by military this force
should be efficient 10 number TO protect and II need BE- 70
defend the eure walls-nud since In addition thereto the
olherdues of guarding tho PeniIentlary and the Capitol
and the receiving and ssung arms &c. for the State are
aso performed know Of economical or better way
of e.cting objects than by continuing the Public
Guard.
il is mis,aks TO say that the Public Guard useless
done By body Of Other Southern States pay ss
largo for the performance Of similar du,ee as Is
paid for Public Guard the only difference is such pay
ments made out Of several different appropIaons and
separated into different departments
Again. is this time, when, through the instruneotay
Of aboli,onIsts-never active In disseminating
prpciples of insubordlnalion throughout the Southern
States-lo dIsband corps, around which the militia can
rally at shy Instant Of DANGER do away with depot
arms the only 10 The slave counties OF the State es
pecay when The militia not provided With arms, and
depend upon The State them In Of any sudden
emergency.
Its great mistake the public under when they
suppose that the annual for the Public Guard would
into operation and sustain military school like that al
Lexington, and this be readily learned by reference
total that has been appropriated Tor that institution Be-
sides is IL polite 10 have another school, when would pro-
bably impair the usefulness Of the FIRST established 10
Richmond with s temptations and alurements and high
cost OF living proper place for school2 Is the Armo
ry proper location Is Of one fourth of an
sufficient for exercise
The rooms are now stored full Of and aconements
If these remain another story must be added which
with The general repairs required would cos not much short
Of si5 000
The following statement Ia from gentleman Intimately
acquainted With the Lexington Insitule:
100 cadets cost per aunum each $500 U0
Or total $40 600 90
Superintendent and four professors $500 90
Assistant professors 1000 DO
Mess Hul steward laboratory, philosophical ap-
para;us ESQ 10
s33350 90
Now all these in Richmond would cost nethird
more U,ll3 GU
s44 453 U0