New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-04
CALCULATING THE COST.


London Herald, estimates the war losses incurred
by the seeding States at seven thousand millions
of dollars-three- -sevenths by the emancipation of
slaves two-sevenths by war expenses, one
seventh by destruction of private property, and
one-seventh (sl 900 900 OOO) incurred as part of
the federal war debt. The Philadelphia Ledger
remarks in relation to Maury's statement
Such destruction is deplorabe; but why did
not Maury and his eOnfederates count the cost
before they took their blind and wicked leap into
rebellion2 The greater the destruction, the
greater is the crime of those who brought it
about.
There are times when it is fit and proper to
" count the cost" of a proposed step. When
material interests alone are involved, when the
step is to result in more less pecuniary gain or
loss, when nothing sacred in principle or honor is
at hazard, then the man. the society, the corpora
tion or the commonwealth may guide themselves
by careful consideration of the cost of the pro-
posed measure and safely trust to an arithmeticai
calculation of results But there are times when
such counting of the cost" is unworthy of
honorable men. He who is endowed with sense
of justice and honor will obey these high instincts
regardless of the "cost" If he thinks his per-
sonal rights are infringed, he would be base if he
refused to attempt to vindicate them at any cost
or risk He may be beaten in the contest, though
q thrice armed " by the justness of his quar-
rel" He cannot afford to shrink from the contest
because overmatched. When honor calls for a
sacrifice, the extent of that sacrifice is not to be
measured by the peddlers ell-yard or the huck-
sters scales.
Had merely mercenary instincts prevailed here
the fear of pecuniary loss might have prevented
secession; but our people did not calculate the
/ rI,o ayda
convinced that the preservation of their political
rights and social institutions demanded separa
ton. They believed that the hostility of the peo
Pile of the North towards US and our institutions
had become so nearly universal as to render thu
bond ofunion mutual burden and cause ofcon
tention rather than security of peace and goo'
will. They thought the federal government
welded wholly by hostile sectional majority t
be dangerous to their inherited political rights
They thought withdrawal from the Union ne
cessity, and the greater number of them ais
thought that it would be peacefully, if not cheer
fully, acceded to by the people of the North
Many eminent northern statesmen denied, an
many more doubted. the existence of a const
r tutiona power of coercion and its non-existenc
was universally believed and repeatedly declare
by the leading jurists statesmen and journalist
of the South. Hence they viewed separatio
as a strictly legal and constitutional right an
notat all as a rebellion, or even as revolution
Hence the people of the South and their deeel
dants for all future time, will now and alway
reject and repel the eptthet of "rebel,"i an
resent the stigma which it implies. And now, a
eepting in good faith and with entire obedienc
result so entirely unantioipated and so adver'
to their hopes and intentions, they may right
claim exemption from insulting, abusive and criI
mating charges like that which we have quote
above.
The Ledger, representing the hostile sentime
of the North, charges US with bringing on the WI
and the destruction which it involved. But do n
''wicked Hamans" sit at Northern feasts? Is the
not some responsibility to be borne by those wi
kindled, famed and fed the fires of hatred al
fanaticism through SO many years of maligna
assiduity? Might they not reasonably have a
ticipated the spirit of Southern resistance and c
subsequent results?
R1CHELIHU AT THE YARIErIEs.-Zolus himself
n. he were at the Varieties last night, would ha'
been hard set to find the place pervious to fau
fighting "Richelieu,' the greatest dramatic pr
Vt duction of our day, in English, justly elevated
,st high classical dignity, was performed in mann
re- suitable to its eminent rank.
Mr. Bandmann shows scholarship in his mi
- velous linguistic versatility and last night
performance signifed familiarity with histol
In his personation of the great churchman a
- statesman, the intellectual grandeur, the loi
pride, the craft, the sarcastic temper, the coural
the vndictiveness of the character, were p
trayed with amazing power. So enwrapp
md was the audience in the brilliant performan
hat fhn Of
ly, slowed upon histrionic excellence were abat
by intensity of interest. 1t was not until
close of the last scene when the Cardinal ris
. from apparent prostraton, to reyel, with trium
ant energy in victory and vengeance, that ]
a Bandmann, exalting himself to splendid clim
evoked such an outburst of enthusiasm, that Of
he had to appear at the footlights, and as he
the curtain fell, in response to the prolonged
plause, so he gracefully led Mrs. Chanfrau to sh
. the honors with him.
Mrs. Chanfrau made her character, Julia
Ok Nortamar, next in interest to that of the Ca
nal. We have never seen this accomplis
artist perform better, rarely so well. In
,Er scene where the life of beloved husband
offered for an infamous consideration, she
for noble.
H0'S Mr.. Curran as Joseph, was, as usual, ain
ind faultieSs hlr. haSan as bdTddOSJ Mf. BaRel
De Mduprat, and Mr.. Gobay as Louis XIII,
nted deserve commentator.
ooa. The performance tonight is for the benef
asa Mrs. Chanfrau. The bare mention of the fact
suffice to crowd the house. Mr. Bandmann
appear as Claude Melnote in the =" Lady
. Lyons, j." the gifted beneficiary performing Pa,l
In the afterpiece she will play Wido10 Rattle
in the Stage Struck Barber" Mr. Chanfrau
ing the part Of jerry CLIP.
and ST. CHARLES THEATER.-This will be the
night but two of Deagles ballet and panton
troupe. The entertainment will consist of
go pantomime of " The Mlliners." grant balIe
vertssement, the Prismatic Fountain, and :"
Brazilian Ape"
about THE OLYMPIC.-Three pieces are to be prese
at the Olympic tonight, " The Two Queens" ''
Bonnie Fish Wife, and 's The Alpine Maid" i
COM of which the talented manageress and her face
being husband appear.
49,. ACADEMY OF MUsro.-The performance al
Academy tonight is for the benefit of Me
"a, Geo. and D. G. Kesler and William Robert
;, ""D whom, as the bills very correctly say, the p