The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-17
THE: NATIONAL TROUBLES,
to THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
A RECOMMENDATION.

pious and patriotic associations and citizens, il
view Of the present distracted and dangerous con
/ dition OF country, to recommend that day b
| set apart for humiliation, fasting, and praye
j throughout the Union. In compliance with tbei
! request, and my own sense of duty, I designate
Friday the 4h day Of January, 1861,
for this purpose, and recommend that the peopl
assemble on that day, according to their severa
forms of worship, to keep it as a solemn Fast.
The Union of the States is at the present momen
| threatened with alarming and immediate danger
panic and distress of fearful character prevail
throughout the land-our laborng population ar
without employment, and consequently deprived Q
the means of earning their bread-indeed hop
seems to have deserted the minds of men. Al
classes are in state of confusion and dismay, ant
the wisest counsels of best and purest men ar
wholly disregarded.
In this, the hour OF our calamity and peril t.
whom shall we resort for relief but to the God o
Fathers? His Omnipoteut Arm only can saw
US from the awful effects OF own crimes AM
Heavenly Father.
Let US, then, with deep contriton and peniten
sorrow, unite in humblng ourselves before the Mos
High in confessing our individual and nationa
sins, and in acknowledging the justice Of our pun
ishment Let us inpore Him to remove from oul
hearts that false pride Of opinion which would i'm
pei us to persevere in wrong for the sake of con
sistency, rather than yield a just submission tc
the unforeseen exigencies by which we are now
surrounded Let US, with deep reverence, beseect
him, to restore the friendship and good will which
the several States; and, above all, to save u:
from the horrors of civil war and ''blood- guilt
iness." Let our fervent prayers ascend to His
Throne, that He would not desert us in thi:
hour Of extreme peril, but remember us as lie die
fathers in the darkest days of the Revolu
ton, and preserve our Constitution and our Union
the work Of their hands, for ages yet to come. Ar
Omnipotent Providence may override existing evils
for permanent good. He can make the wrath o
to praise him, and the remainder of wrath lie
restrain. Let me invoke every individual, in
whatever sphere of life he may be placed, to feel
personal responsibility to God and his country fol
keeping this day holy, and for contributing all ii
his power to remove our actual and impending
calamities
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, Dec. H. 1860.
RUMoRED RESIGNATION OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BENJAMIN ON SECESSION.
WASHINGTON, December 15.-There are rumors
circulating that Secretary Thompson has resigned
but there is authority for saying that such is moi
his present intention.
Senator Benjamin will take an early opportunity
to make secession speech.
Certain secessionists assert that France, Russia
Great Britain, Prussia and other European Power;
will promptly recognize the independence of any
seeding State or States; and it is said that line
of French steamers, intended to run from Havre tc
New York, will be changed from the latter port tc
New Orleans.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE NEUTRALITY LAws-EX.
CITING SPEECHES IN CONGRESS TO BE EXPECTED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l6.-Among other resolutions
which will be submitted to the House, at an early
day, is one of instruction to the Committee the
Judiciary, looking to an amendment of the neu
trality laws, so as-in addition to preventing armed
expeditions against countries with which we al
peace-to restrain voIunteer military forces fron
going from State to another for the purpose O
aiding resistance to Federal la,cs.
A number of Congressman have prepared speech
es in reference to Federal affairs several of which
are strongly in favor of coercion, and of such a
character cannot fail to produce additional
citement.
Leading gentlemen of Missouri are privately dis
cussing the question of the separate independence
of that State rather than be involved in the ex
treme secession movement
Postmaster-General Holt, who has been suffering
with pneumonia, is convalescent.
A NORTHERN PROPOSITION TO ARREST DlsUNIoN.
New York. December l5-The Albany Atlas
and Argus publishes article on the country's
danger, and remedy proposing that Lincoln's Ad
mnstration acquiesces in the construction of the
Constitution, as settled by the Supreme Court,
which puts Southern property upou an equality
with Northern property in the Territories, and the
following amendments to be made to the Consti
tuition:
Congress may establish governments for Terri
tories, and any Territory having a population
equal to the constituency of one member of Con.
gress, and having adopted, by vote of the citizens
resident therein, Constitution of the Republican
form, may be admitted by Congress into this Union
as State. Neither Congress nor the people of the
Territory, during the Territorial condition. shall
by legislation or otherwise, annul or impair the
rights of property as recognized BY the laws of any
State.''
LETTER FROM Mr.. TOoMBs ON AMENDING THE CoNsTI-
TUITION.
AUGUSTA, December l5.-it is understood that
Mr.. Toombs be about leaving for Washington. He
has just published letter referring to the 5th ar
tice of the Constitution, in which he says: If the
Constitution be amended, the amendments should
be such as could neither be evaded nor resisted by
Abolition States, and give full and ample security
to Southern rights
Then if the Republican party will vote for the
amendments, or even majority vote for them in
good faith they easily be carried through Con
gress, and he thinks it would be reasonable and
fair to postpone final action until the Legislatures
of the Northern States could be called together for
definite action amendment. If the Northern
States refuse, he urges Georgia to secede at the
latest by the 4th of March.
The Georgia Legislature adjourns next Wednes.
day. There is nothing transpiring there fgene-
raj interest
ELECTION OF GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
COLUMBIA, December l5.-The seventh ballot for
Governor resulted in the election of Hon. VIM Pick
ems. He received 50 votes, johnson Ga, and Il
votes scattering.
MEETING IN REFERENCE TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE
UNION AT YORK.
NEW YoRK, December ia meeting of promi-
nent merchants and politicians ofthe city and State
of New York, was held here to-day. Chas. O'Con-
ner, Esq, presided, and speeches were made by
John A. Dix and John McReed The latter ex-
pressed the opinion that the Union was already
dissolved, and that there would be civil war after
the 4th of March. Speeches followed on a motion
to send Commissioners to South Carolina to exhort
temperate action and delay
The meeting was also addressed by ex-senator
Dickinson, who expressed apprehension that
the Union was even now hOpeessly dissolved He
attributed the sad result to vtiated politics and
politicians, and vitiated public sentiment.
Hiram ketchum spoke more hopefully, and said
he believed that public sentiment could be reached
and corrected at home.
Letters were then read from large number OF
distinguished men, including ex-President Millard
Fillmore, Green c. Bronson, Rev. DR.. Hawks Judge
Page and John A. Green.
Ex-President Fillmore, Green C. Bronson, and
Richard Lathems, appointed to visit the
South.
HON. EDWARD BATES FORMALLY INVITED TO A POSITION
IN LINCoLNs CABINET-HB CONSIDERS SECESSION TO
BE TREASON.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Dec. l5.-Hon. Edward Bates
had an interview with Mr.. Lincoln to-day, when it
is said he formally offered by the President
elect the position of Secretary of the Interior in
NJ -