The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-10-12
Our Richmond Letter.

me ChanEes 81 rive xSar1-Ths coed
ana Hl1 InFnslans-iNl iellInonl Q hard
Place. Just aa Present--The Lately
AuPRreaaed Newspapers.
CReOulW Weekly Letter - EAe W1eeaiE0 1atelli-
peAeeT.l
RICHMOND, VA, Oct. g, IS.
The extravagance, reclIlessness and
moral deterioration, always incident
to periods of war and revolution, which
are witnessed an over tho country to a
great or less degree, as the result OF our
their most striking developments In
Richmond. Great as have been the
changes in other respects; sealthed,
shattered, chnrre1 and desolaIed as
Richmond was LEFT at the termination
Of tho struggle, the revolution has been
more marked in its social effects upon
this community perhaps, than in any
orderly aspect Of the city, resulting
from the generally high respecia-
btlity of its population, was the
feature remarked by all visitors,
and the boast of its Inhabitants
for many years previous to the late
revolution. But we make no boast Of
such pre-eminence now, and do not for
pionShip OF virtue and morality with
any claimants who may present them
selves. fortunately through the vigil
lance and admirably enforced discipline
Of the military police, bysWhich the city
Is regulated, the crime and dissipation,
which 1re holding high carnival In tho
secret abOdes Of vice, the alleys, cellars,
bEOthels and innumernble hiding places
OF infamy with which tho city abOunGis,
are sufficiently restrained in their out
ward manifestations to permit at least,
an appearance of decency, and to pro
tcct the Hirtuous portion Of the COmmu-
nifty from outrage, Yet Richmond, in
any possible application of the term, Is,
and has been for the past four wears, q
"fRst" town, and there seems to be no
indication that in the. rapid material
and commercial development, upon
which 1t has entered, there will be any
abatement OF its speed In the particular
mentioned.
Very shortly after the commencement
of the war, with the establishment Of
the Confederate seat OF government at
Richmond, that worthless clan found in
every community, in numbers few or
great, but previously very small in
Richmond, whose Ynlue to mankind
nobody canapprectate, or the possible
object Of whose creation nobody can
Imagine, was largely reinforced from
iuStallmeuts from Philadelphia and
New York. Gamblers, garroters, pros
titutes, thimble-dggers, itinerant show
men, with their camp-fOlloWers, bur-
glars, confidence men," pIckpoelsets
and representatives of all the various
professions by which "honest peunies''
are turned" in the most approved
method Of sWtndling and cheating,
poured into the city from every avenue
of approach, until the Confederate Cap
ital became likewise the metropolis Mt
which conferred all vice and corruption
OF the short-lfved Confederacy. Dele
gutes from the Plug Ugly "ClubS'' of
Baltimore, and the levees Of New Orleans
were the ruling spirits among the Hfan-
ey" in Richmond during the war, and
never, l believe, lost their supremacy
during the four years of Confederate
existence. The condition Of things in
a community, where the social virtues
OF Baltimore and New Orleans were so
prominently displayed can be better
imagined than described.
Unfortunately a large portion of this
population still abldes with us, doubt
less 10th TO abandon place which has
Afforded them hOspitable shelter, and
so favorable a theatre for the exercise of
their VirtuOus and philanthrOpic inclf-
nations. They are well satisfied to re-
main for the present, where In the cast
Of events torture threw them, and earn
by their benevolent avOcRtions, the liy-
ing which the world owes them.
and which may rs well be exacted in
Richmond as elsewhere. In the mean
time, the places of their comrades who
have gone, are supplied by reinforce
mentS from the puFlieus Of Northern
cities, and their life in Richmond loses
none OF its zest and our reputation rs a
tast place, VIII not be permitted to
suffer. Many innovations are to be
witnessed; many customs introduced,
never known before in Richmond. bui
which the visitor to Philadelphia,
BalhmOne or New York, would
recognize us old acquaint9nces
Some of these changes which the F1res-
ence OF the universal Yankee'f has
wrought are to be commended, others
deplored, but I shall not discriminate
either to praise or censure.
At all-events life in Richmond Is be-
coming v1stly more entertaining than
II eyer promised to be, and those who
would shun dissiplt ion, can readily find
amusements more healthful and refin-
ing. The theatre Is in operation, though
unfortunately under the control OF a
stupid and cOnceited manager, who has
a poor company, and therefore, Justly.
has poor houses. We have also a Et9Seyv
Casino, and = Canterbury Hall" to
be found believe in almost every Nor
e+9AlGA6l 9N1AGGla mon
Keys, Fat women" free concerts,yVher
dilapidated specimens Of famfniniky
dance, and show their continuation, y
and played-out actors sing Irish di4ies:
all these VIC have, and Whatever else
may be necessary to establish our rep
utatiOn rs \ fRst city.
Mr.: Dimitry, of the Bulletin, of whose
arrest wrote you in my last, has been
released from prison upon q parole pre-
Scrtbed by the commanding general.
The Bulletin has mot been permitted to
resume publication, The authorities
are said 70 insist upon the discharge Of
MI Dtmitry from all connection with
the paper as a condition of Its re-pnl5iiz
cation. The publishers are unwilling
TO part with an editor. upon WHOSE
ability and reputation rs n writer thew
place deservedly high estfmafe
MessEs. Shields 4 Elliott, prOpFietors Of
the WhIg, viii shortly begin the publi-
cation OF the FdT1ReJ, q journal to be
devoted to the fostering of the farming
and planting interests Of the State.
CHATHAM.