The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-30

the country was at stand still; we
had actually to import breadstuffs from Europe.
Every man was busted in laying out towns and
selling lots to some other man. Then came the
long suspension of specie payments, the flood of
individual corporation and bank shinpasters-
the total reputation of their obligations by some
States, and the failure of many others to meet
theirs; the entire loss of the countrys credit and
its becoming a by-word of bankruptcy, in the
chambers of finance How different everything
now. If we have lately borrowed too much mon
ey at too high price, what we have borrowed
has been spent substantially in effecting a system
of Railroad Accommodation, unrivalled for its
extent and usefulness, for the power and wealth it
gives, and the blessings it confers. There has
been great recklessness but no sloth-much labor
thrown away, but no labor spared. 1t has been
in deeds that have overtasked our energies, not
wasted our means and racked our brains on mere
useless speculation. So, though individuals have
suffered the country's wealth remains the same
or greater. Her credit is mistaken, her currency
sound, and her resources so affluent, that we
rather to be standing on the threshold of a new
career of prosperity, and striving to estimate its
probablesF Developments, than to he remembering
and recounting the losses and the failures of the
past. AS regards the physical prosperity of the
country, there remains no room for apprehension.
Men may be up and doing, with the full assurance
that rewards, exceeding the measure of the
old. are in store for prudent enterprise. They are
but weaklings or dastards who dwell with despon-
dency on the losses of the past few months and
deem that the sun of prosperity will never dawn
again. If we are wise-if Baltimore is wise-in
that era which may date from the birth of the new
year, but cannot be much longer delayed-we may
play part to which our past achievements will
seem as nothing. We say if Baltimore is wise-be-
cause Baltimore has not always been wise--but
sometimes very foolish.
Cities, like individuals, have their weaknesses,
and Baltimore has betrayed a lamentable
deficiency in the quality, which of all
others, is most desirable in communities, and men.
We mean Self-respect. We stand perfectly
amazed at the apathy evinced by so large and in
telligent population of protesting freemen as ours
towards the condition of our city's government,
and the administration of outlaws. Weare shocked
beyond our powers of expression at, not the ease
alone-but the ostentatious display of the ease,
with which the sacred cornerstone of our
institutions has been overturned in our midst |
Would a selfrespecting people witness what
we have seen, and bear what have borne
without emotion and without protest?
Would they permit the posts of the city
government to be filled by men who are as much
usnrpers as if they had been placed therein by the
ruffian clubs, without the needless dissertation of
the ballot box? Would they submit to taxation
without representation to legislation in defiance of
law, to an executive built upon crimes too palpa-
BILE to be denied, bat in official completely, too |
well ascertaned to be punished?-Would self |
respecting people leave the Interpretation of the
laws on which depend the safety and security of
life and property among US, to the wisdom of a
dotard and the discretion of sot? Would they |
waste time in considering the question, whether
these things were begun by the Democrats, or
originated by the Americans? Does outrage exist
merely in names? Has crime no essence? Shall
Americans be upheld in doing, what Demo-
Gratis are denounced for? Or, shall Democrats,
when their turn shall come, have the great and
eminent examples of American rule as precedents
to sanctify any villanies they may be disposed to
commit?
The recent Christmas festivities which afforded
so happy an illustration of 'peace on
''earth, goodwill to men," show that the oc-
casion need only present itself for a renewed
manifestation of all the clements of disorder still
existing in UNPUBLISHED security among u.s. While
we are duly grateful for each new day of peace
which may fall to our lot, we are not blind enough
to expect a cure of evils out of the very agency
created by them, nor hope see the devil
cast out by Beelzebub. Would that the
shame and disgrace of the last year of Baltmore's
history could be blotted from the page of truth as
easily as we could refrain from commenting upon
them. Would that we could chronicle, that
the spirit of brave and selfrespecting
people had proclaimed, in the way known
only to courage and self-respect--to ruff
fianism, ''thus far shalt thou 90 and no
farther" 1t is our duty to say that whatever
may be the indications of returning prosperity,
this is canker, gnawing at the root of our honor
and our wealth. The evils still exist
while their authors remain unpunished-and
confidence extended towards those who cannot
amend their future course without gibbetng them
selves for past delinquencies, is the confidence of
faulty.