Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-21
BETWEEN AN EDITOR. a oLBRK
AND A HRNRRR m CONGRESS


AND a MEMBER or CONGRESS-
EDIroR--"GOOd msrnng, Mr. Clerk. 1 am glad to
see ycu thriving vel on Confederate pAp You look
sleek and FAT and live well. That coat you have on
seems to be Of the FIRST quaiy-EngIsh brOAdcloth,
should cay"
CLEIK.-"Thas coat Was once, good one. II has
been in constant tie Government was organ
lied, AID is as yoa see Gu. at the elbows Fat and
sleek yOu say, look Why, II you had eyes, you
mighs ecut every bone in my body. Live Welll'-
Yes, il prisOnsrs fa-s--Srsad and Eater-be fine liv
ing, live vel"
ESrOR you don't mean to tGy that yeu live on
bread and water You dOns mean to say that you do
nos dine, every day. on ham ard turkey, roast beef
venison game Of some kind, oyserI fried and seWed,
wish hie pastry and all SORTS Of deieacesr
CLHRE.-"l mean to say that !, my wife and family
fVs Of Us in all live bread ald water, and that it
takss every cent Of the income receivs from the Gov
erumsnt, to pay my baker"
MEX. CONs.-"But the Government never undertook
to maintain your family"
CLERK.-"No but it undertook TO pay ne for my SER
vieeI teen hundred dollars, which, il paid in gold
ami silver, would bs sufficient to support me and my
family
CLERK-'We wear our old clothes, which, as you
may see are threadbGre enough. Those Of US who be-
long to the Battalion, have managed to purchase 81,
sc suit Al Government p'OO; but the rest of Us, old
n6rm, disabled men, want clothes of all kinds-shoes,
coats OVercOS hats and female apparel for our ami-
lies, and we have no money y buy them. l. is much as
We can do 70 buy bread"
MIX. COSs-"HOW do ytu supply yourselves with
fueI!'
CLIRK-"GO without il, for the most part"
MN. COSS -"What 10 this cold Wea.heiP'
CLIRK-"Yes, We and our families suffer tquAllv
from hunger and cod"
EolroA-"Why dot you take your family to a hO-
Tel or boarding house ?"
CLERK.-"BsoAuse the clearinghouse are broken
up, or charge from IS to tlO a day."
Mon CoN.-'HoW then % you liver"
CLAlK IA gentleman, with family, rents one or
two furnished rOomSas $50 TO 500 per month, and Il
be does not live bread hires cook from AlO to $40
per month"; Aundress a "a to IS Per dOEsn while the
dOetOis bs depend upOn tns number that have perish
ed from cold hunger, insufficient CLOTHING and other
eAuses TaAt is the usual mode of living among the
clerks, if living it be called. Do you mean to DO
anything for them this session 2"
NIX. OONG.-"DOubtful. The soldiers would CON-
plain If We did"
CLERK -"But Government feeds and clothes the sci
ders sad pays them something besides It does neither
for the employees in the civil departments and vet Il
could rot continue It's operations without them Thsv
SET the wheels Of Government in motion and keep them
PeIpetuAlly moving. 1
MA CcSG.-"Perhaps We may give you ,aion.."
CLERK--"I understand the Secretary Of War and tie
CoDm's'ary General say they cannot be furnished.
Nix -ONG.-"Wel, We must do some hing for YOU
rise ycur sAlAries-sly Is per cent
CLE.K What q gratuty Enough to purchase.
month, decent breakfast. Wsro you to double
our pr, sens piy, you would only give US fifth of what
ne Government promised U.s."
ASN. CoNa.-"Bu5 that would be IS OOOp
CLEEK.-'In Confederate currency Wor.h-say $3.50;
mighty income; but the least that you should give,
I'll Tie currency il restored TO the specie standard and
az most of Us have in debt, the Allowance should
look back aud commerce its operation from the first of
July !ast
HEN. CoNS.-T confess il would be q measure Of lug.
tics and msagre justice at thai. bu. what would cur cor.
s;itusn,s say9 Wsht would BancOmbe think of isl"
CLEAK.-Never mini what your constituents would
say Do WhAs is rght and what is Absolutely necessary
ysuWOuld not have the departments of you. Govern.
msnt disoanded. The people Of this country are too
jus and too hgamndsd to wish any class of their pub
lie servants to work for them without beiog properly
comp nsa;ei for their services.
hIE COSs.-T believe il, sir-I believe it, We'll VIC
will DO the best for yea that We cIn You may rest as
sured We Will."s
CLERK.-"Ws hope ami trust you will understand
bat We are now reduced naary 10 STATE CT starvation
that your currencyis deprecated thA. iuposs
BILE With the small amount there is doed out TO u.s. to
procure the necessaries ofiie Whatever you do for
US We play you would do it quickly. Fame your bill
and pass it. if you please, with the least possible decay
reeoilee!ing the old msIim-lis dat, qui eitO dot.
Ell PREsiDfSE PIEhcI-The New York Herald If
the Sth, says convention ba, been called by the
States Rights American Party" Of the No III West,
and E1-President Pierce, Of New Hampshire, placed
before the people the future antagonist of Lincoln and