The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-22

While most of the Southern States have mani
tested willingness 10 consult together, and to
take some concerted action in the present emer-
gency, South Carolina has, we regret to say, in
Dictated disposition to adopt hasty and extreme
measures, without pausing to ascertain the wishes
of her sister States. Although the cause for which
she is battling is equally the cause of the whole
South, and although she has suffered infinitely
less injury at the hands of the ant-slavnry panty
than Maryland and Virginia, she seems new
ertheless determined to follow the bent of her own
inclination, regardless of the embarrassments Or
dangers she may thereby bring upon her neigh
bors Louisiana and Texas do not wish to take
the final step which is to sever their connection
with the Union until they have more maturely
considered it in all its bearings Virginia and
Kentucky are unwilling to move before it is fully
ascertained that it is hopeless to expect concilia
ton and concession from the North; and it is still
possible that Georgia and Mississippi may he in
duced to try the effect of the retaliatory measures
which have been proposed before declaring for the
dissolution of the Confederacy. South Carolina
alone has announced, informally but authorize
lively her fixed purpose 10 renounce her allegiance
to the Federal Government. She says she wants
no conference with any State, and she hopes for
no compromise with any. Nay, more than this, she
arrogantly rejects in advance any moderate coun-
sells which the border States may desire to profer
''The day for new guarantees" says the Charles
ton Mercury ''is gone" and on this theory South
Carolina is evidently prepared to act and we
have, therefore, no doubt that before one month
has passed she will have notified the world that
he Is A.
American Republic. What then? Shall we ac-
cept the ultmatum which South Carolina thus
dictates, or follow INCREASINGLY in her wake, no
matter how eccentric may be the orbit in which
she chooses henceforth to revolve? We do not
think we misrepresent the sentiment of Maryland,
Virginia and Kentucky when we say that they
will insist upon the right TO be heard in this grave
crisis. 1t is idle for the ultra Southern press to
tell that we are f'demoralized in the estimation
"of the South and to affect to regard with in
difference our opinions or our power. The peace
and safety of the much taked-of Southern Confed-
eracy would depend mainly upon the fact whether
its Northern boundary line ran along the Ohio,
and between Maryland and PENNSYLVANIA; or
whether it started at point upon the Atlantic
considerably South of Cape Henry, and followed
that parallel to the Mississippi; and no man is fit to
take upon himself the office of an adviser in this
matter who, in looking at the possible conse-
quences of the secession movement fails to realize
the vast Importance of this consideration. But
there are other and higher grounds upon which
the frontier States rest their claim to be admitted
fully aud freely into the counsels of every South
ern State before, any definite action is taken by a
single one of them We have suffered most from
the abolitionists, and we must bear the brunt of
the struggle if the existing discussions should,
unhappy, ever eliminate in n collision between
the two sections of the country; and we may,
therefore, reasonably expect TO be consulted about
the extent of the wrongs done the South and the
nature of the remedy that ought to be de-
manded. We have vast interests to be affected |
by any sudden and violent change in the |
Government under which we live, and no State
can be justified in seeking to overthrow the Re-
public, before submitting its motives and inten- |
tons to the Judgment of every member of the con-
federacy. We have, moreover, no little solictude
about the manner in which any defensive move
ments in the South shall be conducted, if the desti
MES well being Of our State are to be thereby in
fuenced. Maryland does not desire, nor intend.
that her position shall be compromised by the rash
and reckless acts of parties whose zeal may have
far outrun their discretion. A revolution such as
seems to be now impending, is too fearful an evil
to be unadvisedly encountered. The consequences
it will entail on this and future generations are too
terrible to be hastily defed. We cannot there
fore, too earnestly hope that South Carolina, and
every other Southern State, will calmly take coun-
sci together before the irreparable blow is struck
which is to shake this great empire to its founda-
lions. If the aggressive spirit of the North cannot
be checked, and the forbearance of the South can
last no longer-if the institutions of one section
cannot continue to exist beside those of the other
ana the people Of the country are unable to live
peaceaoly together, then it is conceded that we
must, sooner or later, cease to be one people and
one Republic. If it be determined by the South
mat the hour has now arrived when the preserva-
'lon OF the Union is no longer possible let her at
least make that declaration after due DELHI
Grafton, and with becoming dignity. If this
uarK and awful fate is inevitably approach
ing, let US not welcome it like mad anarchists or
bacchanal roysterers, but rather prepare for its
coming as wise men prepare to meet the saddest
and most awful visitation that can ever overtake
them