The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-22

THE ACTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA-OPIN-
IONS OF THE PRESS.
From the Philadelphia Inq,eirer.l
The result of this selfstyled secession is not
likely to do more harm than its anticipation There
has been some excitement in Congress consequent
on its proclamation over the electric wires, and
there will be much talk about it throughout the
North. The simple fact is merely that South Car
DINA is out of the Union, far she can accom-
psh that result by her act, exclusive of its re-
cognition under the forms of law, and according
to the will or consent of her sisters in the Confed
eracy. 1t remains for us in the North, by manly
course to show that the effect of this whatever be
the end, shall not be to depreciate property
derapge our business to the extent hoped for by
those who have wifully broken the Federal COM
pact. The intrinsic value of possessions and
native and inseparable energy are left to us I'M
affected. With our hardy millions of men and
fruitful millions of acres, we strong and pros
porous enough, and always will remain so, unless
God should faint our vigorous blood, blast our
teeming soil, and swallow up our mines in earth
quakes. Therefore, let us not fear or whimper-
IT, in the course of time, it may be discovered that
this completed threat of secession be but another
mode to obtain concessions and reconstruction of
the Federal Constitution-wel. Then, let right
bedOne.
From the Philadelphia Ledgerl
OF course the United States Government cannot
recognize the secession of South Carolina, or re-
ceive or negotiate with her agents. The duty of
the Federal Government is plain. 1t is to enforce
the laws in every part of the Territories of the
United States, without regard to the attitude as
sumed by any portion of the inhabitants therein
1t is to defend, by all the power of the Govern
ment, the property and the authority of the Cen
eral Government, and not permit spoliation or vo-
lation of either. This is a different thing from
making war upon a State. If resistance is made
to the Government, it is the people of State
making war upon the Government, and the
spOnsibility must rest with them.
From the Phila. North americana
The passage of preliminary declaration of this
Sc inv and u-au IN cau
ditable act-certanly one testitying to mixture
of sense and caution not heretofore apparent. 1t
has grand show of seeming to do much, while it
practically does little 1t may be remarked that
the notification ordinance of 1893, formal
and full document in comparison with this, pre-
scribing a cause of resistance to the laws and
thority of the United States, and on this ground
the proclamation of Gen. jackson made very
severe and direct. Even that ordinance did not
dissolve the Union.
From tie Ne,0 York Herald
Congress may have the legal and constitutional
right to commence civil war in the case of that
little State but no wise or good men would advise
Congress to exercise it. Even il the other South
ern States would not make common cause with her
from the moment the sword was drawn, and if the
whole country, from Maine to Texas, should not be
involved in the mad, sanguinary struggle, still it
would be the duty of fraternal States and Of fra
ternal government, to conciate and do justice to
South Carolina, even if she should stand alone
This government can never exist by force. Its
basis its structure and whole theory, entrly pre-
clude such idea; and to keep unwilling States in
the Union it will become necessary to subvert the
principles of the Declaration of Independence, and
change the Union into a military despotism, rest
ing tor its support, not public opinion, but on
bavonets The people of the North will never give
their consent to the raising of a standing army
which, if successful i'll subjugating the Southern
States, would very soon be turned against their
own liberties.
From the ". Y. Tribane.l
According the general Statn
has gone out Of the Union, but if we do not forget
that it is not the first time she has done so, shall
tremSle the less. We remember when she was
ready to 90 to the death for Gen. Hamiton's su-
gar when it was said of her. "duce ct decoruma est
pro patria mort" But it was sweeter yet to come
| back, and she came back. She may do so again.
1t is easy to pass resolutions, difficult to exc
cute them Her first act OF sovereignty is ather
ludicrous. She asks the Government from which
she secedes to conduct for her her postal system
However, she has gone, and if she is gratifed by
the manner of her going, the qualification is one
which nobody, we fancy, will grudge her. If she
chooses to be without the advantages of the Union,
which her sister States enjoy and will continue to
enjoy the loss is hers, and the adVantages-so far
as the saving of some heavy expense is concerned
is ours. How in any other sense she is to get
out of the Union, it is not easy to see. Her Com
missioners will presently appear at Washington,
| and will have the honor, doubtless, of dining with
the Old Public Functonary, who still holds high
Court in the White House. They may wait upon
with them upon the subject of dissolution. What,
then, they do? Like the French King who
marched up the hill with twice ten thousand men,
and then marched down again, they can return to
Charleston and report aues Poly S thff
keep her hands off the forts, and she secede as
long as she pleases.
From the Ne,y FORK WorId.l
Well, South Carolina has crossed the Rubcon.-
She unanimously passed her secession ordinance
yesterday, and is doubtless expecting that all
ton will feel the shock. They seem, however, to
have taken it very quietly at Washington, and we
doubt whether there will be much nervousness else
where. South Carolina is to-day, in spite of her
ordinance, just completely and absolutely part
of the American Union she yesterday. She
might as well have resolved the harbor of Charles
ton to be no longer a part of the Atlantic
The city more recede from the tides than
the State can secede from the bonds which bind this
great Union together. South Carolina, by herself
is helpless and unless the other slave States come
to her relief she will soon be in a most pitiable con-
| dtion-the condition of all those whose realized
achievement falls ridiculously short of their de-
! clared aim. The only apprehension that need be
! felt is from the chance that the other Southern
| States will make common cause with her. What
this chance amounts to will soon be seen.
From the NeW York Times,
AS this step universally anticipated it vii
| create no special uneasiness. 1t does not change
the relations of South Carolina to the Union in the
slightest degree, though it will very possibly be fol
lowed by acts that will have that effect 1t is no
easy to see how she avoid refusing to pay du
ties at once, as her continuance in paying, upon
her own theory, becomes now an act of gratuitou
subsection and tribute to foreign State.
From the Richmond Inquirer.l
For thirty years we have been talking and hear
ing about effective resistance to Northern aggres
| sion. Public meetings, Congressional speeches
enthusiastically resolutions, have sue
ceeded each other, time and again, to be smoheret
in compromises and shifts, and, in all cases hither
to, to actual concessions sufficiently important tt
| invite further aggression. This sort of thing ha
finally involved, not only imminent danger, but &C
tua and serious outrage: and finally, worst of all
and Southern courage.
AT any time, an act of resistance would have
sufiiced to check and repe the tide of injury ant
opprobrium. We have waited long for tit ha
been sorely needed; it has come at last. Yester
day, at one O'clock P. NJ, the sovereign State @
South Carolina finally resolved to sever all connec
ton with confederacy which has failed to secur
her sovereign dignity and equality. Three time
three for the first act of State resistance to degra
ding oppression!
LATER FROM HAvANA.-The United States mai
| steamer Quaker CITY, r. w. Shufeldt, commander
arrived at New York on Thursday from Havana
which port she left Saturday afternoon the 18th
with mails, specie, merchandise and passengers
She brings Sl07,7l8.
Health of Havana good and the weather fne
On the 18th inst, the Spanish feet stationed a
the port of Havana, Consisting of steamers an
frigates, steamed out OF the port under command
OF the Admiral, tor short trip to sea, to eXercs
the crew. At the day of sailing of the Quaker
City, they had not returned, rumor being in cir
culation of their having sailed for Vera Cruz
| Mexico.
Business of all kinds in Havana since last report
remains without improvement. Several meeting
| had been held by the prominent merchants by orde
! of the Captain General, to devise method to i'm
prove commercial affairs, and give greater uuan
unity.
The Government to give greater relief to the bust
community had authorized the Spanish bank to is
sue four millions of dollars in paper two millions to
put into immediate circulation, the balance if requisite
had been taken at once
| Sugar quotations follows: Whites tcommo
rains IL u to l3h reas Browns Nos 10 and II, 81 t
81. Stock hand 8 600 boxes, against same number
boxes in '5S and $50 at dates. Molasses-none
hand of old crop Freighs-nothng Offering the Uni
| ted States.
Exchanges London 13H@I4h premium; New Yor
20 days 3(G7 per cent premium do at sight, 7@10 do
New Orleans 791O do.
Arrived from the United Staes-13th, steamer Habana
from New Orleans; 18th, steamer Cahawba, do; 18th
steamer Star of the West, do.
| A NEW PHASE OF SECEssIoN-A venerable ant
| well-known citizen of Virginia, residing in tn
county of Richie, has written to apprise us of
moveme mt which, he says, is already set on foot il
the Northwestern part of that State, for the pur
pose of calling convention of the people to tax
into consideration the expediency of separating
| from Virginia in case of her Withdrawing from tn
| Union to join in the formation of Southern Con
| federacy. Our informant adds that the leaders IL
this revolutionary scheme contemplate the erection
of new State, embracing that portion of Virgini
lying west of the Blue Ridge, and destined to in
| clude as many counties east of said line, along thu
upper Potomac and near it, as may be induced BY
| identity of interest cO-Onprata in he -