The Nevada Democrat., 1862-03-11
9erada 2elAufrat.
From the London Times january 18th. ]

The Destruction OF Charleston HarbOr.
The vindictve hostilities which prevail
on American ground force themselves on
our notice. Not only do they effect our in
teresls as a nation. but they move our feel
ings as men. Wonder, pity, Indignation.
beset us. when we hear of those immense
armies, that ruinous expediture, that des-
perate finance, that incessant partisan war.
fare without result, and seemingly with
out motive. the burning of towns and vii
lagos, the breaking down of bridges, the
tearing up of railroads. and still worse tales
which, it is to be hoped, aIe in the main
the exaggeratons of fear or animosity.
The ferocity and vindictiveness
which have become in the present genera
tion part Of the American character, as
shown by dnels and assassinations, and
atrocities on board ship, that almost pass
belief, are now in full play in this unhappy
strife And as yet the passions of the com
baiants have hardly had scope. When the
half million of Northern soldiers are launch
ed against their adversaries, we may look
for deeds such az the warfare of hereditary
rivals like England and France would nev
er know. II is plain that the war for en-
pire has already begun to be war for ven-
geanee. lr any one would learn
the character which this war is assuming,
let him read the account of the destruction
of the port of Charleston, as given in the
latest news from America. Among the
crimes which have disgraced the history of
mankind, II would be difficult TO 6nd one
more atrncions than this. The mind is as
tonished and appalled, to learn that men
VITO have made especial pretences 10 en-
.ightenment, and even TO refinement, should
perpetuate crime which barbarians acting
only by the light of nature and the instincts
of their own heart would shrIuk from. Ev-
en- the fierce tribes of the desert will not
destroy the well which gives life TO an ene-
my. But here We have Christian nation
aud o government which processes to act
from sentiment of 1.-THE highest virtue"
rutbessly prOnouncing the destruction Of
the principal barbor of a dangerous and
stormy coast, choking up the outlet TO a
vast commerce, booming one of the richest
regions Of the globe TO ruin, and. as far as
they can, cutting Off millions Of people from
communication with the ocean which wash
es their coast. Let not any Que
say that the effect Of The operations has
been exaggerated, and that the 'stUne feep
will not do the permanent evil that Is an.
ticipaied. We fear that the ingenuity of
the Federals will succeed but too well.
The Southern harbors are at all times sub
jeci TO be blocked up by deposits Of sand
and mud. From this defect the harbor Of
Charleston IL not free, and the navigation
is as intricate as in other ports Of this low
aud swsmpy coast. What, then, must be
the result of sinking vessels filed with
masses of granilei Plainly it will be what
the exulting NOrtherners expect-that wher-
ever ship has been sunk q shOal will be
! formed, aud the channel will be perfectly
useless. As long as the hulks last the en-
trance will be impossible, aud sbOuld they
ever be blown up or otherwise destroyed,
the stones will sink in the bed Of the chan
mel, and be as irremovable as the founda-
ton Of Plymouth Breakwater. Against
this violation of all the laws of war we can
not but protest No bellxerent has q right
TO destroy the great features Of nature, TO
choke up the avenues by which populations
communicate with the world without, aud
10 deprive the mariner for ages of refuge
from the perls Of the sea. Charleston is
the best. and indeed the only good harbor
on long line of coast, and to destroy the
main entrance to il is a deed which calls
for the reprObatiOn of every maratime
state. When has euch an act been perpe-
.rated by any European power? In the war
against Napoleon it was declared that the
English we're the 'tyrants of the seas" be.
cause they prohibited intercourse with the
DatOns with which they were OF war. But
at least this was honestly done by the labo-
rious blockade of the enemy's ports. Dur.
ing years Of harrassing warfare, Toulon and
Brest, and the other ports of the French
Empire, were watched by our squadrons,
and though the task was difficult and dan
gerous with the old sailing ships Of the time
though for days an effective closing Of port
might be prevented by a contrary wind,
vet it never entered into the thought Of men
like Jervis and Nelson, and COllingwood
that they could cave themselves trouble and
their country expense by totally destroying
the port they we're set to watch. Yet what
might England, with her undisputed su-
premacy at sea, have effected, had she suf
fered herself to mediate such an iniquity'
It is plain that every second-rate harbor
on the Continent. from the Elbe to Bayon.
ne, might have been thus destroyed forever
by The British Navy. But, though strug
Cling for years against a gigantic adverse
sy, we never thought Of ruining the cities
Of Europe by "silent blight" This saw
age innovation has been left to Republicans