The New York herald., 1865-06-12


The FIRE AT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
SOUTHERN CrIEs.-Our kilograms, published
yesterday, gave some details ola terrible fire IN
Nashville which destroyed, it is estimated,
from eight to ten millions of property. Although
the government is a very large loser by this
calamity, yet the city itself is great sufferer
In calculating the cost Of the war to the
South no estimate has as yet been made OF the
loss occasioned by the wilful or accidental
destruction Of property in its cities and towns
We are surprised at this, as it is SO much tan
gble wealth wiped out of existence, and which
no effort can replace.
Beginning with Harper's Ferry and ending
with Nashville, we have list Of about twenty
cities which have been in great part destroyed,
either by the operations Of our arms or by the
torch of the incendiary. Let US enumerate
them: Harper's Ferry, Hampton, Norfolk
Elizabeth City, Fredericksburg, Pensacola,
Grand Gulf, Jackson (Miss.), Vicksburg, Baton
Rouge, Alexandria Ga.), Rome, Atlanta, Sa-
yannah, Columbia, Charleston, Fayetteville,
Petersburg, Richmond, Selma, Montgomery
Mobile, Augusta and Nashville. We might ex-
tend the list so as to cover o number OF small
towns and villages ON the Mississippi and else
where, but we have specified sufficient to give
an idea of the amount of property that has been
needlessly sacrificed. Estimating merely the
loss sustained by the places we have mentioned
il amounts, exclusive of the cotton and public
stores burned, to about two hundred and hfty
million dollars. It will be terrible thing for
those on whom the calamity has fallen to reject
that the larger portion Of this loss has been
occasioned by their own suicidal acts. In their
madness and rage at being compelled to sue
cumb to the power Of the government against
which they had causelessly rebelled tney
chose, In many instances, to apply the
torch to their own public buildings
and dwellings. Even after the cap'tu'
lation Of several Of their capitals the dlaboii
cal spirit that animated their leaders sougn
qualification in the seless destruction OF public
and private proper ty. Their fairest cities have
been laid waste, mot by "the revengerui nan'
of the Yankee" but by the malignity wnicl
preferred to i'm yolve whole communities III
common ruin ,.ather than submit Win goo
grace to the ,enerous terms onered Dy U.s.
was we'll for New Orleans that it had to capits
late before this bad example was set. 1
the fact of it's falling into our hands early in tf
war it undoubtedly owes its preserva"o
The reb ell leaders have always looked iorwai
to the. chances of their recapturing X, ana tne
ther, fore did not direct against it the dlaboilc
plots which subsequently embraced oth
cities, Northern as well as Southern In the
plans of destruction.
1t is not, unhappily, on the immediate au'no
of this unjustiAable sacrifice OF property I'd
,ts consequences will fall. Those who ha
directed it are not likely ever again to ma
, anv interest or stake in the communities Il
a thew have thus injured But the proper
!. owners themselves are in great part TO bia'
"a for IT, If, when the foul spirit Of treason b
!, first begun to raise its head, they had exercis
y their influence and opposed bold front TO
;. thew would not now be lamenting over
= wreck of all that made life agreeable or va
,e able to them.
r. THE JorIlEsT PEOPLE In New YORK-Are