The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-07

be honoraby avoided, we submit that 1t had bet |
ter be done.
No man now douots we presume, that the Union
is in imminent danger of dissolution. A revolu
tion not threatened, but already begun, is gather
ing strength and Roadway, hour by hour. The
time is big with dire portents, and the calamities
which they prognosticate may overwhelm us at
any moment. Men may differ about the causes
which have brought us to our present condition,
or about the proprety or practicability of the
means by which we may yet extricate ourselves
from our peritous perplexities, but they can no
longer deny that our position is q fearful one
They cannot shut their eyes and fancy that the
Republic still stands firm ''from turret to founda
ton stone for they feel that its pillars are rocking
in the storm, and they hear the tempest growing
wilder and louder, throughout the land The Union
is IN jeopardy and nothing but prompt and decisive
action on the part Of the people preserve it.
South Carolina will, in all probability, have for
mally withdrawn from the Confederacy before the
expiration of fortnight; and although the other
cotton States may not Immediately join her, they
will speedily follow her example. The resolution
of the South to secede is becoming more and more
fixed, and the North maniests little disposition to
recede from the point to which the triumphant
Anti-Slavery party has brought it.. 1t neither Of
fers to repeal the unconstitutional acts of its Le
gislatnre nor TO acquiesCe in the decision of the
Federal Courts. The President proposes no mode
of settling the dispute between the two sections, and
he intimates that we have nothing to expect from
any exertions of his in the future. Congress has
a,1 ;ts dad
rather than hope. Everything indicates that its
members are much more embittered against each
other than they were last winter, and we cannot
look for any cordial cooperation between the re-
representatives. of the North and South But even
it, contrary TO our anticipations, the harmony of
the session should be unbroken, we have little
right to rely on that body for such measures or
counses as can restore peace to the country for it
is an unfortunate truth, that there is scarcely
handful of men in Congress for whose capacity or
patriotism the people have any respect whatever.
1t is highly improbable, therefore, that the Federal
Congress will, if left to ITSELF be able to point out
any practical way by which the impending revo-
luton shall be stayed. The Union is in fearful
PERIL and the federal authorities, unaided by the
States themselves, are powerless 10 uphold it. The
people Of the States must come forward to the
rescue of the Republic, and they must speak at
once or its fall is inevitable, if not near. They
must prefer their demands, and say what they will
concede before the momentous issues to be dealt
with can be settled. In this crisis the States
which are in the greatest danger and those which
are the most conservative should first be
heard. It is the singular lot of the border
States to fall at one and the same time
within both these classiications. 1t is incumbent
on them, therefore, standing as they do between
the more extreme parties ofthe Mort and South,
to assume prominent position in this controver-
sy. Bound by many ties to the people of both sec
tons, the border States command the good will
Of both-and as they would necessarily suffer most
in case of a collision between the separated sections,
they are entitled to the forbearance of both Oc-
cupying broad popuous and fertile strip of Ter
rtOry, which stretches from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi, we are too powerful to be Sighted by
either side for The destinics of the North and South
alike, are in n large measure, dependent on the
action we may ultimately take. We may assume
then, that our appeals would not be disregarded;
and we might even indulge the hope, that any
compromise asked for by the border States, would
be deemed reasonable and inst in the North and
satisfactory in the South. Conscious then of the
fearful import of the approaching crisis, and of
grave responsibility resting upon them in virtue of
their position, Virginia and Kentucky, have al
ready indicated their intention of taking speedy
steps TO place themselves in some proper and dec-
ded attitude before the country. In all probabil-
ty. but q few weeks will have elapsed before these
two States will have taken some joint separate
action, not in order to throw their weight immed-
aely with the North South but for the purpose of
making every patriotic and honest struggle for
the preservation of the Union, so long as a hope
of saving it remains In the meantime, Maryland
looks idly on. Not only has she remained quiet
but she has intimated her intention of retaining
from al participation in a controversy in which
her interest and her honor are alike involved
She has influence with the North and the South,
for she has the strongest and most intimate social
and business relations with both sections and
still she declines to exercise that influence with
either. Her position, too, is misunderstood, for
her vote for Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE was warmly hailed
in the South as proof of her sympathy with that
section and her respect for its constitutional
rights; and the late letter of Governor Hicks is
quoted in the North as evidence Of her hostility to
the Southern ORATORS" But Maryland gives no
sign of any movement which is calculated to re-
trieye her from position which is now equivocal,
and which will, in few weeks, be disgraceful.-
| She has nevertheless a duty to discharge which
she cannot forego. Extremists on either side are
DANGEROUSLY urging their views, and if there ever
Iipno r,-ba
should speak out bravely, it is now. If the more
conservative States are silent, will not passion and
prejudice decide the issue on which the existence
of great nation hangs? Maryland as State of
known moderation and patriotism, should volun-
teer her counsel to the South, or at least seek q
conference with the other border States. In con-
junction with Virginia and Kentucky, she may
render services to the Republic not less honorable
and needful than those she conferred upon itin
lier days At all events, she will be enabled after
advising with these two States to understand more
clearly her own position, and to prepare for the
contingencies of the future. The voice of her
people should go forth, through her Legislature,
and immediate steps should be taken by her repre-
sentatives to place her in communication with
those of her sister States whose situation is SINH.
lar to her own. 1t does not become her to see the
Union threatened without making one loyal eff
fort to avert the danger nor can she, in justice
to herself suffer the storm to break and find her
alone and defenceless. She cannot afford to con-
fide her destinies to any one mans keeping in this
trying crisis. She must utter her word of warn
ing or remonstrance, while the opportunity for
good is hers; and we cannot but think that she
will, before long, find some way of doing so.
THE COMMITTEE OF THIRTY THREE.-The following
is the Committee appointed by Speaker Penning
ton yesterday, under Mr.. Boteler's resolution of
reference of that portion of the Presidents Message
relating to secession. Our Congressional report
will show that Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, and
Mr.. Hawkins of Florida, peremptorily declined to