Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-14
ReyOldtioni1ed City.

Our citizens viii feel grateful to those journalists and
correspondents WOO have recently taken the trouble,
whilst commenting upon the sociology" Of Richmond,
to relieve the old residents of the responsibility for the
existing state Of things It is fact curiOusly obvious
to every citizen Of Richmond that he meets every day
upon the streets and in the public places strange
faces than familiar ones-that il this respee, he would
suppose but for the surroundings o. accustomed lOoa-
ties and landmarks that he had been transit to
other city The business houses for the most @ have
changed hands and are eOndueted by eomegs; but
especially true is it that all or nearly all the nurseries
and trbuthies of vice found in our city, con-
trOled conducted by persons who have come hther
since the commencement Of the war We are glad then,
that the editors and correspondents of journals in other
cities Of the Confederacy have done our people the jus
tics to say that they are not responsible for the present
condition Of affairs in Richmond; and whilst we by no
means nsnua,e that very large portion Of the so.
oarners in our midst not worthy and respectable
as any people on She face OF the earth, everybody
should understand that the present population of Rich
moad embraces elements not heretofore found in it
Wehaye been led into these observations by articles
which have recently appeared in tie Rlleiga Progress
Knoxville Register and other papers, aud immedi-
a'cy by the following remarks Of Richmond corres-
pO1dent Of the Atlanta (Ga.) Commonwealth Candos
requires to say that the writer's in every instance
have rather overdawn the picture in some of its Dc
tails. The unvaraished reality is bad enough
Richmond IS I suppose at this time, one of the most
undesirable places IN the COnedeacy. The old nhabi-
tanE OF the place. most Of them, are either away OF
keep themselves within doors The Ofscourings Of
creation are assembled here for the vies purposes Il
is really dangerous for to walk the streets in some
parts OF the city after night Burglares, thefts and
robberies Of nightly occurrence and not unfre-
quenty the papers Of the morning record murders CON-
mtted the night previous.
Here, too, the miserable thieying gamblers can be
counted BY the hundreds. Main street as you may
know is the most fashionable Of the city, and in
this street, between Seventh and FOurteenth streets are
the most valuable houses in the city Whilst the lower
stories Of these buildings devoted to lawful purposes
the upper are the dens Of inquity and shame. The
gambling tables spread and the cards are dealt out
nightly and thousands aud lost and frequently
make the unSuspecting stake his last dollar, he is
drugged with poisonous whiskey. To cap the climax Of
their wickedness i is not unfrequenty the case that
common women Of the town have apartments hard by
the gamblers table. How degenerate. How many
men, evil hour have been Aeeced Of their all by
these practical swindlersg How many families in an /
hour day, have been reduced 10 penury and wretch
edless! Truly war is great calamity. For the time
that principle yields passion honesty 70 ava
tempest, loses its empire. Il may be asked why is all
this alowedy Why do not the authorities prevent it?-
Ths can't answer. Some think they connive at it
some think guilty Of the grOsSest criminal neg-
gence and Others think that such merely evils of the
times that cannot well be put down. The Wickedness of
this city and its c0utaminating influences are certainly
greatly 10 be dePlOred.