Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-04
RIGHTs.
RICHMOND WING.
vDNRe0,V moRNINC. NOV. 4, 1883.
supplies for Richmond.

/
Er Robertson said he knew no necessity so urgent
as some immediate measure to bring supplies OF proVs
ions 70 the city. Here scarcity already existed to an
extent alarming to contemplate and was daily increas-
INC UnreIeved it threatened to exist 70 sx-
lent that might attended with the most deploraOle
both OF distress and disorders incident to
suffering for food Hunger was we'll hkened TO the VOL
It was now indeed but whelp. As yet, We but heard
is faint cries from the novels and dens where it was
horn Ii fed and thrived on what enieebed all else
-carcity Ii waxed strong what destroyed all other
creatures-desttution. IL became a monster, ter
rble aud dangerous in proportion to It's grown,
| md c6uld NOT be too soon sihsd. 1t had been
already too long neglected Further delay to
destroy it would be iull OF disaster. There Was
no reason why there should be scarcity IN the cl-
ie, or.spyshsre It was wholly artificial IL was want
IN the midst of abundance. Our crops OF Dreadstus
and provisions never more pentiiu lever, ne De-
eved larger in proportion to the public wants. Local
suffering was the result of stoppage of circulation The
whole solution was they did'ht come to market. Oae
main cause he was sure that indicated by the reso-
uon-the fear of mpressment unless prices were SUD
mtsd TO less than the owners thought JUS. This fact
OF such belief vas notorious. The resolution III no
yay charged the impression 70 be well founded, or
gcoundCd upon any impeachment OF the Secretary
noEey IL confined itself a statement Ot an
opinion which, in the judgment OF the House. was pro-
ductiye oil most serious mischief which it was in the
DOW Of the Secretary OF War; and his only 10 remove
ana asked hin TO do &c. That was all
The resolution passed, and ordered 10 be cOmmu-
ucaled to the Senate Tor It's concurrence-EHqursr
Unfortunately, the Senate undertaking the importance
and nsakng the character the resolution concluded
that ,t was too late in the session enter upon
question OF such decacy" and fosbore concurrng in
Che action of the House. The Enquirer does give
the language of the resolution aud, We iofer from the
rsmsrks of Mr. Robertson, mistakes its object and i'm.
81, NJ. d
"a fact that provisions brought or being brought to
this eity are impressed by wholesale, but that i'm
pson exists in the country that such articles would
s liable 10 be 20 dealt with aud that such fear prevent
ID the producers from sending them forward. The fact
of such belief in the country ia Mr.. r. says, uoto
rous and his object evidently to obtain from the
secretary OF War official assurance that necessies
of subsistence for the city would not be so dealt with
# indeed that officer is willing that such articles
hall be exempt from mpres5menL aud that the city
shall receive the supplies it so mnch needs.
We believe with Mr.. Robertson, that there is no
SON certainly at this time for scarcity in the cities or
anywhere It IS a5 he says wholly artificial being the
result Of tbe stoppage of circulation. Aud there
oe no doubt that this result is OcoasOned by the policy
of the Confederate Authorities or what Is believed to be
her pGloy So far from there being scarcity the new
,rop has hardly been touched and this crop was
IN most respects abundant one Why is it, then,
hat Richmond is deprived, even to the verge of un-
oearabe want, of the necessares Of life: IL cannot
be- as some imagine that is because the farmers pre-
Ter boarding. to selling and receiving pay in Confederate
eurrency for even if they could beso wanting in both
PATRIOTISM and humanity, they know well enough that
they will not bs permitted to hoard that the imProssing
officers will sOou nalbly be upon them, and that they
will have to take, in Confederate money not more than
one-third what they may nov command by voluntarily
bringing their prosucts into market Il is plain that
either the fear of mpressment route, or the denial
Of facilities for transportation the requirement, as
Mr. Robertson hints that they will submit prices less
than they think just or other apprehension or
,upediment resulting from the policy of the War De-
saruneut, or what the people understand TO be its
pocy. constitutes the obstruction nterpOsed between
che scarcity of the city aud the abundance of the
cry.
Under these circumstances, we hope that the Score
Lary OF War, who have interest feeling in the
matter different from that Of Rr citizens, will SEQ the
necessity of at once Ordeing and making public that
III pecssssries of lie in trdnsi for market shall not be
subject TO impressment while in the hands OF the producer
or consumer Should the attempt be made by engross-
era and spectators get possession OF them then they
should 10 longer be projected by exemptions Such an
order would be simply just to this ana other ctie5 hsy
being wholly dependent for the means OF supporting
fe upon che producers. between whom aud Themselves
s Confederate authorities stand, whether desigl
edly or not, an impossible barrier.
Nor il it only Just and indispensable to the cities that
bis should be done-it wise and polite other and
more general grounds. The Cities add especially the
eiv OF Richmond is the market to which the people Of
the State have been accustomed to look TO regulate
prces among themselves II local scarcity here runs
nm our in few days from $40 10 800, and meal from
an 10 $40 bushel these artihca, famine prices at
opee become the standard by which the pfoaucers'
the State fix their prices; and these e1
brilliant rates must be paid approximlted BY non
aroducers everywhere and by the Government or gen
era, discouient and injurious clamor 9ee the conse'
,o,o.s Presently the more easily corrupted OF the
neone begin to conceal what they have to lie about it,
- 10 periure themselves to keep it from the baads
Of Government thai pays so paltrily for what they
opli obtain such immense prices for If allowed to take
II To market Those who have too much principle Tor
usb scuryy conduct ss this might not be above wasting
on their negroes and dogs and by general extravaganza
apdimprovidenoe what, when weighed by the Govern
ment standard of prices, seemed 80 worthless
Another fact is worthy of being considered by the
secretars of War The local famine with which the
cities are so nearly threatened will unavOidab occupy
large space in the newspapers published in those cities
These newspapers 90 70 the enemy, aud, by h'ue
adrot garblng may be easily used 30 coaVey the I'M
preston that the whole country at the point Of STAR
walton. We have frequent evidences in the Yankee
papers that reach us that this is being done, and with
such effect, too that the hope of speedy subuga-
ton through want to be the main reliance Of
the enemy and the chief encouragement to volunteers
to enter the army Toe effect Ofsuch false information
in recruiting their forces, keeping alive confidence
...i-.ninir thnir cnrrenca and nrnlOnCing the WAL