Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-16


everything needful and possible to give |
Us military strength TO resist this threat
ened torrent of invasion. We've our own
homes and friends and everything that is |
held sacred and dear to defend, and unless
we do our part to defend them as brave
and courageous people ought we would
not deserve to have them defended by
others
Tbs following editorial from the Rich
mond Wing is very significant 1t prob
ably refers to the invasion of the North
contemplated by Lee:
THE BELT OF DEsoLAT1oH
Day by day the track of the destroyer
becomes broader. Two-tbirds of Virginia,
tWo-thirds of Tennessee, the coasts of
North and South Carolina, part of Georgia.
nearly all of Florida, Northern Mississippi.
Western and Southern Louisiana, a great
part of Arkansas aud Missouri have al
ready been laid waste, aud every hour
brings tidings of fresh destruction. Des-
patches of Saturday informed us that the
enemy had destroyed million dollars
worth of property on the Combahee and
stoleu thousand negroes; it was but a
lew days ago that they raVaged the coun-
ties of Matthews in this State, und even
while we write tidiugs come to US that
they are burning private houses and de.
stroying every grain of corn they can lay
their hands on in the counties of King and
Queen.
Enough has been said of the barbarism
OF this mode of warfare, aud too much has
to be confessed of the entire impunity with
I hi S.h - To-
our admissions of the weakness or hellish
| joy of the foe, without stimulating troops,
Government or people to the pitch of retri-
butive vengeance. The belt Of 1esolation
widens hourly, nor is there much prospect
of an abatement of the evil Citizens
complain of the Government, which in turn
complains of the citizens. Meantime com
mou Inquiry is made Gs to the existence and
| present whereabouts Of the organized
forces of the Confederacy.
We may be sure this state of things will
continue as lOug AS the war is waged ex-
clusiVely on Confederate soil. Every day
the enemy remains in our territory will add
TO the width of the belt of desolation, and
they who nOwIancy themselves out of dan
ger will soon discover their mistake. If a
thousand Yankee cavalry can ride entirely
through the State OF Mississippi without
.
Der from going through Virginia, North
and South CarolinA to Port Royal /? Ger
tainly unarmed and uuorgauized citizens
will not hinder them.
The belt of desolatlOu serves MANY Dur.
poses of the Yankee nation. It opens a
way to free labor Hnd Northern settlers: il
diminishes productions aud concentrates
Southern population within limits made.
quate to their support; it prepares a place
for Yankee emigration If peace on the ba
sis of separation is declared. Bat this is
not all. 1t answers the purposes of war as
well as peace, by interpOsing a country
destitute of supplies between our own and
the Yankee border. Thus il is safeguard
against invasion. If Lee would advance,
he must move through desert, dragging
immense trains OF food behind him. The
case is the same with Bragg, with John
ston, with Price
Indeed, we hear that Price will find ii
difficult, if not impossible, to enter Mis-
souri,. In front of all our large armies lie
waste, where there is food for neither
man nor beast. Girded by d belt of desc.
lation, the North is safe from invasion; the
broader the belt the greater its security
AS the months wane aud the years roll on
the South, unless something can be done,
will become, in the language Of Scripture
"the abOmination of desolatiou." We be.
lieVe that something will be done-the ne.
cessIty OF the case demands it imperatively,
would that we could be sure that il will be
done speedily. The cup eau be returned
to the lips Of the North dragged with ten.
fold bitterness. Mercy to ourselves de.
, manus this act OF retributive justice to
them.