New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-09-16
THE USES or HIsTnRY.

=tg ~ - EfsEls Il
We are at tines disposed to quarrel with the
truthful records of history and TO object to the
immortality with which it invests for the de-
testation Of posterity, the infamous deeds OF the
past, often on the same pages with those which
hand dewn tie names Of the great and good to an
undyinE came. But little reflection tends to re-
cenciie IS TO this and that it is well that the
sections Of the good all ages, are illustrated more
vivialy and made to appear in colors brighter and
more enduring, by the contrast thus afforded Of
their deeds with those Of their unworthy cotempo
rariea.
From the days Of our Saviour on earth, with
when Judas is ever associated in memory, to the
present era, we have evidence, in the teachings of
history, that the elevation Of the standard of
ratF and the enlistment of recruits for its support
from the ranks Of mankind, is due as much to the
datestation with which we regard the actions Of
e base as to the admiration inspired by the deeds
of the brave and noble. The halo Of fame which
surrounds the class Is made brighter by the in
| fanny Of the other and both together point out to
the faithful student of history path for his guild
anee in the pursuit Of noble deeds by noble means
The temple Of Diana at Ephesus, though erected
with immense expense of time and means, would
have long since shared the fate of contemporary
structures. and with them been numbered and for
gotten with the erumhied ruins of the past, butfor
| the baseness of him who destroyed it; and thus,
Iby means Of the universal execration, which ever
since has accompanied the name of Herostratus,
| the Ephesan Dome has been clothed with an in
Iterest in the eyes Of mankind second to no living
temple, and destined to live in history till time
tshallsbe no more. The betrayer of Leonidas and
his Spartan band to the Persian host, will survive
Y in -infamy so long as admiration for the gallant
Il deeds Of his nartyfed victims shall live in history
No reader of its pages can eversrecur to the mar
,fative of that base act who will not find his pulse
stmulated and his admiration excited for the nobls
deed portrayed therein. .s.as .,@.
4 The minds Of our people are deeply impressed
and particularly SO at the present moment, will
the sacrifices and sutferings Of our forefather
lin the revoluntien of 1776, and we naturally
recur to the history Of that period for instruction
| and support under the pressure Of the presen
1 struggle. We find, then as now, that mel
ttabounded, who for Tenal ends were base enough
to enlist in the ranks Of the enemy, and to raist
i their hands against the country which gave then
birth; and our hearts yearn towards eur great an(
| good Washington but the more when we fint
that in addition to the labor Of freeing from th
legions of Great Britain, he had to contend witt
j the treacheTy of Benedict Arnold. In the strugg
which we are now waging with the North AM
which, as in thecas OF the revolution of rs, i:
4 but struggle for existence, history is repeat
4 ing itself in the positions occupied by Lincoln
Seward and Scott, and through them presenting t
the world the lessons to which we have referred
The first, impotent for good, but omnipotent 70
evil, in consequence of the position which he oc
cupies, will, like Herestratns, receive through al
coming time the execrations of posterity. TIL
i second will be handed down to future ages as tn
i betlayer of the liberties and institutions of hi
country for the base purpose of attaining his owl
i selfish ends and aspirations while Winfield Scott
more degraded than Arnold, (for the latter neve
narshaled a force on his native solo Connection
| for the purpose Of Strengthening and despoing tn
people with whom he was raised, and by whom b
was fostered) will live On the page of history in al
Of the blaakness of his character, and thus serv
flor all future time to illustrate by his infamy tn
present glorious struggle, and to heighten the ad
miration Of posterity Tor the glorious deeds an,
sacrifices of our people in accomplishing their in
dependence and successfully organizing the. Con
i federation of the South. sac@ss