It is sickening to behold the corruption of the commercial
men, which so much wounds our afflicted country. There are large merchants here
who come over from Baltimore breathing vengeance against the Northern “despots,”
and to make a show of patriotism they subscribed liberally to equip some
volunteer companies in the city; but now they are sending their agents North
and importing large amounts of merchandise, which they sell to the government
and the people at most fabulous prices. I am informed that some of them realize
$50,000 per month profit! And this after paying officials on both sides bonuses
to wink at their operations.
After the order of Mr. Benjamin for applicants for passports
to leave the country to be arrested, some of these men applied to me, and I
reported the facts to Gen. Winder.; but they were not molested. Indeed, they
came to me subsequently and exhibited passports they had obtained from the
Secretary himself.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 92-3
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