The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
The Belt of DeSOlatiOn.
From the Richmond Wing

from the Richmond Wing
Day by day the track of the DESTROYER
becomes broader. Two-thirds of Virginia,
twO-thirds of Tennessee, the coasts of
North and South Carolina, part of Geor-
gia, nearly all of Florida, Northern Mis-
sissippi, Western and Southern Louisiana.
great part of Arkansas and Missouri.
have already been laid waste, and every
hour brings tidings of fresh destruction.
Dispatches of Saturday informed us that
the enemy had destroyed million dollars
worth of property on the Combabee and
stolen a thousand negroes; it was but
few days ago that they ravaged the county
OF Matthews in this State, and even while
We write tidings comes to us that they are
burning private houses and DESTROYING
every grain of corn they can lay their
hands on in the counties of King and
Queen. Enough has been said of the bar
barlsm OF this mode of warfare, and much
has to be confessed of the entire impu-
nifty with which it is carried on. Our
outcrles and our admissions of the weak
ness or hellish joy of the foe, without
stimulating troops, government or people
to the pitch OF retributive vengeance.
The belt of desolation widens hourly,
nor is there much prospect of an
abatement of the evil. Citizens complain
OF the government, which in turn COM
plains OF the citizens Meantime COM
mon inquiry is made as to the existence
and whereabouts of the organized forces
OF the Confederacy. We may be sure
this state OF things will continue as long
as the war is waged exclusively on Con-
tederate soil. Every day the enemy re-
mains in our territory will add to the
width of the belt of desolation, and thew
who now fancy themselves out of danger
will soon discover their mistake. If
thousand Yankee cavalry can ride entirely
through the State of Mississippi without
molestation, what is to hinder a like num-
Der from going through Virginia, North
and South Carolina, to Port Royal?
Certainly unarmed and unorganized citi-
zens will not hinder them The belt of
desolatlon serves many purposes of the
Yankee nation. 1t opens way to free
labor and northern settlers; it diminishes
production and concentrates southern
population within limits inadequate to
their support; it prepares a place for
Yankee emigration if peace on the
basis of separation is declared. But this
is not all. 1t answers the purposes of war
as well as peace, by interposing country
destitute of supplies between our own and
the Yankee border This 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 Jahn-
son, with Price, Indeed, we hear that
Price will find it difficult, if not impossible
to enter Missouri. In front of all our
large armies lies waste, where there is
food for neither man nor beast. Girded
by belt of desolation, the North is safe
from invasion; the broader the belt the
greater its security. AS the months wane
and the years roll on, the south, unless
something can be done, will become. in
the language of Scripture, s'the abomina-
ton of desolation." We believe that
will be done-the crisis that ia
upon us demands it imperatively would
that we could be sure that it will be done
speedily. The cup can be returned to the
lips of the north drugged with tenfold Bit
terness. Mercy to ourselves demands this
act OF retributive justice to them.