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

Though the secession of South Carolina had
been so long anticipated that its consummation
could create fresh surprise, still the formal de-
claration of her withdrawal from the Union served
TO intensity the painful feeling with which the
country has watched her course. That her action
has been hasty and ill-judged a majority of the
people, even in the South, will admit; and
this fact also will give additional pog-
nancy to the general sorrow with which
this first disunion movement will be regarded
But this is not the moment for vain remonstrances
or idle lamentations 1t is useless now to argue
the right of secession, for South Carolina has Sc
ceded, and does not much care whether her course
is constitutional or revolutionary 1t is unnecss-
sary to demonstrate that the General Government
has the legal right to coerce State by enforcing
the Federal laws within its borders, for ten or
twelve Southern States would take up arms to re-
sist the invasion of South Carolina, and the coun
try would prefer the disruption of the Union to
civil war on such scale. 1t may be assumed
therefore that South Carolina cannot readily be
induced or compelled 10 renew her allegiance to
the General Government, and it may be further
assumed that three or four large and populous
States will have cast their lot with hers
before the Inauguration of Mr.. LINCOLN By
the passage of the secession ordinance an
impetus will be given TO the prevailing ex-
element in the South, and the measures of
the Cotton States will be accelerated. With the
step which South Carolina has taken the revolu-
ton has advanced one long stride 1t is folly for
us to sit longer with closed eyes and folded hands.
Az
and all events have for months past tended steadily
towards one goal We have no right to suppose
that the swift and heady current which has borne
us thus far towards destruction will change its
course or pause in mid career before it reaches the
unfathomable abyss which yawns before u.s. For
weeks past, sanguine advisers have been telling us
that the people would never suffer the Union to be
dissolved, and to-day the Union is crumbling be-
meath our feet, and not even that portion of the
people whose position is most perilous have lifted
hand or voice to save it. What hope of rescue
have we now, that we so blndly and impassiyely
await the ISSUE Do we expect this revolution to
he disarmed unless it is met by some word of con-
ciliation or compromising measure-will it 90
backward because it is unopposed? 1t behooves
ms to considerable dangers of our situation while
a chance of escape is left u.s. We have long So
laced ourselves with the idea that the selfgov-
ernng people of this country are exempt from
ordinary political weaknesses and psssons-that
the Republic our fathers formed is proof against
assaults of either domestic enemies or foreign foes
and that its destiny is equally unchange-
able and glorious. 1t is time to awake
from this dream. The Union is in ex-
treme and dire peril, and the loyal and faithful
services of all its people are as much needed on
behalf of our common country now as they were
at the time of the revolution.