The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-02
THE TORCH AND THE SWORD.

pie may have TO determine. without much
time for deliberation, whether they can best
serve the cause of independence. by destroy
Ing their property 81 by leaving IT at the
mercy OF the enemy Where the destruc-
ton Is required BY ejlitary necessity, there
can be no hesitationt- The military author
ities themselves, in such cases, should see
that the destruction IS effected, thoroughly
and in good time. If military polics re-
quires bridge to be blown up, a railroad
10 be torn up, supplies TO be a>ted. house,
q village. nr even city 10 he burnt-let all
these things bp dnne with military prompt-
ness and efficacy. Bat there are other cases
which do not Come 50 directly within the
province Of n,liarv policy. Ae need not
dlscn>. here the polio, ~ burning he cot
ton II the Suuh, rather than let Il fall int
the hand, 81 the rner,, for IL i universally
agreed by the people aud tie civil and nlI-
tars authorities to can.ign 10 the flames e.-
cry bale oi cottnn winch cannot otherwise
be ssted from the ensmy's hands.
Contrary 10 the uiost obvious principles
.of civilized warfare, the enemy has manifest
ed his purpose to plumber private property,
aud this purpose j. especially directed to-
wards the calton which may be within his
reach. His object 10 this is twofold. He
wishes TO make the south pay the expenses
of the war out nf lis cotton aud other pro.
ducts, and also wishes 10 make cottnn play
an important diplomatic part IN The rela-
tions between the Federal Government and
the commercial powers ot Europe. Tie de-
slre., IN a word. at one strnke to replenish
his treasury aud bribe Eugland and France
10 abstain from intervention. by the whole
sale plumber Of Soutlrrn cotton.
II admlrs uf moi the least doubt, then. that
duty and interest. pa rIniIs,n aud palicy. all
cnnrur in debating lhp destruction of the
l. -
mean. be saved frnn The enemy. It's equal.
" clear that tobacco. or an, uther >ootnern
produce. Or any other specie, ot property br-
longing to Suuth-fn citizens, exposed To
capture h, the enemy, and which he could
use 70 hs own advantage and % The det1i-
ment Of the cause of indepe ndence, should
be unhasiatingly DESTROYED.
But war ha, ~ economy a. well as peace.
There shouts be methUd IN the paIrlotic
sacrifice Of our people The work Of de
strurtinn ,honld be jfdcinus, not wanian
and indi,criminate. Tie same pfinc,plr 81
pubhc law lhai denounce. a. harbar"u> the
aantnn destruction ol the private prnpriis
Of a people AZ enemy, also cnnd ms u
wantnn destruction bS tie people themselves.
A man ma, seldom burn hl~ own house
without er,me. ~ q may rarely DESTROY,
without gullt, that which hountltnl nature
ha, provided Tor the good Of the human
race.
/, NAV look very well IN rhetoric TO talk
ol meeting the enemy with a Gun N one
hand AID a torch 10 the other. We are IN
cIinei 10 ihink II would be better ~ practice
10 meet the enemy first with an additional
man aud gun in place Of the rhetorical torch
The appeal Ii the tnrch before metal j. ttleu
ID the utlermost, looks tnU much Ike giving
up the contest. Itis ather tile a1gimeut ol
despair than ofhDpeiul courage.
With respect 70 the burning II oar cities,
let us not be misled by imaginary analogles
let u mol conclude thai. because the burn'
ing of Moscow turned back the grand 'rmy
Of Napoleon in dismay and disaster, th'
burning IL Charleston, Mobile or New Or
leans, would strike the enemy with terroi
and drive him from The country, discounted
AID hopeless. Nothing, perhaps, wnnld
cause ~ re 10y w IT'S civ ~ R0W - =
than 10 hear tha, ihe Southern rival OF tina
city was hrap Of ashes. The enemy doe
not need unr cities T. shelter hi snldier'
Crnm the deadly ,ncleinency OF R"ssi,f
winter III. armies IRE dong very we'll y
tents. aud they would continue e DO with
nu, The houses ~ uur cites for shelter. M
would the destruction Of our cities 'iepriN
him IL resources ol subsistence. Those g
, t,es themselves are eprndcnt Tor suhsistenc
unnn rxerinr resnnrce.. We could star,'
the enemy. armies m're EASILY, Indeed,
The, were nas,ed IN our cities than We coul
/ II ,hr, were enca@ped IN the country an
/ convenient to lurage.
Let a. consider. too. that Il city can b
taken, il can alsu be- reiaken. Bui shonl
+. we burn our c,tes. il would signIiy that "
had no hope 81 retaking them. There = u
! reason whatever for 50 despairing policy
{ The enemy can be driven from . city qu'i
{ as soon as from any other place IN tne .on
fedcracy. y =. Dsao'