Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-31
fs" tho EhQr:rer.
What tIas ss;ehIiond .snns far lhe Caar:ss-
ron Sufferers!

f.y~ tho Enquirer.
What Eas nd auns far lile Cnar:,s-
ton SaneEcTs
Il il i ua!ier Of profound as,oaishmcrt tina.
; 10 public meeting has tcrn called ia this city
! to raise funds tor tho relief Of uur suHerir.
fellow-cuuntryElen il Charleston.
Other Southern cities have generously
poured ont their contributions. Individual
donations have been freely made. Even our
noble soldiers, as generous a. they are brave,
hare cast in freely TO the relief fund.
Bot what hss Richmond done? Collections
have been uiade in some OF our churches, but
all these hardly amount to a 1.-THE Ct what we
should DO.
II airy CRY in the Coniedcracy csn afford TO
give largely, it is Richmond This city has
doubtless made more money during the war
than any other i'll the republic. The General
Government, located here, has put hundreds Of
thousands in active circulation among the
people. Speculation has been rife Every
article Of prime necessity has been put up to
the highest figure. Rents are Salt,
leather, coal, wood, and allnost all kinds Of
provisions have been held aud Sold at the
highest prices, because the people we're COM
pciled tn buy them. Hoarded gold has been
drawn cut and sold at a high premium to
~smugglcrs, who have taken j: North, and
brought back luxuTies Which ws 10 not need.
Millions Of dollars le idle in our banks
waiting for more prosperous times. Close,
keen, far seeing, INSCRIPTIONS ''ShyiDcks are
holding or 70 thei7 gains, eagerly looking
for q chance to make greater fortunen ont the
necessities Of the Government or the people
9elfshness grows upon us, and Our hearts be-
come harder as the var soes Oh. Meanwhile,
what do We behold: Almost one third OF D
beautiful city lald in aShG: The mansions Of
tho rich and the cottages u The pocc, alike, 6
mass Of smoking ruins Thousands of persons
homeless and trecdleSs. hundreds budjled
Together in warehouses;, with hardly clothes
to cover hem, receiving from day to DAY the:c
scan;y supply Of food lrom tho public suIhcri.
ties. Many have lost their eli; sne, reu.aps.
tho majority OF these are the wives snd chi
Gren OF brave men, who srs iarsway from !deiT
loved ard suffering families, perlifg their lives
for the liberty of this land Shall their wives
suffer? shall their children pine for bread p
Shall they, Oh their lonely guard rounds, O. ii
their chilly cents, mC!,er curses deep and
strong On these whose homes they defend. and
who, secure behind the ramparts Of brave
mems hearts, refuse 70 give Of their abundance
to tho helpless suf.rersS Let us beware Of
arousiug q spirit OF resentment aud division In
this the hour of our couptry's peril. Shall we
forget that #e are struggling in a omlno
cause; that if We fall, We iall 10 one common
ruinf Let the selfish, rich man remember,
III be can be moved by no higher, nobler motive,
that the security Of bis cherished treasure de,
ponds upon the aid he gives his bleeding coun-
try aud bis suffering fellow countrymen.-
Let Richmond do her duty. Let O pub
lie meeting be c1!led, and lot every true
man come with lis offering 20 be placed on
the altar Of humanity and liberty. Lot noa
say, | have given, and close bis selfish heart
We hare given, we must continue 10 give labor,
money, blood, life, until the invader be driven
from our borders, and the bow Of pesee shall
arch our Southern sky.
If ever there was a period in the tide OF
time" when men were called 10 be mon in the
highest, fullest, noblest meaning of that word,
this is that period. We have a high mission to
perform under the guidance Of Divine Provi-
Deuce, and wo to be to him, who shall flter in
the open psth Of duty that lies straight before
him. Men will curse him, and the hand Of
God will smise him. We want Richmond to
do something on New Years day worthy of the
ancient famsHof the Old Dominion.
Dur2.