The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-23
[ From the London Times Of the Sth inst.
.nEnTr. 49, xur

Everything seemed to foretell most obstinate
Presidential contest in America in 1860 In 1856
the Union had been convulsed by the struggle be-
tween buchanan and Fremont, the supposed repre-
sentatlves o. the two parties which were fighting
duel to the death in Kansas. The South threatened
disruption of the Union, as it does regularly
every four years but what made the matter seri-
Gus was that the North seemed to be prepared for
this catastrophe. portion of the Free States
struck with horror at the proceedings in Kansas,
and at the threatened extension by force of slave
institutions all the Western territory seemed
to have made up their minds that the experiment of
joining in federation communities so different
was failure, and that it would be better for the
two sections of the Republic to divide whs was COM
mon to them, and live under Independent though
friendly Governments. How weak such impulses
are, how little the most determined talk about dis
rupton IS to be regarded, how deep the attachment
to the Union is in every heart will, we think be-
more clearly demonstrated every wear; but in 1856
the separation of North and South was as seriously
talked OF as it has been since the foundation
the Republic. Nothing has occurred since lessen
the animOsity of the two parties On the contrary,
legislation and the course of events have renewed
the feud with more than its former bitterness The
South has been energetic in Congress, and victory
has rewarded its exertions.
The Institution of slavery may now be adopted in
any part of the United States territory Commu-
mites on the British frontier in a Iatituda north
of New England ITSELF may breed, and sell and
work, and Hog their own negroes, and every de-
cent man in Boston New York is by law bound
to assist In the capture of the runaways Then
there are other and darker features of tba contoS
Not to mention the assault in full Congress- hv n
savage OF the one party fanatic of the other
there has been the incident of the Harpers Ferry in
surreeton. Life has been taken first the lives of the
white lFginians attack oh by Brown, and l,. a. -
lives of Brown himself and his cunfederates The
Southerners have worked themselves into an appar-
ent frenzy against their opponents, whom they have
accused OF plotting the destruction of themselves,
their families, and their properties; while the Alb
olitionists, through their newspapers and their
chief spokesman in the Senate, MIR. Sumner have
denounced the Southern people as barbarians as
unnt TO snare the privileges of citizens even the
rights OF men, and as only receiving their due re-
ward when persons like John Brown rouse their
slaves to rebellion.
Now for the vanity of all political wisdoml For
four years the election of 1860 has been looked to as
a most momentGus crisis, which should decide the
fortunes of the Republic. few months ago some
of our English newspapers full of the impend-
ing disruption of the States The hour had come at
last, and the fight at Harpers Ferry was the out
break of an American civil war. Across the At.
lantic the language the same. Even Mr. Sew
ard, respectable politician, spoke of the "'lrre
pressible conflict which approaching" We
then took the liberty of saying that specuatons
should be based on the prevailing excitement, and
that, in our opinion, the American people did not
share the disunionist principles of either party,
and were fully determined to control them BOTH
The event has justified these views.
The most striking feature of the present Presi.
Dental contest is the comparative apathy Of the
American public. They cannot be raised to the
requisite degree of enthusiasm either for Breckin-
ridge and Lane or Bell and Everett, or Lincoln or
Douglas, or any other or pair of men. The
old secession cry of South Carolina, raised by Mr.
Keitt legislator of the Brooks school, falls as dead
as the "screamers" Of the New York Herald. In
fact the United States suffering, if it may be
called so from the political lassitude as our
selves The over-strained attention paid to great
national questions tor number of years past has
ended in reaction towards the enjoyments of pr
vate life, and in conviction that great questions
will work themselves out in their own good time
Whether negro-slavery is to flourish or to die out
is problem for the future neither Lincoln MOI
Breckenridge can affect much during his four
himself when nature is taking things coolly, and
| fate is in no hurry?