Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-03-27
The Policy of Fire.

The burning of cotton and tobacco, and the destruction Of sugar and molasses upon the ap- proach of an enemy, are steps so necessary to be taken that the policy of So doing does not admit of question. In but one solitary m stance have the bderals even expressed an ln- tention to pay an owner of cotton for that which they stole It is declared contraband oi war, seized wherever found and forever lost to the owners: as much so as if burnt to ashes. 50 ot tobacco. Every pound Of these articles obtains ed by the enemy k an aid to them in carrying on the war, not only furnishing them with wealth, but doing us great mischief in other ways It furnishes material for work for thelr manufacturing population and keeps down revo- lution at home. It creates the impression abroad that cotton, tobaccraud other southern products, can be obtained through the North, without the danger or hazard of running the so- called blockade. If the cotton and tobacco in the South was in one huge pile, ready for the application of the torch upon the approach Of the enemy he would never come near, because the possession of our products is one of the great motives that actuates the foe,
 The Linconites hate the South with that bitterness men and nations feel towards those they have injurcd-hate us with that blind hate an inferior people has to one more manly, frank and chivalric. But this is not the only motive they have for attempting to oyerrun us. Avarice has as much to do with it as hate. They look to present seizure of the crops iii the South and the ultimate coniscation of the lands and personal property. Less than all this will not enable them to pay the enormous debt they have created If we burn the cotton and tobacco, and destroy the sugar and molasses, as they are about to fall mo their hands it is their loss and not ours, for its lost to the planter fl it cannot be removed beyond the clutches of tie armed thieves, and to destroy t is to rob them of their hoped for booty.
 Such being tie case, we have advocated the application of fire to these crops whenever nee essary. It must be done, and where the owner of the property refuses 10 do 1t, it must be done for him. The South needs arms and ammuni- ton What would be thought of federal com nlander left to guard piles of arms and magn- zines who would suffer an armed Confederate force to approach and yet make no effort to de stroy his gun, or to blow lip the magazine?
 As to the destruction of cities or of houses b} fire, we fail to see any good to result from such a policy lithey were driving Us into exile, ol i if we left our cities and homes with no cxpecta ton of returning, then there would De good poll. l cy in leaving desert or q blackenei waste he, hind us. But we intend, by Gods grace au5 ! the force of southern valor, to hold and posses. this goody land, including Missouri, Kentucky l Virginia, Maryland, and perhaps, Delaware l IL is ours and we intend to keep t. w. may be dispossesCd ofpart oft awhile, but will return to it. The ederals can steal and carry away cotton, tobacco and sugar Therefore, burr 1 them. They cannot carry away our houses fences and lands. Therefore ct them remair
 intact The cotton, once in their hands, we caF never recover. But they may take 2 city ; : dozen times and we caE, iu time, drive then out and reposses5 1t. TO burn the cotton, etc
 is to njure them; to burn oar homes, is to iniurt ourselves. The cotton may be ours or theirs the cities and homes are always ours.
 The baruing Of cities is tbe logic o. dcspair- the admission of defeat Moscow i5 not D cast iu point for there are no points of resemblance in the two countries, the effect on the invader or the injury to be done the toc. Besides it i by no means settled that Moscow was sat on fro by the Russian governor, or with design tc 1 niure Napoleon. Remove all stock, corn, graf and fodder; remove Or burn the cotton and to- bacco, roll the sugar into tue river, but let the buildings stand. Those driven from theil homes will return to them. It may be in a shorter or longer time, and after years Of sul
 ering, but the end is sure
 This appears to us the true policy of fire, and the one that will teach our foes that though they may drive us from our homes for a While they are still our homes and we intend to return tc them.
 gSF- Mr. C. Kendall, writing to us from MIler's Point Van Buren county, among other things says
 "The health of our country k very good and nearly all our people seem to be inspired with q spirit to defend our rights as fieemen. Our coun. tvis nearly bare of able bodied men except ina few neighborhoods, as many responded to the first call of their country and there are now i1 camp, al Cross Roads four full campanies and two OtA plr