The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-19
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1850

The speech of Senator WADE, on Monday eve
ming last, caused here-as it must have done else
where-a general feeling of depre:s sion. As Mr..
WADE is one Of the most active and influential of
the Republican leaders, any speech from him
would under existing circumstances, have at
tracted considerable attention But on this occa-
sion lie was, as it were especially deputed to rep
resent and speak for his party, and peculiar sig
nfcance and importance attaches to the remarks
Of which we published an abstract yesterday. IT.
as we suppose Mr.. WADE views were simply il
Illustrative of those entertained by the larger por-
ton Of his party and the spirit manifested by him
was indicative of that which animates the Repub.
lican members Of Congress, then, indeed, is the
condition of the country not only critical but
hopeless. Compromise and Cancellation are ut
terly out Of the question, if the majority of the
people of the North have made up their minds to
deal with the people of the South after the manner
of Mr.. WADE. That gentleman has saved US the
trouble Of demonstrating this by Announcing the
same conclusion himself. The Republican party,
he said, chad won the victory as all others
''had, and they had no compromises to make"
Right or wrong, revolution or no revolu-
ton, Mr.. WADE gives notice of the fixed &C.
termination of the supporters Of Mr.. LIN
COLIN to conccde nothing to the demands
of the slave States He will come what may,
defend every thing which the people in hot and
hasty mood, have endorsed through the
ballot box. lie tells US that, ''the verdict of
'the people had chosen LINCOLN and HAM
'LT the Republican platform, and to
"the extent Of his ability be would sustain them
ITO yield 1.-THE of this verdict would be humil
''iation that he would resist at all hazards Mr.
WADE will, therefore, stand by the Chicago plat
form, and each and all OF its aggressive and I'M
constitutional provisions. The bare statement of
this proposition explains, well as an hours har
angue would do the views Of thepeople who approve
it, and Mr.. WADE might well have made it at the
outset, and then have brought his speech to Close
But such course would not have answered his
purpose. lie had said that he wanted no compro-
mise, and he apparently felt bound to do what he
could to prevent others from making such mutual
concessions as might tend to restore harmonious
relations between the hostile States 1t is certain
that if he did wantonly design, by his attack upon
the South, to put anything like peaceful settle
ment of the controversy beyond the pale of posi-
bility, he must have very nearly succeeded, for
the unfair arguments he used, the uncaIled for
illustrations he INDUCED in, and the vindictive
temper he displayed, cannot faiI to add still
further to the excitement that is already blazing
too high throughout the South.
fMr. WADE's criticisms upon the South had
been fair, we should not object to their severity,
but they were as false as the defence he made for
his own section was dishonest. We do not pro-
pose to review the many unwarrantabla assump-
tions and conclusions which the Ohio Senator
managed to crowd in so small compass, but we
cannot refrain from calling attention to IL single
instance of downright preyarcation, to which he
resorted in order to explain the nolensive charac-
ter of the Personal Liberty Bills. Mr.. WADE
said he believed " that these laws were not
'passed because Of any hostility to the South
claws to prevent Kidnapping were as old as the
Common law, and were on the statute books of
Southern States. He believed there was
especial legislation everywhere on the subject
We have frequently, of late, referred to the fact
thNt-in answer TO the complaints of the SJuth
upon this point-the press and people Of the North
have resorled 10 this ptiful equivocatior, but we
did not expect that such a plea would be ad
vanced in the Senate. When, therefore, Mr.. WADE
arose in his place and asserted that the Personal
Liberty Bills were not passed for the purpose Of
obsructing the rendition Of Fugitive Slaves, we
could but acknowledge that it was almost time
for the South TO abandon all hope of obtaining
a fair hearing and final justice from the North.
We could but feel, read the proceed
ings of the Federal Congress of Monday,
and the few preceding days, that the
destines of the country indeed to be despaired
Of when Senator WADE, and politicians of like
stamp, could in any way control them-and look
ing forward to the ruin that apparently about to
overwhelm the nation we could but sympathize
with the feeling which forced the noblest poet of
the age 10 excaim
''Ah, God for with heart, head, hand,
Like of the simple great ones gene
For and ever BY
One STILL strong man. in blatant land,
Whatever they call him, what care J.
Aristocrat democrat, autocrat-one
Who can rule and dare not lie ~