The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-23

DEFAMATION OF BALTIHr nm, ,u -.
Union has joined in tb norI of Sem;Sa RaI,
entire wan, ~ ~ = ness that betokens either an
prinoiple Hay .owledge or an equal absence o.
article of n ~ o is a specimen paragraph from an
" ,lumn in length, Astounding in equally
HY. ,Isstatements:
~ = cannot be denied that the whole busine 81
= Baltimore shows, to use a mercantile express
sion, a downward tendency Real estate in that
city is much lower now than il has been for years
and prices are still declining. The business OF the
wholesale and retail dealers has fallen off to such
degree as 10 excite both inquiry and alarm The
large hotels OF Baltimore, once regarded and truly
regarded, as very lucrative Investments, now
scarcely pay expenses. The thousands and thou.
sands of northern and southern travellers who for.
merly stad over for night or day in Balti.
more, with comparatively few exceptions now
hurry through the city for more desirable and
secure resting place. Nor Is this all. So widely
known is Baltimore for the infamous, murderous
and anti-American character Of its outrages, and
so deep-rooted is the general feeling Of indignation
for the authors and abettors of those outrages,
that we can mention whole communities in Vir-
gin a, Tennessee and other States In which pledges
have been exacted by the people of the store
keepers not TO purchase any goods, no matter how
triiing the amount, in the city Of Baltimore, and
these pledges we have good reason TO believe have
been religiously kept"
We answer that % the whole business of Bal.
tmore has shown no more Of downward ten
dencyn than has been common to all the Atlantic
cities during the present year. and that the weekly
statements OF the exports and imports and the
general statistics of trade show this We believe
that Baltimore has suffered less, in proportion,
than either Philadelphia, New York, or Boston,
from the general stagnation of the past season
- ASS general thing property has not declined.
Active speculation, and too enthusiastic expecta-
tons may have carried property in some particu-
lar localities beyond its real value, and the financial
pressure just now may make It difficult to sell.
This, however, is true of Washington as well as
other more important places, but as general
truth property and rents are higher here now than
at any previous period. This is proved by the
great number Of buildings now in progress (S)
Thatthe large hotels now scarcely pay ~ expenses
and that travellers now "hurry through" the city,
are utter misstatements which might justly be
characterized by much harsher epithet. On the
contrary the stream Of travel to and from Balti-
more has rarely been so large as at this time all
our hotels are well filed, and the prominent houses
doing far larger business than usual at this period
Of the year. These are facts well know here, and
we challenge the Union TO prove to the contrary.
az The final statement of the Union that whole
communities have exacted pledges from the "store.
keepers not to purchase any goods, no matter how
triiing the amount" in this city is too ridiculous
for belief and reasonable desire to keep within
the bounds Of credence ought to have prevented
its assertion.
The Unions object in joining in the effort to in.
jure the character and business prospects of Bati
more, is doubtless political one. But we warn
II, and those with whom IL Is colleagued in this
matter, that they are pursuing false policy. The
matter has gone beyond the fair bounds Of politi-
cal effort; it il with the people of Baltimore no
longer a question of party, but Of far higher i'm.
port. They, without reference to their political
differences, are indignant and justly So at the
continued stream of exaggefation and Glsehood
by which an unthinking partisanism is perilIing
their most important interests.
q Bait, american,