Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-02-16
Our Worst Enemies.

OuI HOTsI 6uculeb.
The wars Of civilized nations make very SLOW changes
in the system Of empire The public perceives scarcely
alteration but increase Of debt and the few ill.,
di'duts who are benefited are not supposed 10 have
the eeaeSt right 70 their advantage II he that shared
the danger enjoyed the profit and after bleeding in the
battle grew rich by the victory, he might show his gains
without envy. But at the conclusion Of ten wears war
how recOmpeused for the death Of multtudes aud
the expense Of millions but by contemplating the sud
deu goreS OF paymasers and agents contractors and
eommlssares, whose equipages shine like meteOrs, and
whose palaces rise like exhahtouss
These are the men who, without virtue labor hazard
are growing rich as their country is impoverished they
rejoice when Ob'tnacy ambition adds another year
slaughter and devastation; and laugh from their desks
az bravery and science when they are adding figure
figure, aud cipher cipher hoping for a new contract
from new armament, and computing the profits of
seige or tempest The Falkland Islands, by Dr..
Samuel JohHsOl, l77l.
u deplOrabe in times like these when the country
is bleeding from every pore, when there is waiing in
nearly every household and when the energies of the
best portion Of taxed the utmost for the bare
uecessares Of life that should be gouged by heart
less exortonerS and robbed by official oguss. Such
is the greed for speculation which pervades almost every
class OF society, that articles Of prime necessity have
gone up 10 such figure to be the poorer classes
absolutely appalling. Beef costing in the mountains OF
Virginia fifteen cents is sold in our markets. after hav-
ing changed hands some halEa-dOzen times, and each
party realizing clear prof, of from ten to twenty cts,
at the enormous price Of from twenty-five cents to one
dollar per pound Jones and Smith, who have made
fortunes out Of the by fortunate ventures in four
and by tampering with questionable whisky may think
il pretty good joke that provisions should be high
aud may chucke at the thoughts of being able to pay
double the prevailing prces but there are others who
do no, take it quite so bsndly.
There certain women for instance who wear faded
bonnets and shabbygentee dresses and are not always
Oyer-well shod, who have a wan care worn look, and
who may have sons or husbands in the army which this
explosion Of price, around them affects rather more Sc
rou-ly Il gives them frightened and distressed look
They dit about from stall to STALL and from bench to
bench until their couuenances exhibit the appearance
Of the blacklist despair. Beef, oae dollar; pork
dollar andl quarter apples twenty-five cents piece!
Or perhaps little butter is wanted for a sick person.
the applicant Is accommodated by an Irish gentleman
With British protection papers in his pocket at the mod
erote price OF two dollars and twenty-five cents per
pound,
Ia the stores if anything the ex;ortion worse par
cuary regards dry goods and boots and shoes for
We are in the hands of set Of harpes, who have
completely at their mercy. A moderate amount Of
money Invested the "other side" by sharp Snug
gler will realize independent fortune Miserable,
fln,y calico, costing in Baltimore from eight to
cents i sold here for dollars and fifty cents per
ya4d, Shoes costing from one and halt to four dol
lars are sold here from fifteen thirty dollars per
pair On account Of the extraordinary demand for
mourning goods which every battle tends to increase
the prices have gone up beyond all precedent 1t is
sad commentary upon the depraviy Of the human heart
THAT under such circumstances these Shyocks should
be gnreleutug aud that in paying the las. sad tr
butes the memory Of the dead the last should
be wruug from Us. But thiu< OF a black Grape veil
costing blockade dollar and half and its
be,u sold here TO mourning mother sister for
fort, dollars
Now as What these articles cost the smugglers
the other side example will suffice, aud will take
ior illustration the black Grape veil Assuming it to be
three times the value in Confederate money the ealeu-
lation is easily made and fluid il to be four dollars
and half or about Oneuinh Of the selling price here.
Il Is useless complain Of these prices and cry shame
upon such extoriiou for you will find Mr. Jones and Mr.
Smith as uureentiug as Mr.. Moses or Mr. Solomon
They viii eer at you from their snaky, metallic eyes
aud tell YOU in plain English, "lf You do not like my
prices 20 aud buy elsewhere :" grumbe as you may
Won are iosced pay their price, go unclad and I'M
shod aud unied. Secure from HARM they laugh from
byhiud their desks, when defeat of arms or Il e
burning of bridge, will only increase their profits on
what they hold
As TO the Of official and commissioned rogues
their populations Rave become common as to be a
source Of every day complaint. The checks and bsan
ces imposed upon them by forms and regulations are
but so many holes for the most volatile rascaty.
The crimes Of the extortiOner black enough but
these are worse for their prey is the poor soldier and
unprotected farmer.
The first is a necessary evil, and vify and abuse him
we may and must be is the only means known III der
heaven for curing such ealamtes press upon u.s.
High prices which his work. are in times Of scarcity
the only preventive Of famine and starvation and like
medicine to disordered system, bring about health and
ease But the oaicial plunderer is unmgated i'll,
without one compromising gOOd-and little wholesome
hanging would be the best thing for him and the re-
Pabhe -s"s .. ...... ...t