The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-04

servable in various branches of commerce and
manufactures, and not only have dealers reap
peared amongst us, who, during the continuance
OF the Reign of Terror made their purchases else
where but the sectional issues which have tended
TO ALLEVIATE the Southern States from those at the
north, have also had the effect of fixing the at
tenuon OF the former upon this city as a market
ana an entrepot. 1t is natural that this should be
SO. Baltimore occupies geographical position
on the seaboard midway between the two ex-
tremes OF the Union. The political sentiments of
our citizens on national questions have ever been
eminently conservative. The facilities which we
possess for the transportation, both inland and
coastwise, of foreign and domestic products, are
superior to those of the cities to the eastward so
TAR as proximity to the South and West is con-
cerned, and are equal to the best, in the
ease and rapidity with which remote points
may be reached. The number of our
hrst-class mercantile houses has been largely ex-
tended of late years. and fabrics of every descrip
ton, and all the various articles of utility or Inv
ury which enter into the general demand, NAV be
bought as cheaply here as in Philadelphia. New
York or Boston. These facts are now becoming
better understood than they once were, and, as a
consequence our trade with the South, the South
west and West, is gradually increasing in mag
nltude and importance 1t is a singular circum-
stance, and one which deserves to be mentioned
in connection with this subject, that the people of
the Southern States were slower to appreciate the
advantages of Baltimore as a market, than were
those OF the more newly settled States of the West
Yet the social afinities of Maryland are decidedly
of a Southern character, and her people have
always been amongst the foremost to uphold the
constitution of the UNITED STATES and to insist
upon the faithful observance of those compromises
upon which the original compact of Union was
founded 1t would scarcely be worth while now
to inquire how it has happened that more impo-
sing mercantile alliance, based upon community
OF interest, was not earlier formed between the
merchants of the slave States and those of Balti-
more-the first commercial city of the South
But it required more than one rough shock to
change perceptby the current of trade which
had flowed in particular channel for number
of years. Southern merchants had become, from
long habit so accustomed to make their semi
annual purchases in the Eastern cities that they
did not trouble themselves to ascertain whether it
were possible to supply themselves with any
variety of goods which they wanted at some
point nearer home. The Harpers Ferry raid, and
the PRONUNCIATION throughout the States north of
MAsoNs & DIxoNs line, of s'The Irrepressible
Conflict doctrine of Senator SEWARD, have
aroused them to consciousness of the serious
danger which is to be apprehended from pushing
the Slavery question to extremities, and have at
length led to the agitation and partial adoption
OF defensive measures. In consequence of the
changes which have thus been brought about the
trade of the South with this city has undergone
a marked Improvement; and it is equally crafty
ing to know that it promises to become, not only
lar more extensive than it has been heretofore,
but also permanent acquisition. There IS one
particular point, however, wherein our merchants
might follow, with advantage, the example which
is set them by those of other large commercial
centres. The latter do not wait for custom-they
solicit it. They use every legitimate means that
lies within the compass of their power to make |
themselves known to the dealers of the interior.
They push out agents; they issue circulars; they
advertise; and the latter being the most accepta-
BILE and popular mode of communicating with |
those with whom they desire to establish business
they adopt it to an extent which would |
speedily ruin them, were it not that experience
has shown how profitable it can be made when
with tact and Judgment