The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-21
FT0W TFe london Tunes, Dec. 81
THE LONDON TINES ON THE AMERICAN
CRISIS

= s. The feelings which now divide the
United States into antagonists far more bitter than
those OF diverse languages and races are themselves
facts which cannot be reasoned away, and they have
an irresistible bearing on the practice of slavery:
they must tend to tighten the grasp of the slave
owner on the one hand; and, on the other, to pro-
woke the tanaticism and the ingenuity of the
abotlonist. The Southern States see in this cleo
ton pledge Of further aud still more unscrupulous
efforts FOR the rescue and emancipation of the nero
The very language Of the Southern States breatheg
personal apprehension and defiance 1t is vain to
dispute the danger, but at least it may be met with
reason. As the Southern States certainly would not
mend matters by q separation, and as the Northern
states can do nothing, and have done nothing, to
mlugate the evils for which they profess so much
abhorrence, all that can be done is to take mode
rate and rational view Of the subject. To both the
Northern and Southern States we beg TO surpest
what has happened in this country.
few years ago all England went CRYING mad
over story which certainly was n masterpiece of
writing. The first impression was that which the
writer lntended-au UlbUUDdsd horror Of slavery
and indignation against the slave master. Never
was etoqucnco better listened to; never had an ar
gument ialrer play, for at least goo OGO British
men and women read or listened to the book in the
silence OF their homes, and tie fair advocate car
rled the sympathigs spebOund TO the last line of
the last page What is now the result? Weare
fair and reasoning people. We have looked into
the condition OF the negro as described bv the
novelist c have ''rcaiiZed" the "institution -
" have aPprehended the greatness of the fact
ana ask ourselves "What can be done ?' We have
compared the evil with evils of our own. and re-
hected with what difficulty we get over-if we do
get over-oar own social mischiers and scandals.
There is no use in violent language we say to our
selves; what is to be done? That is the question.
We have, too, been made aware, and have had it
brought home 20 Our conscience. that we,consurne
largely s!aye-grown cotton, and sugar, and coffee
and that the very paper on which million copies
OF Uncle Toms Cabin were spread over this coun-
try was madetr slave produce.
N pur to,
our conscience, we have come to take a much oui-
eter view OF the domestic institution" We feel
Tor the slaves but feel also for the masters and
we have satisfied ourselves that it does no good to
the former to abuse the latter We are aware, too
that slavery was a British bequest to the States
All these considerations apply quite as much, and
more nearly by several degrees, to the Northern
States. May not this quarrel give way to a calm,
IN which the real difficulties of the question will be
met and quietly answered? 1t is too true that the
commerce of the United States is almost, if not
quite, as much committed to slavery as its agrfcul-
ture. For what would New York be without slave
ry? But, what, alas would Liverpool and Man
chester What this metropolis? Cannot all the
partners in this business put their heads together
shake hands over the quarrel, and think what can
be done to mitigate what it is difficult to abolish
Perhaps we speak to the deaf but anything is bet
ter than dividing State against State house against
house. and servant against master in the most
rising nation in the world.