The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-08-30
THE DAILY DISPATCH,
rne sIaaseers.

4
TIE vsIuneecrs. ..
... M that too listle encouragement
-. Z, ouf citizens to the volunteer oss.
go, ~ che city The Legislaturs OF .ne 80 80
), r. Ia, session, exhibited its appsecia',on :.
,.a;snsns.ble value Of this noble body o. meA -
/. vsrv favorable act, which passed o0." 49,
-..,h,,,, oppo.ition, and which. No hea nopeu,
- h.ys added treat strength ana incae.sou
..r.,.,, a .hs volunseer organization Du' mo-
thing can be accomplished wi1n'us -.
fr.sndship and cooperation Oh 'ne -,
Richmond, and We are sorry s.'
no doubt, ~ . general snins, '"o o
even the absolute necessity OF the voiun'eef sys.
tam n admitted, practically u receives the cola
.hou,der In many different ways. 20 that there u
NO .,,mulu, whatever. except that which arises
fron martial spirit, and from . sense OF duty to
Tho publie which induces the volunteers to bestow
THAR time. money and labor upon 30 thankless
vocation. We know that there are those VINO
sheer at the whole thing ~ mere boyisn exhioi
ton Of playing soldier, but, whatever point mere
might be In such . sheer In communities which
cannot possibly need the aid Of bayonefs Is loses
ali it, force In region where the volunteers arc
not merely ornamental but useful. and where tney
could no more be dispensed with than fre compa'
piest Always necessary In . large slavehoidns
community. and one which Is 80 accessible both by
railroad and water to unfriendly influences, tney
are more than ever indispensable at snis ume'
when Q sectional war has been commenced IN 'he
North against the South; when aooiisionis.s .'e
eager to kindle the flames Of servile convuision'
when books Of an incendiary character have oeen
discovered in one Southern city, and, very hkely,
upon Q thorough search, might be found IN all !;
and when no doubt, the emissares of abolition are
10 every Southern neighborhood ready TO COMM.
and excite the darkest deeds: The dis6andmen'
Of the volunteer companies 1t such time As thiS'
would be direct invitation to mischief ana out
rage. These reflections, 1t seems to US, must SAT
isfy even those citizens who look upon volunteer
parades as mere childs play, that the volunteer
force of Richmond Is not q mere company OF &C.
tors In public payment to amuse boys ana ne
groes, but that II is part and parcel OF the defen
sire force of Virginia, made up of men VINO may
be called upon at any moment to do battle for the
hearthstones of the people and the honor OF the
State, and who enter the service with full sense
Of its duties and responsibilities.
1t cannot be expected, however, that our volun-
fsers, gallant and disinterested Is they proven
bialIy are, should bear the whole brunt of the ex.
penses incident to their organization. They have
cost enough, at any rate, In providing themselves
with their uniforms, equipments, &C., without de-
handing of them any greater sacrifices. "No man
goeth warfarer at his own charges" What
right have the citizens to expect the volunteers to
render any service at ALL or to expend dollar of
she large sums which they annually expend, for
the protection of the community What interest
have the volunteers In the good order and security
Of the city that others have not? Many of them
are laboring men, possessing but little property,
and dependent upon their daily vocations for sup
port whilst they thus voluntarily protect the in
terests of the great mass of the community who,
on their part, do not lift = finger In aid of the
brave and self-sacriHcing defenders Of security
and order.
The city ought to make liberal appropriations
for the volunteer companies, and moro especially
for the establishment of An armory building In
which their arms be deposited, without the pos
sibility Of being injured despoed. If the coun-
ell of Richmond cannot make SO necessary An ap-
1t ought to be contributed by private
citizens They have done little or nothing for the
volunteers, and, We have no doubt all Of them,
who have the slightest spark of Hberality, or,
an intelligent appreciation Of their own interests
would respond handsomely to any call that might
be made to give increased efficiency to our volun
teer system. A hundredth part Of the property
which might by possibility te destroyed in sim
gle riot, would organise and equip volunteer
force of ten times the number of the First Regi
honor as well a. 4 safeguard to the city.