Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-12-19
GALLIPOLTs.
R A dispatch from Charleston s.

board are hourly applying the torch to
their crops of cotton and rice. Along
the coast there is one sheet of fame
and smoke" What most instructive
warning is contained in those few lines,
sad bow fearful the madness that like
an epidemic seems to have seized upon
the people of the "Sunny South" A
glance at their situation when this war
FIRST commenced, compared with their
present hopeless ruined condition. may
not be out OF place. Then, they were
happy and prosperous beyond any peo-
pie under Heaven-now, as unuttera-
bly, miserable, and wretched as it is
possible for human nature to be-
Then. with monopoly oftheir peculiar
agricultural productions, and the whole
civilized world for a market. their rich
men were increasing in wealth, their
poor comfortable, and slaves in meas
ure contented. Now, with the market
of the world closed against them, their
ports blockaded and unable to procure
even the necessaries of life, their rich
men are impoverished. their poor made
miserable, and ruin impending from in
surrections by their slaves. The above
despatch gives US faint outline OF the
indescribable suffering and terror ex-
listing, where few months since, all
was peace and plenty.
And why? Alas none can satisfac-
torily answer. Envy, malice. hatred.
and mad ambition. have done this
dreadful work, resulting as usual in
misery upon the misguided people who
have acted under such influences.
And what has been gained? Moth
ing, absolutely nothing. Not one single
advantage, either of condition or pow
er, has accrued to them from their trea-
son. Not one, Political, moral CONNER
cial and national power they have for
ever lost. The world stands appalled,
at the enormous evils they have wrought
in the land, and in all coming time the
Southern character will stand attsinted
Of the yilest treason ever concocted by
the brains OF wicked men. in every
respect they are the losers. Their fields
are blasted by confsgrations, or their
substance devoured by hungry armies,
Ill clothed, i'll fed, and i'll raid. Their
country is desolated, by the iron hail
Of battle, and turned into Eraveyards
where the bones Of the patriot and
traitor mingle together in common dust.
Their vast wealth, much boosted Of. is
taking its course Northward, or if con-
slant and faithful, is in itself an ele-
ment OF destruction, by consuming the
food, necessary to sustain the life Of
the master and his family. The me-
chanic and laboring classes are abso-
lutely suffering for want Of the neces-
saries of life. In short their cup Of
retribution seems filled 10 overlooking,
and will have to be drained 10 the low
est dregs. And all this calamity now
orershadows a land which twelve
months since was replete with abund-
ance, and surfeited with plenty.
Who in the mighty North envies the
lot of the proudest southern slavehol-
der? Not one. Who would wish to
be resident OF that once happy land.
but now receiving her Just doom?
None. In the North all is prosperity.
True, the fate OF war has carried mour-
ming and desolstion into many family
and the hearts of many loved ones are
bleeding on account Of "man's inhu-
manity to man," but our fields are not
laid waste, nor our substance consumed
under the iron hoof of war. Our ports
are open to the commerce of the world,
our manufactures are giving employ
ment to millions of our people. our
soil has filed with its rich productions
not only our own granaries, but those
of foreign nations. Not only our own
poor have enough to eat, but the starv-
ing millions of Europe can to-day bless
our land for the means Of sustaining
life. Our people are every day in
creasing in wealth, and advancing with
gigantic strides in the pathway of pow
er and prosperity, whilst the smoke and
flames of burning cotton and rice are
enveloping the land Of secession, spreadc
ing gloom and dismay over once hap
py people. We are enjoying the clear
sunlightof Heaven, our crops growing.
and our citizens increasing in wealth,
and animated with The spirit of free
men, consequent upon knowledge Of
truth, loyalty and virtue.
Let then the smoke and flames OF
cotton ascend over the unhappy South.
The lurid flames Of treason from that