The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-08-13

y FLEA FOR TIE INVASION or THE NORTHERN
STArEs.-The following picture, drawn by q Rich
mond editor, shows very plainly the great strait into
which the so-called Southern Confederacy has fallen.
In accordance with the views of the writer, both Lee
and Morgan crossed the belt Of desolation,'' the
former only to be driven back with immense loss,
while the force Of the latter was entirely broken up.
From the Richmond =" Wing Of sh Junel
TIE BELT OF DEsoLArIoS-Day by day the track
of the destroyer becomes broader. Two thirds of
virginia, t~o-thiris OF Tennessee, the coasts of North
and South Carolina. part OF Georgia, nearly all Of
Florida, Northern Mississippi, Western and Southern
LOUISIANA, n great part of Arkansas and Missouri,
have already been laid waste, and every hour brings
tiiinss of fresh destruction. Dispatches of Saturday
inform Us that the enemy had destroyed a million
dollars worth Of properly on the Combahee, and
stolen a thousand negroes; it was but a few days ago
that they ravaged the counties of Matthews in this
State, and even while we write things come 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 barbarism of this
mode OF warfare, and too much has to be confessed
of the entire iapunity with which it is carried on.
Our ontcries and our admissions of the weakness or
the imoec!llty OF cur forces in the field, but add TO
the hellish joy Of the foe, without stimulating troops,
Government or people 10 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 complains Of the citizens. Meantime, COM
mon inquiry is made as to the existence and present
whereabouts of the organized forces of the Confede-
racy.
We may be sure this state OF things will continue
so long as the war is waged exclusively on Confeder-
ate soil. Every day the enemy remains in our ter
ritory will add to the width of the belt of desOlation,
and they who now fancy themselves out OF danger
will soon discover their mistake. Ii q thousand
Yankee cavalry can ride entirely through the State
of Mississippi without molestation, what is TO hinder
a like number from going through Virginia, North
and SOuTh iarolnp u Pnrt Rpyal =, Cprtaiply nm
armed and unorgauized citizens will not hinder them.
The belt Of desolation serves many purposes of the
Yankee nation. 1t opens n way to free labor and
concentrates Southern population within limits made
quate TO their supports; ii prepares "A place for Yankee
emigration If peace on the basis of separation is de-
clared. But this is not all. 1t answers the purposes
of war as well az peace, by interpreting q country
destitute of supplies between our own and the Yam
kee border. Thus it is a safeguard against invasion.
Ii Lee would advance, he must move through a
desert, dragging immense trains of food behind him.
The case is the same with Bragg. with Johnston. with
Price.
not impossible, TO enter Missouri. In front of all
neither man nor beast. Girded by a belt of desola-
ton, the North is safe from invasion; the broader the
belt the greater lis security. AS the months wane
and the years roll on, the South, unless something be
done, will become, in the language Of the Scripture,
60 the abominatiOn of desOlatiOn." We believe that
something will be done-the necessity of the case
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 ten
fold bitterness. Mercy to ourselves demands this act
of retributive justice TO them.