Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-14

AuAA away - ~, 70
From the Richmond Bxatniner Of the 7th.
The gamblers in Richmond are multi
piled as the lice of nEgypI. There is not a
handsome front ON Main street behind
which this yermn does not swarm. Nearly
every third doorway in tue most frequent
ed part OF this thOroughfare displays the
gilt numbers and painted glass which gar
nish the fashionable gates to hell AT the
hotels, at the street, everywhere in Rich
mOnd may be seen the siuister.eyed gam.
bier, glisteuiug in foe clothes, and waiting
like purriug cat for his prey.
Every other vice in this city is put under
tribute to him. He keeps around him
crowd of ObsequiOus Williams, who are the
jackals for the lion, and maintains a para
sitical host of prostitutes who are pamper-
ed by his drunken and lusiful muu:tiCence,
Indeed the prostitutes of the city are
said to have generally taken up their abode
in the upper stories of the gambling
houses, where they find convenient sact-
uary from tho Mayors police. 10 the low
er rooms of this sanctuary of vice are to
be found representatives from all the vi
cious and depraved classes. One may see
here the thief and gsrroter disguised in
fine clothes the seedy and bloated yagn-
bond from Washington in cheap paradise
of free Liquor; and the bogus military man
of Richmond, whose titleis but recognl-
tion that has been given him in IL brothel,
Mixed with this crowd are victims of va
rious distinction. Itis not many mouths
! ago siuce Virtuous deacon was captured
in gambling saloon of this city, and on
the same occasion, it is said that Cabinet
minister, who was in one of those inner
lchambers reserved for distinguished guests
aud sacred to the mysteries of q blue
cheeks,f effected his cscepe by jumping
from window. Tiia -
| We-nre Informed that there are not less
than forty we'll known gambling establish.
ments in this city. The expense of main
tanning these establishments, is enormous
I The market bill alone ofsOne OfItheSe faSIl-
l ionable honses is said to HvGsa &c a. hun-
dred dollars ntday, Notwithstanding their
vast expenditures in sumptuous repasts, in
free liquor,lin pripceiY upholstery, and in
enormous, rents, .hcse houses coin money
| like the lnints Of genii. The gamblers have
| glutted with money certain classes of Rich
mond they put up the price of every luz
Ury; they toy and Tnnton with money in
all sorts of giddy and fantastic extruvn.
gance, and throw Confederate notes to the
winds as if they grew on trees. Recently
a bid for eigbty.hVe 'housdnd dollars was
made by a gambler in this cily for prince
.ly. landed estate in this vicinity, the name
OF which is historical.
lit is a fearful calculation that undertakes
to determine the sources, from which this
greatfglutof gain comes. : A portion of it
is wrung from ruined lives and broken
hearts but the cup of private misery alone
is not suflicient to account for the stream
of ill-gotten wealth poured out from the
gambling establishments in this city,
Much of their gain. is, the money of the
| Government squandcred at the gaming
tables by, Commissaries, QuHrtermasters,
and others who have the use of public
funds. These are tho distinguished VIC
Tins for whom the.net is spread and the
softest word spoken, and.it is through their
temptation and fall, and the desperate dis.
honesty of the man who stakes the money
l,0f another that the gambler makes his
bulkiest and easiest gains. -
1t is remarkable that the Government
Fshould permit itself to be notoriously rob+
bed, and its Treasury 10 be Aeeced in this
I way by the gamblers of Richmond. 1t is
Iyet more remarkable that some of the Con-
federate authorities should show a tender
ness for this vicious and dangerous class,
and disiiclination to run counter to them
in every incident of public duty. Some
days ago room for certain necessary public
officers WAS required in large aud couYe.
inient building on Main street, the upper
apartment of which was gambling sa.
loon. The necessity having been presen-