Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-11
his neck did not heal for many days"
The letter bears every evidence Of being
genuine.


AEos tb' es"t@~>--'f
Last winter during discussion in the
State Senate on the above subject one
of our solons declared that our military
was entirely unnecessary and was mere
" source Of pleasure to the women,
children, and negroes. Another said
we would always have them whether
State aid and support were given
or not, as persons would always be
found who delighted to show them
selves in brass buttons and fea-
theirs and march behind brass bands.
Another (the venerable chairman Of the
Senate Finance Committee) hoped bill
to pay a militia company for services
performed (which pay was to be used
in perfecting the equipment OF the COM
pany) would be loaded down with
amendments, as he desired 10 see tho
bill defeated and, in point Of fact, Il
seemed TO be the sentiment OF the
Senate that our militia should be de-
rided and sneered at as not worthy Of .
serious thought.
Our businessmen generally diseour-
age their employees from joining militia
conpanies--some positively prohibit
il, and the average citizen expresses
the opinion that "a man is fool TO be
seen in soldier clothes" The city pro-
yides our First Virginia regiment with
drill-hall. appropriates $500 annually
to the colored troops, and Il blush TO
write it) the same sum to the old
" Richmond Blues" and rests compla-
Gently as having done its duty.
And the result of all this is that the
famous First Virginia, "our crack regi-
ment." which deserves so much from
us, is slowly but surely dwindling
away. and now parades. in muskets,
hardly decent battalion. The "Old
Blues" our sacred trust, and unfortu-
nate only in being a Richmond COM
pany, psrades about one-third OF its
maximum authorized strength, aud the
colored troops languish in proportion.
Let any public event happen--such as
dedication. Inauguration, a reception
of distinguished visitors, trades pa
rade, OF what not-and the military is
relied on as the most important part Of
the display or, should any riot. dan
gerous uprising, or unlawful disturb
ance take large or threatening shape,
the militia is depended upon and pre-
Sumed to be. aS q matter Of course,
ready and fully equipped to respond
promptly to demand to defend persons
and property and to restore law and
order.
may provoke smile at this. and
have no doubt the legislators heretofore
referred to would actually laugh when
| add that since the end of the war, at
different points of this law-abiding
| State. our volunteer force has been called
out not less than twenty-five times, and
possibly forty times. either by the Gov
ernor. mayors OfcItles and towns, OF sher-
IFS, and by theirpreSence have prevented
a breach flaw and order, loss ofpossibly
valuable lives. and the destruction Of
many thousands of dollars worth Of pro-
perty, to say nothing of the serious loss
which wouldh have resulted from single
days overturnmg Of lawful authority.
Yet what say is true.
My object in calling attention to these
facts is to ask DO our authorities deem
the volunteer militia necessary OF not? /?
II they do, then it bchooves every citi-
zen to impress upon them the necessity
Of maintaining it and providing Tor its
efficiency; and if they do not, then dis
band the force and refuse 10 clothe its
officers with authority. which the public
good does not require them to have. In
other words. make our volunteer militia
something we can point to with pride,
or make il lat one fell swoop" the
nothing TO which il is rapidly sinking.
PrOperty-owners, manufacturers. and
merchants may one day, when the un-
ruly and dissatisfied combine on some
pretext or fancied imposition and bring
about chaos even in our law-abiding
city, regret the day when 81 the right
arm Of law and order becomes extinct.
An EX-0rFICER.