The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-09-25
From the Richmond Dispatch.
THE STARVATION QUESTION.

The North set out in this contest under Sc
veral yery remarkable. but at the same time
very comfortable delusions. They consider
ed il plain proposition that twenty mil
lions of people could readily whip eight j
and they accordingly began TO parcel out
our Southern lands in Yankee farms before
they commenced their invasion forgetting
the huinely maxim, better not count your
chickens before they are hatched." This
delusion has somewhat cleared away since
the affairs at Bethel. Manassas and Spring
field, but still retains chronic hold upon
the Northern mind.
Another delusion was fondly cherished in
regard 70 our slave population. They con-
fdently expected our negroes to rise upon
their masters at the first alarm Of war and
a seryile insurrection 10 rage throughout
The South, while their victorious armies
we're marching triumphsntly, plundering
and ra,ishing. ad fbifuni. through our terri
tory. This delusinn, too. has been dispelled.
The negroes were never 80 quiet, never 80
loyaI to their duty, as they have been during
the six months Just gone by. They have
taken the same interest IN the war for the
south that our white people have done, and
have helped TO slay Yankee soldiers on the
field OF battle. An authentic instance is
told uf servant at Manassas having killed
two soldiers Of the enemy, during the pro
gress Of the battle, by stoning them TO
death. The Yankees have stolen negroes,
aud persuaded some Of them to run away
i from their masters on some portions of the
seabord: but the reis scarcely an instance
/ Of negro violence 10 white people recorded
during the whole progress Of the present
war. The period Of war has, strange TO
say, been a period remarkable Tor its ex.
emption from this sort Of trouble to the
South.
I But the most amusing Of all the halluci-
nations Of the North in the outset Of the
war, was the belief that their own States fed
the southern people and that, By blockading
our ports. they would starye Us into submis-
sion. Yankees are a shrewd and intelligent
people in all matters Of business and 10 all
practical affairs. The ought 10 have under.
stood the resources Of the country well
enough 60 know the fallacy Of this notion.
but their belief in our non n-production ol
/ food was 50 hattering TO their vanity, and
so COml0ftaOle 10 lheW ttu-CuuiptdtthNN -
that they would not take the trouble 20 as
certain with certainty the facts Of the case
which we're readily accessible. Aud that
was the theory Of their blocksde--that We
would starse by our separation from the
North and. like the prodigal son, would in
due time return from feeding upon the husks
Of secession. begging the fare Of servants.
in the bitterness Of our penitence and hu.
initiation. The blockade had other objects
indeed; such as that OF keeping arms and
ammunition out Of our reach. and cutting Us
~ from direct communication with Eu-
rope but lis primary idea was 70 starye Us
into contrition.
The census tables Of 1850 abundantly
show that the South produced more Of the
great articles Of human food per man and
according to population than the North; and
these tables were everywhere open to North.
ern inspection. They remained. however,
willingly ignorant. of fact which SO i'll
comporled with their favorite theories 10 70.