The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-14

region. animated by ferocious instinct, page an
demolition appeared to be the work most congenial
their inamed and depravcd appetes. Flushed with tn
memory of tumphs won in the Peninsula, they
merely the messengers of death on the battle field
demons of rapine and annihiiation Nothing was to
sacred to escape the the barbarian the
the ncendary The easy they had into the cal
ital doubtless encouraged within them tie conviction thu
Baltimore would fall as ready prey to their onslaught
Those who lived in that day far better fitted tina
my self to draw just pictrre Of the apprehensions tn
courage and zeal which occ events called into pa,
Nevertheless we all form some notion of the scene
then witnessed and may dcduce from them the value
that spirit, which, in the hour Of peril stands unappale,
and by its uniinching consancy gives hope the Dc
spending and protection to the feeble.
Among all civilized nations patriotism has been
ed as virtue; indeed so strongly implanted in
lures is the love ocounry that we have but few nsanc,
in the long history Of the world of the betrayal of
home and never in any, did the traitor escape the
of his COuntrymsn the scorn and oathng Of those
whom he sacrificed his honor The universally of tn
sentiment proclaims its divine origin. Insensibtv
its teachings is the proclamation haseness of soul
Among the most enlightened Of the anCienS in gre;
reverence it held, it deilied, and, under til
mystical forms of their mythology, worshiIpcd Go,
That our heroes felt its influence in all its force their
duct is the best proof They responded cheerully til
call Of their country and they gladly went forth to it
defence.
To it they gave all they had-their time. their labo
their lives Epaminondas could have done more. An
although previous history had taken no note of the
''noseess way may feel within ourselves at tn
ardor with which they answered the to dutJ
Sprang not from vicious state of the moral feeling
which prompts participation in the brol only because of
which teaches love of country tn be second only to the Low
81 5he pyny And m the aeeG@G o @ of M @ @ @ t
pendence for which they toed of the plaudits of thci
grateful fellowctzens let hope if the spirits of tn
world beyond the grave take cognzance of the dongs
TINS the testimony this day rendered to their patriotism
and sacrifice may not be unacceptable to them.
!hey, and their equally worthy comrades went not ort
as buccaneers nor To intct the orucs of ruthless wa
on weak and unOiTendng nation. They not urgeC
to the field by the ambition which sways the heart Of th
aspiring and seeks but its own ACKNOWLEDGMENT and fame
ne nrOtg ptipU Of IFS bf
vlndcaton of their cOunrys honor for years both
land and shamclessy outraged by the foe that
RED them there They fit, true men should feel the
sacreigous outrage pepetrated at the capital of the
country ought not 90 unavcnged and firm in the pa
oc resolve II they could not redeem to atone for the
weakness of the past to take away the shade
cast on the name of our people by the disaster OF Badens
burg. Animated by such spirit the annals of the day
of their glory could not fail to attest tn ir unnchng
determination to wipe ont the foul pollution ef the
footsteps of the arrogant and remorseless invader
They Were the appointed ministers of righteous chatSe
ment. How they fulfilled the sacred missOn the manned
and shattered columns of the enemy gave proof
Although not resembling it in all particulars. may
yet claim the battle of North Point the Marathon OF
Baltimore. For if, unlike the Greeks, forces
compelled to retire. they did not do until they had in
hicted greater injury the enemy, for the numbers
engaged, than had been the in any other Of the bat
ties that had up to that time of the war been fought
though some Of them justly regarded having been
contested with most bloody zeal and unyieding detem
nation on both sides such Lundys Lane, and Others
the northern lakes. Salams has its story So has
o' EaiiantIy streaming; upheld we ought to know by
hands stout, and hearts true, as those who
through the peroUs night gave it to the breeze and
storm. Long may it wave!
1t has not been within the scope of this short discourse
to enter into minute detail of all the incidents oil the
conflict at North Point That task has been often and
too well DONE to be required of any this late day
My purpose in these remarks has been briefly indicate
some OF the considerations occurring to peculiarly
applicable to the solcmntes of the day and not fatigue
by an useless rehearsal of "a thrice told tale" have
thought the occasion suggestive of certain thoughts
and have sought to give them expression in languag
adapted to their character.
In addition to those referred to- it appears
as not Inappropriate glance at least, should be had to
some facts preceding the Of 1872 and to the con
sequences resulting from it to the nation, and to this
city.
Our revolution, and its immediate consequence the
separation of the colonies from the mother country
had their origin not altogether in the resistance to
the imposition Of palny tax. The foundation
was deeper and earlier. Ever since Sydney went to
the scaiiod, under one form another, the mind OF
man dealt with n something it OngCd to enjoy, al
though it had not defined its true nature All con
Cured III the name it should hayethat of Lberty,but
of what it to be constituted with but few exceptions
there total absence of knowledge. But intense
this craving for the intangible and unknown. it
constantly assuming Proteuske FORMS and seeking
new expressions according to the different complications
of individuals Men Of the most profound thoughts, in
every part of Europe, seriously gave them to this all
absorbing matter, in the hope that some Udpus might
solve this riddle of this Sphynx Under idolzed
of Liberty, wars Wee begun and prosecuted at the
pense of the fortunes and lives of nations governments
overturned replaced ty Others and these in their
But s tie m phantom whe Se so D exercsed I fe % mad
man. and which, when realized to make the nations
of the world earthly paradise, where pain and
were to be no more escaped her pursuers. Suffering
and toll, and chains, continued allict humanity.
1t the nature of man. when not debased cast down
into the slough of dcSpond to pursue with increasing
zeal and eagerness that which is the difficult to
overtake And in condition does it exhibit greater
dg%s oHer @ truth 81 Such eheereG when m
passed by the poisonous dan !'thc dungeon when
gnawed by the pangs of ungaYed hunger 1t has given
pf tla
stand unawed in the presence of arbitrary power and
proclaim the thoughts that stirred within the todecare
distinct tones the sublime truth unwelcome to the
sesh-that man is the brother of his fellow man. ant
not his slave.
Although this want was not grafed in Europe by tn,
establishment of any government, nevertheless, it called
the attention of the people to what concerned their well
being. 1t was the school in which they taught he
first the science of government and to appreciate
the dignity of their rights rational beings
The generation that gave birth to the master spirits
the revolution had nerved its offspring by its tuition 70
the great work they to perform They to the
arduous task possessed of full knowledge of the past
its experiments its failures and its partial and temporary
Far removed from the hndrances incident
countries in which the tyranny Establishments and cor
ruptions Of rulers had enervated and humbed the
erned they not unmndful of this all important fact
Ihey eagerly selZed the rSt opportunity to cast on tn
yoke of dependence. They who knew the differ
between names and things; between sound ant
substance Separation independence, of itself val
ueess If it did not guarantee any right tprevousl,
and safely enjoyed it did not establish anything whic
would to his natural righthat of selfgoy
ure, would be unpardonaby criminal. Their aim was he
er and lofter They designed to fix that which had bee
but eeting and llusory to give it substance and sah
ty; realize in the well arranged machinery of cOns
tutona form of government safety to the public veal,
while restraining him from licentous interference wit
the equal rights of his brother each indvdut
citizen the enjoyment of a rational liberty.
This grand achievement they contemplated, and to tn
amazemen Of the world accomplished. To their tranin
in the schools of the elder phianhropst who had toe
and suffered in the good old cause of Sydney and
their aithfuness amidst trials most dfsheartenng, do
under the blessings of Divine Providence whaevc
of liberty and happiness enjoy.
These august sires OF Constitution the gref
work of their hands, under the skfu guidance Of th
Father of his Country, in the year 1889 put in motion
That wear will ever memorable! 1t gave rise to
der without parallel in the history of the world 1t gay
Effectively to millions country powerful in all that COZ
stitutes true greatness, and to them name since
envy and emulation Of the world 1t originated scheme
the development of which, overthrcw the Empires
Europe and bahed their fields in the blood of their pc
pie. And in these the philosophical student Of hi:
! tory will discern the germ of our war of 1872
But six short years had elapsed from the acknowledg
of independence to this noticeable epoch ofl7S9
! the moment when our young nation like fedgling W
just to try its strength wing the caudron of popuo
Europe into which for so long time had been throw
the thoughts the wrongs and hopes Of humanity, beg
| to boil. France, in her multitudnous voice. bid t
surrounding nations to awake from their slumber! II
tocsin heard. And then, there came an awakenin
! in its terrific roar like unto blast from hell In
ds sh25 81 III eT future Fur &Ee@e2et SCI t FAD "a f tie past "a
city, gage of battle to cast the head of her King at
feet of the monarchs of the world The challenge W
accepted, and then, in truth " let slip the do
| of War; For more than twenty years they tore al
mangled the human race That challenge eventually
! volved us.
In the days ofour revolutionary struggle France car
| to aid The ancient grudge which England bore
her was, if possible, augmented by this succour, an
naturally enough, she inferred all sympathieS We
with her antagonist. The same inference was drawn
France from which she presumed 50 far as to demand
cooperation in the struggle, and this hSing dcclned
laws placed at defiance and the Executive nsolen
arragned before the people fatesS to their lneres
England pursued towards similar treatment, and th
were these States subjected to all the outrages the t
powerful belligerens capable Of nficng. Betwe
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES of Napoleon, and the ord
in Council Of the British Government, our Commerce
subject to constant depreciation. France refused to
ten to the complaints made by government, going
far to decline to receive the Commissioners from
country. England went farther She undertook pra'
caly repeal the law of nations and asserted the ri
visit ships in search ofthOsc whom she claimed
be her subjects In memorable instance this right be
denied one of our national vessels fired into. al
which boarded and men taken from her and conveyed
the English vessel which of superior power.
gross outrage had most exciting effect the natl
and although not immediately punished it contributed
much as anything else to the declaration of VIII
followed in 1872.
The struggle which ensued attended by circumst
of great hardship and also by events which we
all feel proud. nation proverhially arrogant in
boast of power when their vessels encountered