New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-07
7=s1== 90
,F,Esxl CO II or WAR.

rKsSs tsOsTs or WAR.
Some of the Northern journals are much exer-
csed about the cost of the war. The New York
Evening Post, especially, is good deal cut up =
about il. + goes on to say that modern fighting
4 \ much more costly luxury than it used to be in
the good old times when the Romans and Carthage
mans met upon the tented field, or in the medieval
times, or even when Napoleon swept everything
before him in Southern Europe. This is very true.
One year of the war in the Crimea is said to have
cost the different powers engaged in it an aggre-
gate Of six hundred millions of dollars. We very
cheerfully admit the fact that war costs money,
and q great deal of it.
The object Of the argument made by the Post is
to convince the Northern people that they have
the money to carry on the war, while the Southern
people have it not; consequently, the South must
soon break down, and the Southern rebellion y
be quelled. The conclusion would not necessarily
follow, even were the premises correct. This re-
bellion is not going to be quelled in the sense in
which the Northern people understand it, whether
we have money or not. All that our brave
soldiers want is arms, ammunition, food and
| clothing. We have now, and will have, without
asking fayors of anybody, ali of these that will be
| needed.
| Nor do we question the asseveration of the Post
that the North has money. The Federal Govern
ment has none, except what It has borrowed but
there is, undoubtedly, money in the North, and if
| the people choose to contribute it to wage an
offensive warfare against the South, that is their
own business. 1t would be strange indeed if the
| North did not have money From the beginning Of
! tile Government the North has been preyng upon
Southern industry, through the inquitous operation
of Federal laws, and has grown rich, though
exporting little nothing to foreign countries by
making Its profits, both directly and indirectly, out
! Of Southern productions. The South has furnished
| the productive wealth of the country but, by in
famous revenue laws, navigation monopolies, boun
ties, and every other species of partial legislation
the North has reaped the lions share of the general
wealth. II is wonderful Illustration Of the rich
ness of the South that notwithstanding all these
drawbacks and expressions, the South has steadily
gained in wealth and population and power and
resources. No other free people would have stood
such injury SO long. II is the loss of the rich
Southern prize which they have SO long fattened
that now infnriates the Northern plunderers, yelling
their cupidity with sickIy sentimentalties about
athe Union \ and 4 the flag" and protesting
hypocritical devotion to q Government which they
desire TO preserve, only that they may have I'M
limited power to continue their operations of
plumber and pillage.
When the New York Post asserts, though, that
the South is bankrupt beyond hope of recoveryn
it declares what our respect for journalistic pro-
prety will not allow US to designate by the right
epithet. The Post knows better, because that
paper is not edited by FOOLS 1t knows that the
truth is precisely the reverse of what is here
stated. The South is this day richer in everything
than ever before in her history. To deceive the
people Of the Northto encourage the masses with
the prospect of an easy victory over us, because
we have not the means Of resisting invasion is the
object Of the assertion. If there ia such thing as
retributiFe justice in this world or the next fear
full will be the penalty for this and kindred impo-
sitions, constantly practised by Northern journalists
and orators.
Weknow that war is costly The money that is
expended is, however, but triding portion of the
cost is the cost of human ife-it is the blood
OF brothers and fathers and sons that swells up
the terrible aggregate of the cost All this seems
TO have escaped the calculation. Nothing is heard
from the North but demonae yells for the slaughter
Of Southern men, to compel them TO yield forced
obedience to a Government which they have re-
pudiated, and which they despise, spit upon, and
seorn.
Since, however, nothing but the cost in money
enters into Northern calculation, it may, perhaps,
have occurred that all of this on both sides, may
be easily saved. Let the North cease its wicked
and inhnman attempt at Southern subjngation, and
let both sections lay down their arms. The South
asks only to be let alone within her own territory,
and with her own institutions and form of Govern
ment. This war is never going to stop until this is
secured. We have no shadow of doubt of either