Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-23
WHAT IS TIE REASON 2

To the RliiOr Of the Wing;
am over 90 years Of age my health is not good and
my strength equal to that many men of my age
am a native of Virginia, reside in this city with my
children and gr nd children. Both of my sons are in
the army Heart and soul ealisted 10 the cause of
my country, and old as sm, can and will do all the
military duty in my power. Six DAYS in the week
shoulder my muske aud march to TIE Capitol Square
to Broad street. for the purpose OF acquaintng myself
With the whole duty Of soldier. am private in the
ranks and during the late raids of the enemy four
days and nights duty, marching ten or fifteen miles
in one day and sleeping the ground al night without
blanket ...
l neither complain of these services nor take more
than an hoaest pride in having faithfully performed
them But whilst myself aud many other men of my
age undergoing these fahgung duties why is that
every bar ROOM every gambling shop, many CONNECTION
ary aud other stores all the billiard rooms ten pin alleys
and the principal corners Of Main street hronged by
Of the onges healthiest men lever in my life
most of them young, aud all Of them, With scarcely an
exception, in the yigor of manhood? Why is thisY-
Wnat is the reason Of tg Have these powerful men no
interest in the welfare Of the Conederacy Have they
nothing stake in this city? Are they engaged in o.
equations which must 60 while all the Departments
all the ioundres and workshops closed Do they
DO nyhing but eat drink and gambler How is that
poor men, engaged in making food 10 feed the army,
iders Eaunter about the streets in fine clothes and
smoking cigars block up the corners so that ladies
can hardly pass-boW is t say that they can do this
"a mpunity and keep at il for two year, when the
country is groanng under the agony OF ggan &c war,
AID the ranks of every OF armies need TO be
Ii led up without a moments delay? Are these men,
who do nothing but fleece the SOLDIER and consume the
substance Of the land projected by the law IN their ne
TAI ou4 transactions and if not why does not the law
operate upon them as well as upon the honest sgrcul
tarist? Has the City failed to do its duts or the Leg
iature Congress- the Governor, the Pres dent,
or whom Who is responsible for the sacrifice Of the
b-t and bravest blood in the ud while vice in every
form Is nOurshed and osered by the strong Of the
ASg Me-. Editor these grave questions. They
come home 70 every upri hs that walks in any
paIt Of this ely, and they puzzle him, aud make him
sad and angry. Tnere must be some reason for this
strange working Of the COnscrpiou law. WHAT is it :
If yOl will give this reason, answer the Ques ions
have asked and enighen 10 the operation OF the
law, you will greatly obige every true-hearted man in
this city, and none more than
Yours, respectfully An OLD RESIDENT.
The right which naturally offends the eye of
friend, "An Old Resident" offended equally the eyes
OF the members of Congress while in this city and
they, having satisfied themselves that these Stawsr
doaes and blacklegs were 10 the most part claimed
to be, not citizens of the Confederate Safes passed
bill subecng TO ptOn sfer the let day of July
all citizens between is and 40, of the United States
including Maryland, resident or sojOurning within
the Confederate States The President did not think
the bill worth signing, and i. thus failed TO become
law. Had i. been otherwise, correspondent would
have been spared the trouble of applying to for in
formston-Ep WING I