Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-14
The Public Guard.

In connection with the defences Of our State,
this corps is Of very essential importance first,
because it protects our arms and armory ut
the metropolis Of the State, guards our pcni-
Tertiary where there are about 200 prisoners;
and, secondly, because, being on duty at all
times, both night and day, it is ready to act in
stantly when every minute may be important,
aifording a check until other corps can be raj
lied.
These were the views presented at the organi-
zation Of this corps, fifty years ago, and these
views hold good now, but with tenfo!d more
force. At its origin, this company was by State
law placed under the same rules and regulations,
articles Of war, modes Of punishment, pay and
allowances, with those Of the u. s.. Army, and
all laws Of Congress changing these changed
also those Of the Public Guard. When, how
ever, the new Code was adopted, the pay and
allowance, as then existing, were fixed and
made independent Of those Of the General
Government, and thus they now stand,
while Congress has been compelled to in
crease the pay and allowances OF its men
of the army, because such has been the
great change in the value Of money, men
would not enlist at old rates, nor will
they any longer enlist in the Public Guard,
and hence this corps, a few years ago, so ELL
cient in numbers and discipline as to elicit the
commentator of veterans, now is reduced in
numbers and character OF material, so low as
to very seriously threaten its disorSanization.
Men will not enlist for nine dollars per month
here, when, il they fancy a soldiers life, they
can get better pay and better allowances in the
army of the United States, at rendezvous a.
ways in our city, and if their object is a means
of living, they can obtain better pay at any
Of our manufactures, and upon all works re-
curing labor. II was no doubt upon this state
Of things that Coz. Wise, in his last message,
presents this subject to the consideration Of the
Legislature, in accordance with which the
Committee on Military Affairs have reported a
bill in favor Of the army pay and allowances,
which, we trust, will meet the prompt action
Of that body.
In relation 10 the number Of this company,
it is found to be too small for tie services re-
quircd Of it for after sending daily to the
Penitentiary and the Capitol the necessary
sentinels, there arc only 10 left at the Armory,
[supposing all to be fit for duty TO defend this
important post-assailable in its surrounding
extent for 1900 feet for the buildings were
erected as work shops without any regard to
military defence. Again: the men hare to 50
on guard every third day, thus-on guard to-
day for 24 hours, off for "a hours, and the next
81 hours on again. This is very hard duty,
for the "a hours they arc on guard, they are
up night and day, ready for instant action, and
the day they are of guard they have police,
fatigue and drill duties to attend to.
1t seems, then, that something ought to be
done, and as the bill only proposes an efficient
number Of 100 p~rivates, with army pay and al
l~owances, we again express the hope that it
will meet the favorable consideration Of the
Legislature.