The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-23

IdE
Charleston. if blockaded, ne replied, eve
cannot afford it," The ladies OF Charleston,
boweyer, determined that they could afford
IT, and they built the steamers accordingly.
That any wa: with the North was deemed
very uncertain; and after 1T commenced,
that its speedy termination should nave
been anticipated, was by no means proof
of a want Of wisdom. There is something
in us which revolts SO strongly at any stu
penduous wickedness, that belief In It's
reaching MS, or continuing ITS power. IS
slowly aud doubttnlly received. mat tne
Northern people should make war upon the
Southern people, for carrying out the grand
princ,ple of the declaration Of their com
mon independence when they were colonies,
:. thar il is the inalenabie right OF every
neonle TO alter or abolish their govern
ment. and to institute new government
LAYING it's foundations on such principles
and organizing its powers IN sucb 1oriii as
tn them shall seem most likely to afford
them safety and happiness" was harals
credible. Their own self interest FORBID IL
for it would uproot in all probability, ther
free institutions and convert them into des-
potisms. A coerced Union could be n"
Union. but the subsection of a weaker to a
stronger power; and liberty maintained by
force is tonl paradox, only advanced by ty-
rants. However fatal to themselves, the
Northern people had threatened war,
and being the stronger power numerically,
every dictate of wise craftsmanship required
If the South-the weaker power-the most
prompt and energetic preparation to meet
so Calamitous an issue, possible certainty, II
not probable. The weaker power ought to
have taken it for granted; as the first grand
duty for self-preservatiOn, III all Its meas
ures, that the war was certain, and would
last forever Ii it did not take place, or
was speedily terminated, nothing would be
lost. All its preparations for defense would
have ned-instrumentalities for future
strength, respectability and safety, whilst
success may have impaired moral power
| greater than that of armiss But to neglect
and refuse preparations for war under the
circumstances, was the exhibition OF the
most miserable ignorance, stupidity and
folly.
Mr.. Editor, you will perceive that no no
tice is taken Of Mr.. Memminger's financial
facts and expOsitions. The reason is that
thew are deemed utterly worthless. He
gave the NEST striking proofs of his great
| financial abilities when he put into one OF
his regular reports as Seer, tary OF the
Treasury to the Confederate Congress a
false credit to the Contederacy Of forty
millions Of dollars; and in similar report
to a subsequent Congress, the insignificant
sum Of four hundred millions of dollars.
This was his way of establishing prosper
Gus treasury, and to earn the reputation OF
a great and brilliant tinancier. His print
ing press was not sufficient for his towering
financial aspirations. 1t was too slow. 1t
made debt, not money. But with four hun
dred millions Of money created by the dash
of his pen, who will not admire! He had
fully realized in the potency of figures
Lord Bacon's aphOrism with respect to
words, that they "are the counters of wise
men and the money Of fools" If any
bank or other money corporation in
giving its annual statement of its financial
condition to the country, according to the
requirements of law, should falsely exager
ate it's resources by forty millions of dollars
and then, on it's next annual statement
should swell them up to four hundred mil
lions of dollars who would have anything
to do with such a concerns Would it moi
be regarded by all prudent or honest mel
as utterly rotten: and constituting a nes
of swindlers OF imbeclles, rather than :
4 cOmpan- of honest men and skillful finan
ciers . And if, after the company fails it
president, who manufactured and put fortl
these false reports, should issue to thu
public an elaborate disquisitiOn to prov,
his high integrity and striking skill, il
governing the finances of the company
who would listen, who would read wh'
would deign to waste or pOllnte his mine
by allowing his disquistiOns to enter it
We know that the moral condemnation by tn
people of their officials, in a time of war, il
seldom or ever as prompt or high as tina
which pursues mOneyed cOrporationsina tim
Of peace /; but the plea of efficiency and in
nOX ousness, is too bald to shield Mr.. Mem
minger, or to give him historic honors. On
of the three men who destroyed the Conted
eracy, charged by President Davis himsel
with being its chief destroyer, according t.
a book published Immediately after the war
entitled "The Prison Life of Jefferson Da
Wis.," ANONYMOUSLY compelled to ign hi
office in the midst of the war; having dis
graced the COnfederacy by his official re
ports; with ample means Of living, willis
poverty, restitution and suffering reek Owe
the land, all around him; with no call OF
his patriotism to dig up and faunt his dis
astrons services in the face of the world-i
might be reasonably supposed that Mr.
Memminger would be content, in silence ant
sadness, to mourn over the ruin of his cOan
try. In such position a touch Of CHART,
might plead, "let him alone! pass him by.
But when he defes public opinion, anG
thrusts himself ont on public observation
and parades his weak, rninons and con
demned financial measures, and vaunts o.
their official efficacy-giving us more of his
forty millions and more of the four hundred
millions of dollars-what emotions may hi
inspire in the breasts Of honest and honor
able men who appreciate his merits, bn
those of the profoundest regret, disgust ant
| scOrn.
The raven, when gorged with carrion, al
least tries to retain it, VINDICATOR.
| The Bivalvular Times.
Butler will be tfty-siX wears old next No