Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-16

lion for the present, and would have tho eject
If clasoinc the Northwest people more
closely to the bosoms of the people of the
three other divisions Of Virginia. lfthe State
ri MARYLAND shall assume its position az en-
integral par: Of the Confederate States, the
two roads may exist together, under proper
rnn,l,t,ops; but if its lot shall be cast with
the North, and it's people become aliens to us,
in nrinciple aud interest, and hostile in insti.
tu,uns then so much nf the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, 10 lies within the the State
east Of the initial point designated in the &C,
referred to, should he destroyed. recon.
mend, therefore, that such Legislative assu-
r;srce in regurd to tho construction of this
road, as your wisdom may dictate, shall be
extended to our NorLhwe stern fellow-ctizcns.
COMPENSATION OF CLERKS.
The proceedings OF meeting of the clerks
Of the various departments OF the State
government accompanied by draft of q
bill, have been presentedto me, with a re-
quest that 1 would lay them before you for
consideration, and such action as You may
thin; proper. The expenses of living have
increased enormously in the last IL months
and salary that would have furnished
an adequate support previous to that time.
will fall very lar short at this day. These
salaries ought, in my opinion, to be increased.
No government, within my observation, ever
had in its service more competent, efficient
and faithful officers. The cheerful manner in
the performance Of their duties, the uniform
polteness and attention shown to all in their
business intercourse, has commanded for
them, as body, the most cordial respect.
commend this subject to your favorable ac-
ton.
FEES Or JAILoKs.
Complaints have been made to nc, by the
the keepers of tn. iails in seversl cities and
counties of the inadequacy Of the fees al
lowed BIZ existing laws for the support OF the
prisoners. The fees were fixed years ago,
when -four, meal, bacon, beef and vegetables
sold at greatly less prices than they are now
selling for. All these articles now command
from four to FIVE times rs much "a they sold
for two years ago; and it is hardly reason
able, under existing circumstances, to expect
prisoners to be supported at the present rates
of fees. | recommend, therefore, that an act
be passed for the relief Of this class Of ofli-
GERS.
PAT or TIE SOLDIERS.
Oh tho Isl d1y Of January 1862, reson-
ton was adopted by you in relation to the
oay Of non-commissioned officers mud pri-
Yates in the Confederate army. That rcsolu-
ton instructed our Senator'S and requested
our Representatives in the Confederate Corr
gress TO use their influence to procure the
passage of 4 la~ to increase theic pay four
dollars per month during tho existing war;
a large number Of these classes are heads oil
families, and majority OF them perhaps are
puor men, dependent upon their daily labor
for support. They have cheerfully left their
homes aud families, to engage in The service
af tue country. Since they entered the ser
vice prices run up to q fabulous anlount fol
every article that enters into domestic use
and there are many indispensably necessary
which months pay will not supply. II
should be our pol;cy to have q care for tnost
who arc fighting this battle for Southern indie
pendence, and whose noble deeds are fur.
nish,ng the mater ial for history. that vii
challenge the admiration Of mankind, ant
will be required to, by us and our desccn
dants. with feelings Of national and individual
pride. Under these circumstances, it be
comes us to omit no proper effort to secure
for them slch al increase Of psy as will re
lnunefatc them for their services and Sacri
ices i'll this holy cause. respectfully recon-
nuat some further action, to bring this sub
iect prominently before Congress at tn
present session, and to secure, if possible, tn
passage OF bill tha. vii! effect the desired
object.
EASTERN LUShTlc AsILr5i. 4
~, fo1fa,, ,rt
tho possession "l The enemy, and being still ii
their possession, the Federal authorities Dis
missed the State officers and agents, AMI sub
st;tuteil them by their OWE Nppointr.s hsv
very recently understood that Tho State Oil
GERS and agents have been lnvIIed by 1ne mil
itary governor of Williamsburg to return
aud resumn .ncir places, and that some (per
haps Nib have done SO; nnt OF this ka"
no official iniormati0n Since the institution
fell into the hands ni tho enernv, have beer
informed that Doctor Gait (Lhe Eupc,inlen
DENT ard the assistant FhyEician have bot!
departed this life. Nearly all the members o
,l. board Of directors arc refugees, anu har
been for months.
ExToRTIoN.
This is one Of the serious and alarming evil
of the times. \ reckless spirit for Ion.,
making appears to have taken entire possss
sion Of the public mind. THE ledger is tn
Billie, pnd gold is the God" at this day, o
large numbers in every community. Avaric
has become the ruling passion, and with iear t
less gripe, regardless Of the suffering it in
ticts, it insists upon its cruel and unconscion
able exactInns. Patriotism is second to !o"t
Of "thc almighty dollar" The price o
everything lew the necessares Of hfc) is pu
up to the highest point, and those who hav'
not tho pecuniary ability to pay these prices
must suffer y fair price should he paid foI
everything, but sellers should not be permit
ted to take advantage Of the necessities Of the
consumers, to impose upon them.
What must be tho feelings of man who is
fighting the battles Of the country, surrender.
ing ali the comforts and endcarments of home
submitting to all the suffeTings ard sacI ilicea or
camp life and active military duty, whnm he
(reccriug bnt eleven dollars yer month) is in
formed that a sack Of salt costs City dollars
or II pair of ladies' shoes costs sixteen, with
every thing else in proportion lie must feel
that while he il defending the country, his
family, unless he be a man Of means, must
sntfcr for the necesSaries and comforts of life.
With what heart can he fight our battles I'M
der such circumstances
There is but one remedy for this evil. 1t is
to increase the quantities Ct the articles upon
which the extortlon operates. The general law
oftrade, that the supply must equal thtIlemand,
is the only law by which trade can be regulated.
When the supply equals Ills demand, the price
will he commensurate with the value Of the
article. When the supply is deficient, the
price will be immediately enhanced. 1t be-
comes necessary, then, 10 turn attention to
the means requisite for increasing supplies.-
This Gun be accomplished, first, by prohihi-
ting the agents OF the government who have
control of the lines of transportation, from TO-
cejring remuneration for giving preferences
in transporting articles, by which the extur-
TONERS who pay the largest douceArs, are
those only who sre accommodated and sec
ondy, by obtaining an order from the govern
-