Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-20
A PLAN FOR HOaE pEPENCE.

To tie Editor Of the Wig:
Men with families d,psndent upon their daily labor
can better SHIrd to perform military duty in Rich
mond at eleven dollars per month, than they could al
Manassas or Bowling Green. When the ex'gsncy OF the
times calls the true patriot the sI his particular To-
cality matter Of indifference to him, however made
qaate his pay may be for the suppOr. of his family
When an fort is being made to raise in this city bat
tlou for home duty" is not unreasonable TO sup
pose that lew married men can afford to enlist for two
years. for the luxury Of serving their country at Nome
II tbsy enlisted in such battalion, 10 all intents and
purposes they had as we'll be ordered most distant
post In the Oonfsdsracy Business is stops d. all ordi-
nary sources Of revenue cut or and, unless man
has an ample fortune his pay soldier is his only sup
mort for himself and family. IL is very clear then that
Col Evans battalion will not be composed OF married
men but will be made up for the most part oi single
men. or of those married men having ample means.l
None will pretend to question the patriotism which
uro nped this call for home battalion Al the irst
blush it seems perfectly evident that such force is ao
soutey needed for the defence Of the city. But let 1t
he understood at once whether the State is 10 have credit
for the men composing this battalion or not IL So no
o. ,ction can be made against the scheme but, no'
would have the feet OF forcing men with families DC
nendent upon their daily labor into tho ranks at distant
camps The number to be drafted from would be les
oaed bg the number composing this battalion, thereby
crs.siag the chances Of every other man for militia
draft.
Il seems to US that much better plan is perfectly feast
hle Suppose all business is suspended after two o'clock
ever, day aud the afternoon devoted to military dr
ree OF A thousand or more could be oasIy raied
fr purposes OF home defence which would not cost the
State or the OoadsrAcy single cent except for arms
Guard of fifty men should be detailed from this num-
b Of Inen--aay ons lho-AId, il would enl, deyolye
upon each member to perform guard daily oes in ever,
.o OsEs II men are sllosod 10 attend To their ordi
naty bunsss up to two O'Clock every day, they wond
,eouire no paw for their military seryices. rem
Isous might be agreed upon where they might sssem-
bio for drill, or when danger menaced the o'iy; and
though the men might tleep at their homes, any signal
sCUld bring them together speedily as il they we're
qaArtered in tents in common eEcampment.
When there are so few exempted from the militia
daft it becomes a question as 10 whether general
dr. would not be productive Of harm than good
g. any essential trades would be stopped that vast
amount Of suffering would necessarily ehsue by adoP'
ing the plan proposed there would be no interruption to
business or the trades and il AGy such force Is actually
require Tor homo defence, 4. not oh.1 would be with
out cost to the public but would create military sp
rt aud ensure discipline which would contribute TO the
appcst results.
If the plan proposed be feasible, let move be made
al once.