The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-15

Those who, like Governor Hicks, have been dis
posed to rely upon the "congregated wisdom of
Congress, must BY this time have had their faith
sorely tried. 1t is certainly still possible that
"wise and temperate counses will prevail,' in
that body but the probabilities of such result are
scarcely strong enough to warrant prudent mon in
acting upon them. To say that Congress has thus
far failed to meet the reasonable expectations of
those who anxiously desire to see an end put TO
the present agitation would be to state but half
the truth. 1t has in reality done more harm in
the past two weeks than it may be able TO repair
in as many months. 1t has made matters worse
than it found them, for it has manifested temner
which has reacted on the country and aggravated
the irritation of the hostile sections and it has al
ready indicated an utter incapacity to lift itself up
to the level of the momentous issues with which II
has to deal. IF the Union is to be saved it must
be by men who are willing to make every honora.
bic sacrifice for its sake-by patriots who can rise
above local influences and thepassons ofthe hour
and by statesmen who debate and plan, but do not
dream or wrangle Mere politicians are out of
their clement in crisis like this, and yet
it is of mere politicians that Congress is
mainly composed. Neither compehending
the fearful import of struggle which has
attracted the attention of the civilized world,
regarding with becoming gravity the consequent
ces of movement which may disastrously affect
the destuies of hundred unborn generations,
the members of the Federal Congress have pretty
much occupied themselves, so far as the all-im-
portant question now before them is concerned,
with frivolous disputes and puerile suggestions.
In the House Mr.. HAWKINS thought proper to de-
cline serving on the Committee Of Thirty-Three,
and the House thought proper to refuse to dis
pense with Mr. HAWKINS services. Mr. HAWKINS
obstinatey insisted on carrying his point, and the
House as pertinaciously determined to thwart him.
Several days were thus lost before it was decided
whether or not, Mr. HAWKINS should be compelled
to devote himself TO the country, and in the mean
while much bad feeling was engendered in Con-
gress, and the contempt of the public for both
parties was considerably increased. If Mr.. HAw-
K1Ns had been possessed ofa particle of patriotism
hewould have quietly discharged his duty in Con-
gress until he was ready to resign his seat-and if
the House had been governed by common sense,
or prompted by desire to get at any practical re-
suit, it would have excused and have forgotten
Mr.. HAWKINS in half an hour. In the Senate
there has been the same exhibition of imbecility
and recklessness. Messrs. HALE and SUMNER, and
IYERsoN and WIGFALL have discussed the condi-
ton of the country in a way that might have
been tolerated in an ordinary debating
society, but which was, in view of the
place and the occasion, simply disgraceful.
The existence of the Republic is at stake and they
have, in the main, demeaued themselves, as if
they were merely in a snarl over the appoint-
ment OF some petty postmaster in Kansas. Thou
sands upon thousands of our countrymen have.
day after day. eagerly looked for the debates in the
Senate IN the hope of finding some assurance that
the cause they still cling to is Loyalty and ably
upheld; and they have turned away sick at heart
from the bitter gibes and diatribes of the repre-
sentatives ef Massachusetts and New Hampshire
ana the rant and inanities OF the Senators from
georgia and Texas. They haze listened in vain
lor the calm, wise and courageous words which
alone can bid the storm be still; and the laughter
ana applause which have rung, at times through
the Senate Chamber have sounded ominousIy in
the ears of the people. The spirit Of the North
has, we sincerely trust, been grossly msrepresent.
ed by the delegates from that section who have
thrown themselves most prominently forward in
this struggle; and there must be few, indeed, who
do not concede that the South has been, already,
placed in false position by the puerilities OF
Messrs. lvERsoN and WIGFALL. Meanwhile the
breach between the States is widening, and the
preparations of the uncompromising secessionsts
are being rapidly matured. The speedy with
drawal of one State from the Confederacv is almost
certain; and we know that the strain which CON
break one link in the bond of union will weaken
the chain for all time to come But we still stand
by, calmly confident OF the ultimate safety of the
Union, and relying on the "congregated wisdom
of Congress for its preservation.