Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-07
Our Danger and Our Duty.

In some resp,cts, K chmoad Is in wOre danger than
wheo Mcclellan, at the head Of 100000 men, was en-
camped within FIVE miles Of the corporation hmts Oar
readers are well aware OF the weak pOa in our defence
they know the city is in peril, and they have repaired
promptly to the field The quiet determination If che
citizens yesterday morning WOrthy Of All praise.
Knowing that the hour Of supreme trial lad come they
armed themselves and went calmly forth TO deiend
their wives and children from bErbarous foe. Every
man felt that the occupation Of the city even for Sit
gle hour involved eonseq most terrlbls. Apart
from the ees ruStion OF property, numberless ea@iAe
to the pure and unprotected who woul be erOuchioe
in garrss and cellars, to be dreaded To avert
these eal,miiss, fathers BROKERS and viii NJ
to lay down their lives The cause holy, how eOuld
they be otherwise than confident
With regard to the weak sid. Of our defence, may
sslte on good authority that il weakness Is less than
the nervous OF population suppose, aud every
boar makes it stronger Some apprehension is felt l.
regard the number OF troops in and around the city
On that point il would be obviously improper 70 state
PARTICULAR We may be very sure however, that heavy
achievements are at hand. They may not arrive IN
time 10 prevent the enemy from achieving temporary
success such as the burning Of bridge and the cap
ture of an outpost bat they come soon enough &c
punish the foe for his temsFity.
We expect for several days to come a. unwonted
degree Of e1eement-msBy startling and alarming NJ
mors The enemy will worry Us no. hslle, and the
busybodies will do their best to create panic. Sue
vsxAioas, inevitable in time Of peril be counter
acted only by anticipating them aud preserving hfu
mind ia spite not Only of runors, but OF unElessan
faets Let Us possess souls in patience, no matte
what happens. PAnies only make matters worse a. d
the beet ray to danger il to face it. Iu an hoes
like this hardness Of should % cultivated for the
air will be thick with ugly aud evil IePOrs.
Our duty is plain. First to defend the city to The last
gasp as vel from the lauesi within from the inva
ders without ana mex. to encourage and sustain
dslendsrs. The many wounded Who will be sent here
must not be left the hospital attendants alone The
ladies ct Richmond must sgAin become angels Of h
bedside, "a they have always been in tine Of battle
H1useksePers must give freely OF their private store Of
dsolces for the SEX for these too 20 be
purchased BY the government. Contributions Of cloth
ing, Of material fer dressing wounds and OF money
should not be wanting body OF ctzCs to assist IA,
wounded from the cars should at once be organlzad
and one or more offices for the reception OF locations
Of cooked provision snulants etc. should be opened
n,a the various dspots Nothing thai eOnduoe 70
the comfort OF the defenders Of cur country shou
be lsft uRdone. Il may be, and trust il is, nc
last time Redmond wall be called on to d pl4y tie
Christian tor which she is distinguished through
out the COaiederaSy. Let this last display eclipse ali
previous ones.
There will be trouble about food, especially for ,he
troops near The city TIE Commiss4riat should b.
LEFT wholly to the authorities, who viii be busy with a
thousand pressing elAn4 Toe local troops had but
days rat;ons In their hayerssek4, and that will b.
hAus.ed before regular raaOns are furnished More
attention should be given to this mater than given
on the occasion OF the raids Of SiOnemAn and XII
patrick. Finally, the poor should not be neglected
Very hls and very few vegetables viii be brought
- market until the battles over. The price Of p:c
visions will rise and the sOrdd AMI the meanhearted
will begin to hoard. The families Of soldiers aud he
poor generally viii suffer- unless special relefs afforded
them above and beyond the charities which they geu
orally receive We should forget them in the nhdst
of this hurly burly
Let Us eonduo. ourselves h all respects as a brave
generous and Christsn people, negIeeting no duty
whether Of danger or OF kindness which the peri.us
times impose Us. Our whole duty done, We may
SAFELY leave the issue Of this FINAL struggle for Richmond
20 a just and merciful Deity.
The Late Brig. Gen Alfred MOutOn.
In the remark made By Judge eikns OF Lou siana,