The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-05
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1859.

Some of our readers may possibly be at loss
70 know-as we confess ourselves to be wholly
unable to tell-the precise nature OF the ceremony
said to have been performed in New York, last
week-of presenting Senator DOUGLAS and Speaker
ORR with ''the freedom of the city. In Eng
land-whence, obviously both the custom and the
phrase have been derived, they possess a certain
significance which they cannot, by any possibility,
have here. English municipalities are for the
most part close corporations. The corporate fran
chise is generally limited to comparatively small
number of individuals, and to invest stranger
with that franchise or freedom, as it is called,
is virtually to make him fellow-corporator, and
is therefore the highest compliment which it is in
the power of the municipal body to bestow. Now
in this sense of course, the custom can have no
existence in this country, and the phrase no mean
ing 1t is wholly incompetent for New York, or
any other city-o confer the privileges of a resi-
dent upon a citizen of South Carolina or Illinois;
and Senator DOUGLAS and Mr.. ORR have, there
fore, been the recipients of but an empty and I'M
meaning compliment. Nor is this all. In Eng
land, whenever the honor conferred, it is invari
ably accompanied by the presentation of a gold
box. This important feature in the ceremony
the only one which, in their case, could nave had
any permanent or intrinsic value-the New Workers
appear to have omitted. They have presented their
guests with s'the freedom of the city-but no
box What then does the compliment amount to?
Are we to understand that the city of New York
sfoots' the hoel-bills of the Honorable Gentlemen
in question, and that the freedom wherewith
they have been made free, is the freedom to eat
and to drink at the public expense? Really-we
should like to know the extent of the honor which
has been done to our distinguished countrymen.
The use of the "Governor's Room" for the pur-
pose of seeing their friends and making a speech
appears to have been of the privileges pertain
ing to their exalted position as 'freemen'' of New
York Was it the only one? General HARRISON,
on such OCCASIONS used to enjoy the additional
freedom of kissing all the women, and
of being kissed by them-which, if all women
were pretty, or only the pretty ones came
to be kissed-might possibly compensate in
a measure for the trouble and annoyance of
shaking their husbands and fathers by the hand
The late Mr.. CLAY owed his ungraceful title of
1.-THE Great Omni-busser" not less to his exploits
in the same line, than to his reputed authorship
of the Compromise Measures of 1850. Had Mr.
DOUGLAS and Mr.. ORR similar freedom accor-
ded them? and, if SOTO what are we to impute
it, unless TO the exceeding modesty of the New
York journalists-that we find no mention of the
fact in the papers? But it is not only in the
light of its apparent absurdity that we mean to
comment on this action of the corporate authori-
A. II VI, T., A., q
ours-we have, as everybody well knows, neither
titles mobility nor orders ofknighthood wherewith
to dignity and reward public servants, who may
have deserved well of the Republic and to whom,
therefore, some testimonial of the popular regard
and veneration may be justly due. A vote of
thanks medal or a sword-a service of plate
Public Ovation,-these the only compli-
ments which it is in the power of the People to
bestow. Let us not then cheaper them by
too prodigal and indscriminate use. In New
York-as we are well aware-it makes but little
difference who may be the recipient of civic honors
which there common as they are worthless
OR what may be his peculiar claims to copsidera-
ton. People who are prone to Hero-worship are
seldom over-nice in their choice of an idol All
that the populace of New York seem to care for
is the sensation which is produced-thet Temporal
ry excitement of the banquet or the parade-of a
public reception and collation. at the City Hall.
They simply want somebody-it matters not whom
to lionize-to serenade-to stare alto talk
about. Senator or a snging-woman--a Hun
garian patriot or Turkish Admiral candidate
for the Presidency or an Arctic navigator-it is
all the same. The only difference is in the charac-
ter of the honors which are bestowed NOT at
all in the feeling which prompts them.
That there can be any satisfaction in being sub
jected to this vulgar apotheoss, or that there is
any particular pleasure to be derived from con-
sorting with Aldermen and riding in hacks with
Councilmen, and in being sci upon pedestal in
the City-Hall-to be gazed at and worshipped
with copious libations of tobacco Juice and thick
incense of cigar-Smoke-we cannot for one mo-
ment imagine Yet such evidently is the sum of
the cheap honors which have been conferred upon
Senator DOUGLAS and Mr.. ORR, and for which, it
may be proper to add, both gentlemen appear to
have been duly grateful. Paltry as such distnc-
ton is, however, and little men may be disposed
to envy its recipients, we would not have it further
cheapened by being too lavshly and indiscrimin-
ately bestowed Some recognized methods there
must be of testlfying the public admiration and
appreciation Of public worth, and if we exhaust
all that are at our disposal in doing homage
to mere Politicians, what greater compliment than
that of silent neglect will be able pay to Hero
ism and Virtue five light all our lamps and put
on our very best attire to do honor to Medocrity,
what suitable demonstration do we propose to
make, when Greatness comes this way?