The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-12
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1860

If any State in the Union has right 10 hear.
ing, in the present crisis, it is Maryland. As an
exposed and frontier slave-holding State she has a
larger practical interest in the maintenance of the
guarantees of the Constitution in regard to slavery
than South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, and
Mississippi put together From her geographical
position she has a heavier stake, proportonately,
in the preservation of the Union, far her ma
teria prosperity is concerned, than any of her
sister commonwealth. 1t were so easy to demon
strate this, by a moments consideration of the
sources of her wealth, and the nature and direction
of her industry and of her commerce, external and
internal, that we shall assume it, without argu-
ment Bound to the Constitution and the Union
thus, by every tie that interest can weave or
strengthen, she has been uniformly faithful in the
performance of every obligation imposed by the
one or suggested by her devotion TO the other.
Not only this-but in all The dlssenslons which
sectional feeling and fanatical agitation have pro-
NOTED her support has always been given to
moderate doctrines and conciliatory counsels
Sympathizng with the South in its wrongs and
lust resentments, and ready at all times to make
common cause with it, in the constitutional mainte-
nance of its rights, she has always kept aloof from
its mad heresies and passionate bitterness. Out
ragged by the aggressions of the North, and prompt
TO repel them, within the limits of her consttu-
tional resources and federal allegiance, she has
done nothing whatever to widen the breach be-
tween the anagonistical sections of the Republic,
or to weaken the hands of those conservative
Northern citizens, who have struggled so nobly to
maintain the good faith and integrity of the ma
tonal compact. In the position which she has
thus historically assumed, the election of the I'd
ofNovember has rooted her still more firmly. She
has given her electoral vote to the candidates by
whom the constitutional rights of the South were
most emphatcally and exclusively represented
and at the same time through her whole press,
and with the united voice of all the political parties
within her borders, she has proclaimed her fixed
determination to take her stand within the circle
of the Union, and protect herself by the means of
the Constitution only. We repeat, therefore, that
she is entitled TO be heard respectfully by all par
ties. She has a right to call upon the North and
the South, alike to give heed to her counsels.
She is probably as important to both rs either is
to her. and their interests, as well as hers, de-
mand tnat ner Suggestions SnOuIu not be dealt
lightly with. She does not ask for them any con-
sideraton but that which they deserve-vet she
insists that what they deserve they should receive
In the course of the Presidential canvass, we
took OCCASION and over, to assert in this Jour
nal, what we believed 10 be the true policy of
Maryland in the election, and especially with refer
ence to the peculiar position which have Just
shown that she occupies Our suggestions, how
ever, were mainly directed TO the influence for
good which would be given to her among her
Southern brethren, by her support Of Mr.. BRICK
1NRIDGE. With the duty, policy and rights of the
South we have already dealt in that connection:
and the subject is TO which, in all probability
we shall have too frequent occasion to recur 1t
is 10 our brethren of the North therefore, that we
desire, at this moment, 10 address few words of
earnest suggestion and remonstrance. Mary
land has a right to speak to them freely
and plainly, and what she has TO say ought
not 10 carry less the influence of truth. be
cause 1t is spoken in words of sobe1ness.
whote,er may tIIv prUprlety> the constitution
atty the policy, of the various retributve
medal measures which are contemplated or threat
ened at the South-whether she can right herself
whether secession is constitutional or revolution
ary-are sll questions of remedy merely2 They
are secondary, as all such questions must be, to
those which regard the evil to be remedied-and
no man of sense sits down TO consider the treat
ment of disease, without first considering its cause
and the possibility of removing it. To the South,
nothing is left, under existing circumstances, but
to adopt the wisest and best of resisting an
aggression which she cannot hinder. The North, on
the contrary certainly prevent the horrors and
evils which such resistance may entail, by manfuly
and honestly putting an end to the aggression. 1t
is not worth while for the States of the North, in
the existing condition of their statute-books, to
talk about their conservatism, and denounce the
fears and suspicious of the South as chimerica or
baseess. 1t is absurd to refer to the political
opinions of Mr.. LINCOLN as conservative; to clas-
sify him among the old Wing statesmen, and pro-
phecy his policy accordingly; to sneer at the SEN
sibllity of the South in regard TO slavery in the
Territories, mere excitement about an I'M
practical abstraction-when the legislative records
of nearly all the States which have made Mr. LIN
coin President, are disgraced by enactments OBJ
structing and furnishing the enforcement of the
fugitive slave law within their borders 1t is an
insult to the common sense of the South and of the
country, 10 pretend to cry peace peacel with such
deliberate and insulting declarations of war trum-
petted by the North, against the Constitution and
therghts which it guarantees. Newspaper promises
elecuoneering speeches and letters, and campaign
conservatism, are simple trash and nonsense-de-
ceving no one and assuring no one-whie the
nf
is recorded in these legislative outrages upon the
Constitution. If the North then really loves the
Union and the Constitution, let her prove her al
legiance to both by cleansing her statute books of
this treason TO both. Instead of discussing the
constitutionality of the defences which the South
is preparing, let the North cease and denounce
the attacks, which alone create the necessity for
defence of any sort Before New York and Mas
sLchusetts proclaim South Carolina disunionist
let them strike out the wedges of iron with which
they themselves have already cloven and are still
cleavng the very heart and fibre of the Constiu-
ton. They have no right to demand fidelity |
from their brethren, which they not prepared
themselves to yield. And this is the root of the
matter. Political considerations, material nte-
rests, old sssoca ions and long habit may posi-
bly, keep this Republic together, as a mere po- |
itcal combination and a Union in name, |
or a long time after it has ceased to be |
| Union in spirit. But Union, in the sense in
which our fathers bequeathed and commended it to |
IS, it has ceased to be- the very moment that
he good faith and the brotherhood which are its
sment and conservation have died out among its
Gembers This Confederacy was formed in mu-
ual affection and confidence. 1t is but q rope of
and when these shall cease. 1t is no Union,
if they have ceased It cannot live or
asst with jealousy and bad faith in heart and
council. II were well to talk OF domestic unity
with hatred kneeling between brother and brother
1t the family altar. Our brethren of the North.
hen, may say what they please about the Union,
ts ties and blessings; they may deuounce seces-
lion, preach coercion, ridicule revolution and re-
if they are not prepared, like true |
men, to remove the causes of that peril in which |
he Union is trembling, it is they who the |
and the stain of the future-with its
sorrow, if sorrow comes-shall be on them and |
from them. We Of the South, who are with the
South in interest and feeling, and have common |
wrongs with her, and have done her no evil, may
summon her to peace and moderation; but the
North, we repeat has no right to call upon her or
reproach her, until the North has done justice
first.
What we say then to the peonle Of tho North 10