Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-27
"The Belt of DesoIation."
[Rrom tho Richmond Whlg ]

Day by day the track OF the destroyer be-
comes broader. Two. thirds 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, q 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 Combahee and stolen thousand
negroes. Il was but few days ago that they
ravaged the county of Matthews 10 this State,
and even while we write tidirgs come to rs
that they are burning private houses aa1 de-
stroying every grain Of corn they can lay their
hands on in the counties of King Hld Queen.
Enough has been said of the blrbarism Of
this mode of warfare, and too much has to be
confessed Of the entire impunitS With which 1t
is carried on. Our outcries and our admissions
OF the weakness or the imbeclity of our forces
in the field, but add to the hellish joy Of the
foe, without stimulating troops, Government on
people, to the pitch of retributive vengeance
The belt Of desolation widena hourly, nor ID
there much prospect OF an abatement of the
evil. Citizens complain of the Government
which, In turn, complains of the citizens
Meantime, common inquiry is made as 10 the
existence and present whereabouts of the organ
lied forces Of the Confederacy.
We may be sure this state Of things vii
continue 80 long as the war is wsged exclusive
ly on Confederate soil. Every day the enem!
remains in our territory will add to the Widsi
of the belt oil desolation, and they who nos
fancy themselves out OF danger will soon dis
cover their mistake. If q thousand Yankee
cavalry can ride entirely through the State
Mississippi without molestatou, what is to hin
der like number from going through Virginia
North and South Carolina, to Port Royal
Certainly, unarmed and unOrgsnlZsd citizsp
will not hinder them.
The belt OF desolation serves many purposes
of the Yankee nation. 1t opens way t. fTo,
labor and Northern settlers; 1t diminishes pro
duoilon and concentrates Southern population
within limits inadequate to their support; 4
prepared place for Yankee emigration, Il
peace on the basis OF separation is declared. =
But this is not all. 1t answers the purposes o.
war as well as peace, by interposing country
destitute OF supplies between our own aud the
Yankee border. Thus il Ia safeguard sgaiLs
invasion. If Lee would advance, be must
move through desert, dragging Immense
trains of food behind him. The case Ia the
same with Bfagg, with Johnston, with Price
Indeed, We asar that Pflce will find it difficult
if no. impossible, to enter Missouri. Ia front
of oil our large armies lies waste, where there
Ia food for neither man nor beast. Girded by Q
belt of desolsLion, the North is safe from invG-
sion; the broader the belt ihe greater its secu-
rity, As the mopths wane and the years roll
on, the South. unless something be done, viii
become, Ia the language of Scripture, eth,
abominstion Of dssolation." We believe thai
something will be done. The necessity OF th,
case demands i. imperstiysly. Would that WI
could be sure thst iI will be done speedily. Tho
cup eau be returned to the lips OF the-North
drugged with ten-told bitterness. Mercy tC
ourselves demands this &C; of retsioutve justice
to them.