The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-30

in times of high excitement the most extreme and
least sensible of her people undertake to be her
Spokesman. Such is nevertheless the fact. When
ever trouble is brewing, class of men is sure to
spring forward in South Carolina who make more
unnecessary threats and proffer more absurd ad-
vice than the politicians of all the other States
combined. Denouncing the North in one breath
for the pertinacity with which it clings to an alb
straction they will in the next profess readiness
to fight for proposition out of which it is con-
ceded no practical results can ever come. Com
planning continually of the New Highlander want
of loyalty TO the UNION, they, at the same time,
avow their willingness to withdraw from the Con-
federacy on the slightest provocation. The incon-
sistencies of these men comprehensive, for the
problems they undertake TO deal with are difficult
of solution, and their warmth of temper is perhaps
not TO be wondered at, for there is much in the
present aspect of political affairs to excite them.
But it is hard to understand why they should be
suffered to talk such incoherent in crisis
so serious. They are not only bringing the repu-
tation of the State for judgment and patriotism into
discredit but are appearing to place it in an
utterly false position, and the public they adj
dressing hears without contradicting them, and
of respect Messrs. BoYcE and KEIrT, and sun
dry Generals and Colonies of similar calibre,
have united in frenzied call to the people of the
State to prepare for immediate secession and only
n voice here and there is raised to protest against
their unnecessary clamor, or to expose the utlity
of their schemes Yet what can be more absurd
than the proposal in which these men invite their
friends and neighborS to acquiesce2 Mr.. BOYCE's
late letter is fair sample Of the other epstoary
and oratorical efforts in the same direction, and
an extract from it will show how he, and many
like him. desire to resent The anticipated triumph
of the Republican party. He says, 'if LINCOLN
t'be elected, I think the Southern States should
"withdraw from the Union; al-and if not all,
''then as many as will, and if no other, South
"Carolina alone, in the promptest manner and by
''the most direct means" = 81 = eff the
''Republican party triumph in the Presidential
'clection, our State has no choice but to immedi-
lately withdraw from the Union" Now we do
not intend TO discuss any general questions
touching The probable course of the Republican
party, or the future dissolution of the Union
That the people of the North might, at some flu
ture period, deliberately assai the institutions of
the South, is certainly possible, and that circum-
stances might occur which would justify a revo-
luton in the latter section, is equally within the
scope of political contingencies Nations as
strong and as prosperous ours have been dis
membered ere now, and it may be that we shall
share a similar fate. But we do not believe that
such a calamity is near at hand, and until it is
we will not consider the ways and means
by which it may be precipitated or avered. We
conne ourselves at present, therefore, to the pro-
position of Mr.. BoYCE, which we take the liberty
of saying is as preposterous as the brain
of the shallowest politician ever conceived
In this programme it is assumed that the other
Southern States may maintain their present rela-
uons with The N9Fsh Of Pit he Confederacv South
Carolina will go out alone. The UNITED STATES
would be then what it is now, minus one State,
and the Union would 90 rs usual, while South
Carolina negotiated treaties offensive and defensive
with France and England. We cannot pause to
review all the complications to which this condi-
ton of affairs would give rise, nor TO speculate
about the ultimate destiny Of the State if left to
herself. There is only one point to which we can
now refer, and that is the necessity which would
under such circumstances devolve upon the coun-
try of conquering South Carolina and hanging Mr..
BoYCE and his accomplices. They would make, no
doubt, gallant defence, but ifthe rest ofthe States
held together that painful task, thus imposed upon
them, would assuredly be performed. And it ought
to be. Many arguments would, in such case, be
brought forward to prove the right of any nation,
State or community to pursue whatever course
might, in the Judgment Of its people, be most
likely TO advance their happiness and welfare. But
society is not regulated altogether by ethical alb
stractions, no matter how logically they may have
been deduced from certain premises. In the political
world there is a vast number of conflicting ele-
ments to be, somehow. compromised. Whatever,
therefore, South Cardinals rights or preferences
might be, she would be compelled to defer to the
opposing views of the country at large No ra-
tonal man can suppose that the UNITED STATES
would tolerate the existence of foreign State in
their midst South Carolina, with France or
England for an ally, and with harbor which
could shelter their fleets in case of hosilities be-
tween us and one of these great Powers, would be
rather dangerous neighbor. Do the abstraction
lists themselves think that our Government would
be precluded from coercing rebellious State thus
situated in the heart of the country? If we mistake
not some of these very individuals who so loudly |
protest against any interference with State rights,
were short time ago in favor of the acquisition |
of Cuba by force Of arms. They did not pretend |
that we had shadow of claim to the Island, but
simply urged that its position was such as to
endanger the interests of this country, and that
its conquest was advisable rs matter of political
We can scarcely think that those
who would have assailed Cuba on such grounds
could expect the Government to permit a hostile
State with foreign alliances to occupy the terri
tory now called South Carolina. There are
many other considerations surrounding this ques-
ton of secession upon which we forbear at
present TO enlarge. As we do not believe that
the sentiments of Mr.. BoYcE and his party would
be endorsed by the people for whom they profess
to speak, we have not one unkind or disrespectful
word to say of those who are thus continually
But we venture to suggest that
they would stand far higher in the estimation of
their fellow courtrymen if they would take some
steps to repudiate the nonsense for which they are
in some measure responsible, and the charlatans
who are bringing discredit upon the name of their
State.