Blocque shook my hand cordially, gliding away in his shiny
broadcloth, at the moment when Mr. Croker, catching my eye in passing,
stopped to speak to me.
"You visit Richmond at an inauspicious moment, colonel," said Mr.
Croker, jingling his watch-seals with dignity. "The country has at last
reached a point from which ruin is apparent in no very distant
perspective, and when the hearts of the most resolute, in view of the
depressing influences of the situation, are well nigh tempted to
surrender every anticipation of ultimate success in the great cause
which absorbs the energies of the entire country--hem!--at large. The
cause of every trouble is so plain, that it would be insulting your
good judgment to dwell upon the explanation. The administration has
persistently disregarded the wishes of the people, and the best
interests of the entire community; and we have at last reached a point
where to stand still is as ruinous as to go on--as we are going--to
certain destruction and annihilation. Look at the finances, entirely
destroyed by the bungling and injudicious course of the honorable Mr.
Memminger, who has proceeded upon fallacies which the youngest tyro
would disdain to refute. Look at the quartermaster's department,--the
commissary department,--the State department, and the war department,
and you will everywhere find the proofs of utter incompetence, leading
straight, as I have before remarked, to that ruin which is pending at
the present moment over the country.
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