The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1863-05-13

tNefe Is no reason to suppose that any ad-
vantage in the least degree commensurate
with the amount Of wdntOn and cruel de.
struction which has been perpetrated could
anyhow have been obtained. Most GER
tainly no such advantage has been gained.
.fhe expedition from Yazoo Pass, 50 far
from reaching its destined point near
vlcksburg, has been encountered and de-
ieated by Confederate batteries, and driven
TO take refuge in anothar river to avoid
further injuries. The act, therefore, stands
nut IN all its naked deformity. Those who
have called tho mighty Mississippi to their
AID have proved themselves unworthy of
their potent ally. and powerful only for
mischief. have been signally discounted in
the endeayor to profit by their new and
singular enterprise.
We have all read how the Dutch, the
mighty precursor of the United States, a
people as conspicuous for doing much with
small resources as the American Union for
doing little with great ones, when they
found themselves reduced to the two small
States Of Holland and Zealand with which
alone they had 10 make head against the
powerful monarchy Of Spain, in the ex-
tremity of their despair aud desolation cut
through the dikes which protected their
fields and gardens from tire ocean which
roared above their heads, choosing rather
20 give their native land TO destruction than
TO see II in the grasp of tyrant or per-
secutor. This courage. prepared for eve
rything excerpt submlssion--this noble for
titude. which the extreme of ill fortune
eeu!d not subdue-iorms one Of the bright :
est pages ol lhistory. and invests the sieges
Of HARLEM aud Of Leyden with an interest
second 10 nothing in the annals Of mankind.
Blu. IN proportion TO our admiration Of
th.se who called in the waves Of the Ger
nan Ocesn tn protect their faith and their
freedom, must be the abhorrenre inspired
by acts so wantnn and 50 ferocious as that
Of letting loose the waters Of the Missis-
sippi over the plantations Of the South, and
overwhelming under the waves that which
IL IS found Impossible to subdue.
At the beginning OF the war the North
wen, forth to battle in all the presumption
OF oyerweening strength and numbers.
Their notions Of success we're thoroughly
Oriental. They had tfie largest number
OF men under arms. and doubted not of The
victory. especially as they had the largest
resources TO feed, arm. and recruit them.
Received in the field by troops far less .nu.
mrrnus than their avn. they found to their
astonishment how little the leaders Of the
Snuth had 10 dread from them in the open
field. From that time the whole aspect Of
the war has entirely changed. In propor-
tiun as success has hecsme more difficult
the means employed Tor its attainment have
been more odious and cruel. Every effor,
has been made TO light the torch sf ser
vile insurrection. and. as IL this was mol
dreadiel enough. water has been called il
TO supplement the tsrdy vengeance Of tha'
fire which. kindled oy the hands OF slaves,
would, il the pious and decorous Nortf
could have had their will, wrap in one
mighty eonaagration the labors Of hun
dred years. Men nav ~rangle and dis.
pute about the causes. the rights aud the
wrongs Of this great quarrel. but as 10 these
measures pusteriiy will have but one YER
dict TO pronuunce--a verdict OF horror an,
execraiIgn.
!. And this cruelty and ferocity, SURPRISING
+ 50 lar all that is recorded Of the wickednes'
! aud barbarity or men in former wars. ha'
been called intn action, not for the pur
I pose of meeting foreign invasion, but Tor a
war avawsdly intended to restore Fede
raj Union. which unhappy differences hav,
! partially interrupted. The men who ar'
( thus letting loose al The same moment 6rs
aud water united in an unnatural compact
against their adyersaries. are sick and tir.
ed Of repeating that they light ior, the main
tenance Of the Union aud look forwar,
with unshaken confidence to the time wheI
0 their great Federation shall be restored
. aud the brethren so long estranged from
E each other shall once more unite togethe
III an 49, .ud taara