The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-13


---~4-z---
We perhaps owe our readers an apology for
having, day before yesterday, discussed the recent
attack of The Baltimore american upon us, in
terms appropriate 10 that attack and the parties
by whom it was made, rather than in the language
which our own taste and custom would have sug-
gested. 1t is, at times, necessary, to call both
persons and things by their right names, and the
occasion seemed to US one in which that necessity
existed. So far as the matter in controversy is
concerned, it is hardly necessary to remind the
reader that the whole issue which The american
has affected TO make with us is an obviously
puerile and false one. Instead of any facts
calculated to affect the trade or interests of
Baltimore, our article of Wednesday con-
tanned nothing but statement of the effect
which an already notorious fact had pro-
duced, upon body of business men, who were on
their way to our market. That fact-the afro
cious, deliberate and awful murder of an unofend-
ing citizen, in full daylight, upon the public
street, by ruffians long known, as such, to the
police, and enjoying Notwithstanding, the perfect
freedom of the towns one about which there is no
dispute-one which was published by The Ameri-
an as well as by ourselves-one which shocked the
whole community, and could not have failed to
shock every Christian man, outside of this COM
munity. to whom the tidings were carried by the
press. That business-men-com to this market,
and yet having the choice of another-should have
chosen to go to that other, instead of exposing
themselves to the contingency however re-
mote, of similar outrage, was neither
strange nor unnatural. Our own merchants, any
of them, under like circumstances would have act
ed in like manner. To say, therefore, that be-
cause-being informed of such fact-the natural
and reasonable reselt of the cause which produced
tive gave it to our readers that they might pom
der on it and be instructed by tive were
actuated by hostility to the trade of Bal
tmore, which is Our own support, and to
the city itself, which is the centre of our person.
al hopes and prospects-is to say what is so alb
surd, that it could only be dictated by the most
malevolent spirit of Misrepresentation. Any
press having due regard to truth and to its own
character-and more especially having really at
heart the interests of this community-would have
taken advantage of the opportunity, TO say-that
even if the incident were exaggerated, it was vet
natural-lhat fit had not occurred it would surely
occur, over and over, with worse following it-un-
less this community should rise to the level of its
own selfrespect, and by one united effort restore
their dshonored sceptre to the insuted and outrae-
ed laws That The american should have been inca
pable of rising to such elevation, did not sur
prise US. That it should have denounced the hon
orabe motives which it could not comprehend, as
tonished US little But its bold and insulting as
cription of disreputable purposes to this journal
without inquiry or investigation whatever of its
own as to the facts, was, we confess, more than
we felt that it was our obligation to bear-and
having, in good faith based our statement upon ev-
idence which was 10 us, then, and which is to US,
now, satisfactory and sufficient evidence of the truth
of what stated we felt it due to ourselves and to
public integrity TO affx 10 the assault and the par
ties who made it, the stigma which they had earn
ed by it.
A few words more, with the reader permission,
and we will leave the subject From time to time,
we have felt it our duty to comment and with &C.
casional and just severity, upon the doctrines and
public course of The american 1t is ridiculous to
suppose that we have ever done so, from any mere
desire for newspaper controversy for that is rarely
either agreeable or proftable-and never can be
either, where, as in contest with the Journal to
which we allude victory could bring no credit
We have assailed The american only in the point
of view OF the doctrines and principles which it has
lnculcated and which it represents. We found it an
important commercial paper, with large influence
and great capacity for good, yet handed over ex~
cluslvey to its subscription list and advertisements
content to take the pay of public press, and yet
afraid tot its breath for public interest. Wefound
it counselliug submission 10 what it knew to be
Notwithstanding the misused power which,
as free press it should have scorned and scourged
fostering and encouraging that unmanly and de-
moralizing silence under wrong and outrage,
which is the bane of this community now, and the
real canker of its prosperity. We found, in The
Americans position, an index to its past
history and to the Generalization which it
had fed and lived on, during its existence as a
journal. And now-looking back upon that sixty
years eXlstence-of which it boasts as if there
were not long lifetime for shame as we'll as honor
we ask its Oldest reader to say whether he re-
members one single instance, in its whole career
in which it ever sacrificed a subscriber or an ad-
verhsement, to the maintenance of any princi-
pie, however lofty, or any public right
or interest, however imperative or vital We ask
those who remember how it covered and quivered
before demagogism and riot, when the BANK of
MARYLAND mob was lighting its torch for conHa-
grafton, whether they can think, without a smile,
of manhood, courage, or self-sacrifce, in con-
nection with it as public press. We ask those
who rememberits tardy, and trembling, and unwil-
ling adhesion to the Wing party-postponed and
procrastinated until vanishing subscribers and
twindling columns had awakened its slumberinp
patriotism from neutrality-suspicious. they can ever
look to it as the unselish or trustworthy organ
Or advocate of any cause that does not pay We
appeal to any candid observer of its course during
the last twelve months, in reference to city affairs
of the brave cry with which it has rushed in
wherever it was perfectly safe-the tardy echoes of
stale truth, which it has gorifed az its own free
speech and new invention-the fawning adulation
With which it has atoned on one day. for its sinful
approach to half of disagreeable truth the dav
oetore-we appeal, we say, to any observer Of all
his, to answer, whether he would risk farthinp
IN its independence, for one single hour of sacrifice
Or peril Regarding it in all these points OF
7iew, and solely because weso regard it, we have
rom time to time, exposed it, with the delinquen-
les which it shielded and the abuses which it
would have covered with apology or silence We
Ield it, and still hold it, as the representa-
i've and incarnation of the false ideas and princi-
lies, which have brought this great and growing
ity to the point of lawlessness, degradation and
from which all true men desire |
nough many good men hesitate and know not
low to rescuel It, And in this sense it is, we say
hat although THE american may have done with
s. we are far from having done with it. We ex-
ect Misrepresentation may risk sacrifices
ut our idea of the duty of public press is. that
should battle for the right and speak the truth
nd take the consequences. This we mean to do,
nd while The American stands in the way of
his, as from its nature it must we fear that it will
ave to take the consequences likewise
There is a CINcNNArus in New Jersey. 1t is no |