| From the Richmond Sentinel |
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| June 16, 1864 |
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| Supplies of Food |
| We are gratified to learn that Governor
Smith has completed arrangements for running a special train on State
account, between this city and North Carolina, for the purpose of
bringing to Richmond, for the use of needy persons here and in other
portions of Virginia, such supplies of grain and other provisions as
the agents appointed for the purpose may be able to obtain. The
supplies will be disposed of at the lowest possible prices, and in
view of the desolated condition of many sections of this State, it is
hoped that the holders of provisions in the more favored portions of
the Confederacy, who may be ??? to by the agents, will dispose of
their surplus grain, &c., on moderate terms. |
| Gov. Smith is entitled to great credit for
inaugurating this scheme of relief, and we trust it will work
prosperously and satisfactorily to all concerned. -- Richmond Whig |
| In addition to the above, we are happy to
learn that a train load of corn has already been brought on for the
purpose above stated, and arrangements made for its suitable
distribution. |
| The Governor, by his enterprise, will
relieve a vast amount of suffering in our city, and afford great
relief not only to the poor, but to the market, and thereby to all
consumers. The prices demanded for articles of food is shameful, and
wholly ??ble. If our legislature had bestowed the same attention to
securing other necessaries as they did in the case of salt, the
imposition upon the people would have been greatly abated upon those
??? it was upon this, But the nonsense of theorists, whose common
sense had been clouded by a little undigested reading, filled their
heads with mists and fallacies about "market price and the
immutability of the laws of trade," ???, and applying to one
condition of things the principles that belonged only to another, the
people were neglected and their interests betrayed. Only in the
article of salt has exorbitance been checked and thwarted. |
| It might just as well have been done in
the case of almost everything else. Though late in the day, the State
Commercial Agency is now undertaking to protect the people from
sharpers in the procuring of cotton goods and wool and cotton cards.
"Market price" and "laws of trade" are now happily
discredited to these. And, unprovided with the means by the
Legislature, and compelled both to make the plan and find the money,
Gov. Smith is working for the relief of the needy in the article of
breadstuffs. His scheme is in its infancy, but is already working
well, and will doubtless effect great good. |
| We trust that although the wisdom of the
State has known no better than to deliver the people bound into the
hands of the extortionists, we shall at least gradually find
deliverance through the irresponsibility of common sense and the
enterprise and ingenuity of humane and public spirited officers. |
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