The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-26
To the Editors of the Erchan1e.


GENTLEMEN:-I see in your paper of this morninc
an extract from speech of the Hon. Mr.. Hale of
New Hampshire, made during the last Presidential
campaign, and quoted with great applause in the
Chicago Democrat of the time, in which the posi-
bility of secession disunion, under any circum-
stances, is denounced as a ridiculous s'humbup -
1t is not necessary to go quite far for ilustra-
tons OF the same statesmanlke foresight and saga
city. our readers may perhaps have forgotten
the speech of the Hon. Henry Winter Davis de-
livered at the New Assembly Rooms in this citv
on September 9th, 1860. Let me beg the favor OF
you to refresh their recollections by inserting an
extract from the authorized version of the same.
which they will find in the Clipper of September
29th 1t is as follows:
Gentlemen, we have here, under this howl about
breaking up the Union in the of the election OF
one Of our opponents only another instance of that
ssent and pertnacious agitation of the slavery question
and appealing to mems fears and attempting to shake
their nerves, which has been the policy in my Judgment
Of the Democratic party for great many years past
going to do it? Mr. Douglas not for his whole CHARGE
against his Democratic opponent is that he disuniop
lst Mr. Bell is not because he is named as the Union
candidate Mr. Lincoln is not because of the grounds
OF charge against him that he says the South shall not
secede if she wants to do Laughter and applause
believe him The great body of his followers
believe, disavow it likewise. l believe them
AS to the remaining small body of persistent and peril
nacous disunonist have doubt there are such ner
sons in the United States, but think that now as here
toiOe, IN the event OF no great grievance occurring
no great outrage being perperated of no war being
made on the Southern States and sttutions upon
everything being allowed to continue as it has been
hitherto and to has proceeded heretofore the
sun being allowed to rise not with BLOOD and the
moon being allowed to rise not turned to darkness-it
these things shall continue, my impression is that the
hottest the dsunonists will count their numbers and
they will count the numbers the side and they
VIII prudenty, upon reconsideration of the whole mat
ter, wait for further opportunity" Great laughter
and applause.l
DO you not think that the "howl about breaking
up the Union" is delightfully."- in keeping with .'the
dance of war" which the distinguished orator now
tells US is likely to close masquerade'' of gov
eminent? Is not the concert of a piece with the
ballet? Altogether, do you not recognize q
charming and most consistent method of dealing
with great questions, on the part of the honorable
gentleman? Has he not gentle, fraternal, states
manlike, harmonizing way of his own?
These are the people, Messrs. Editors, to nv door
way OF thinking, who have made the crisis which
is upon us-men who supposed that disunion was
to be averted by sneering at the suggestion of it.
and who now think that revolution is to be quelled
by bullying it. Time, if l am not mistaken, will
assign their proper places to these "friends of the
Unon.''