The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-14

edge. as personal obligation, the comments
which our contemporaries of the Patriot, Repubh-
cau and Sun have felt it due to themselves and the
public to make upon the disgraceful outrages COM
mitted and attempted, at our office on Thursday
last. The unqualified and becoming reprobation,
however, with which these journals have visited
the crime and its perpetrators is so conspicuously
different from the unmanly indrectness of the
AMERICAN in its editorial allusion to the subject,
Yesterday that we cannot avoid fixing the atten-
ton of the public upon the marked and honora-
BILE contrast. We do so, the more particularly,
because the american, as usual, is "as moral as a
copv-book' in the article referred to- and the casual
reader might overlook, in the of its virtuous
common-paces, the half concealed spirit which
is so dsreputable, and therefore characteristic
That we may not be accused of dealing unfairly
we copy, literally, the first half of the article
itself
"ArrAcK UPON NEWSPAPER orF1cE-The assault
upon newspaper Office in this city yesterday is event
capable of being magnfed in Importance and wresed
from its real significance into the OF an attack
the liberty of the that there should pc no mes
taton upon the part of the public, however Inherently IL
may be disposed view the affair." in uniting its efforts to
condemn all such foolish attempts at intimidation and
to secure punishment of their perpetrators No mat
what may have been the proyocaton the act itself
should be viewed and condemned apart from every oter
consideration"
1t will not escape the notice of the reader, that
several things are insinuated in this paragraph
and several others implied no one of which
the american would venture to assert, upon
its direct responsibility, lest it should be
hooted and Kissed to shame. 1t is insinuated
for example, that there was ''provoca-
tom for the outrage, -"no matter what it may
have been' but still "provocation, '-and that
in consequence thereof portion of the public
ttmay be disposed to view the affair differently
from those who condemn and denounce it. 1t is
further insnuated that there are "other considera-
tions," apart from the violent and high-handed
invasion of the public peace and of private rights
which may possibly modify the severity of the
public Judgment upon ''the act though of course
it would be highly improper they should do So
1t is implied that the attempt at intimidation
was only to be discountenanced because it was
'foolish," and that the public should ''unite its
efforts to condemn all such foolish attempts, -
not because of their crimnality or their wickedness
not because of their tramplng under ruffian feet
every guaranty of social order, and indeed of social
existence-but because ''the assault upon news
paper office is an event so capable of being magn-
'fed into importance and wrested from its true
Significance, into the seriousness of an attack upon
''the liberty of the Press" and it would be sad
thing that it should be so ''wrested' and ''magni-
fled ~
As citizens, and as injured parties, we might
naturally enough, feel some indignation at such
mode of dealing with such a subject, but we pro-
test that all private feeling is merged in the sense
of absolute humiliation which comes upon us, as
journalists, at finding of the oldest and most
respectable of our city presses-the one which
claims most and pretends to most, in point of
intelligence and Notwithstanding so to
palter with what it knows to be the truth and the
right.
Does the american doubt that the articles of
the EXCHANGE, constituting the "provocation" of
which it is not ashamed to speak, were fully justi-
fled by the facts upon which they were founded
or that their publication was absolutely the duty
of an Independent journal? If it does, let it say
so openly. If it does not, it should blush to in
sinuate what it will not pretend to believe. Does
the american think that the perpetrators of the out
RACES at st. Michaes deserve or have the sympathy
of any one decent man in the community, or that
any sympathy which they might have, deserves to
be considered or even alluded to, by respectable
newspaper, while commenting upon the second
crime with which they followed up the first? If
it does let it speak out and take the responsible
ty of such principles and such companionship.-
Does the american really believe that a solitary
citizen of Baltimore, whose opinion is worth not-
cling, is disposed to view" the sacking of private
property by rutfians, and their attempt to take
human life-in revenge for the exposure of their
msdeeds or those of their friends differently
from the Judgment which is formed of such things
by all civilized and honest men? If there be one
such person in this community, or score of such,
are their opinions fit to be mentioned except for
denuncahon, in the columns of a high toned,
honorable journal? Does tho american actually
think, that when the office of a newspaper
is invaded with riot and weapons of de-
struction and the lives of its agents are attempted
because of its having printed report of a pub
lie act of criminaity, committed by public officers,
in open day-such an "event" has to be 'tmagni-
fed in Importance and wrested from its real signi-
fcance' in order to be construed into Gan attack
upon the liberty of the press If it does not sig
nifty such ''attack," will the american say what
it does signify? Perhaps the answer will be that
Perhaps the american sharing in the genius shares
too the principles of the family of JUDGES and re-
members the philosophical distinction of counsellor
TIM:
''God knows love, cen to excess
The sacred freedom of the press
My only aims to-crush the writersln
But whether the american understands the "sig-
nifcance' of such "attacks' or not-every one
else, at all events, understands it to be-that
freedom of speech must give way to the despotism
OF rufians and outaws-that the press shall be ST.
lent, If those who conduct it would preserve prop
erty and le-that the truth shall be told only as
the American dares to tell it-so garbed, softened
sfnoothea down, bolstered and disguised, that
us repeuuon but the veriest connivance and fell
lowship with falsehoodl Such is the s'signif-
canoe, to u.s. OF the event of Thursday, and the
American's editorial of yesterdav-but belevno
that the time-serving cowardice which tbe Aueyf-
can illustrates has not yet entirely corrunted the
community, which it has done so mnoh - A.
moralize, we are willing to assume the rsl 20 A..
charging our duty, let the consequences and +ho
comments be what they may.
The citizens of Martinsburg, Va, and its vicinity
IL I 4