The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-11

Constitution nor the law recognizes the shadow OF
a difference between his obligations, III the two
cases, and if circumstances and public policy, or
''current events and experience" justify him in
departing from the strict letter of his duty, in
either case, surely the justification is thousand
fold stronger in that one of the two, in which the
discharge of his duty would be thousand.fo
the more Irritating and obnoxious, - and more
''nearly impracticabe." If he can exercise a
discretion in order to prevent riot in an "inte.
'ror' village, surely his obligation to exercise it
is made an imperative, paramount and sacred
obligation, in order 10 prevent conflict of armies,
and the terrors and horrors Of desperate and
bloody civil war, on the seaboard or the frontier.
And this brings US to what we have always in
sisted was, and what we still insist is the only
true view Of the question, and what Mr.. LINCOLN,
by necessary implication, comedies to be such, al
though he has not the franknesS and manlness 10
say so in words We mean-that it is the duty
of the General Government to look the facts and
circumstances of our existing situation in the
face to recognize the fact of great, and for the
present. a consummated revolution, backed by
the resources Of seven powerful States and the
manhood of three millions of brave people: to
realize the fact that these States and peo-
pie have deliberately determined not to be
governed by the laws or rulers OF the UNION,
and that any attempt so 10 govern them
will not only be resisted by them 10 the death, but
will kindle the fires Of revolution and of battle
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
We mean that it is the duty of the Government,
recognizing these things as facts, to deal with
them as such, whether they are lawful facts, or
not, and however heartily it may condemn
them; and, instead of wasting its time and dignity
and the temper and patience and peace of the peo-
pie, in drawing puerle and pretended distinctions
between war, which is called war, and war
which is called executing the laws''-to withdraw
every threat pretence or practical demonstration
of authority or compulson, and let time, negotia-
tion Cancellation, good feeling and interest, re-
unite the fragments of the Repablic, or draw be-
tween them-if it must unhappily be so-the line of
peaceful and bloodess separation. We insist that
instead of turning over authorities and splitting
hairs to find out abstract principles Of govern
"ment," under which it may be demonstrated that
all governments are bound to prevent their own
dissolution, at every hazard-it is the duty of
the administration to study the principles of this
Government, which is government of freedom,
consent and peace, and to DEAL according to these
practical American principles, with an exigency
not contemplated or provided for by the Consti-
tuition. If such counses are not to be needed, be-
cause coming from press or a people which the
administration may regard as hostile let it hearken
to them from its own friends. Let the manly,
straightforward suggestions of Mr.. STANTON, Of
Ohio, in the House of Representatives in the dis
cusson OF the 2Sh of February, address them.
selves to the sense and patriotism of the President
and his Cabinet.
"Seven eight Staes'' said Mr.. s., "now deny allie
glance to the Government and have proceeded
lie separate confederacy independent of the federal
government Whether it will be recognized not is
question Tor the future. If these States maintain their
position for two and it should appear that moth
ing but war or subsection bring them back he would
De disposed to recognize their independence"
This is the downright practical view of the
question. In lis qualifications, Mr.. LINCOLN In
augural may mean this. In its general announce
ment of principles and duties, it means precisely
the contrary. The people are interpreting it, in
both ways, according to their passions or their
hopes. 1t was doubtless meant to be so inter-
preted Let US trust that JANUS, the two-faced,
may not open, as of old, the gates of war.