The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-29
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1861

slave States for the past three months is the most
causeess excitement that ever disturbed the repose
of the nation. 1t is said that the fears of the
South are wholly groundless, its suspicious gra-
tutous and its anger unjustifable Even in Ma
ryland there are not few persons who entertain
these views. They disapprove, and not without
good reason, of the extreme course which a num-
Der of the States have pursued, and their indigna-
ton at the mode in which redress has been sought
prevents them from Judging patiently and fairly
the causes of the dispute. Grant that the action
of the Cotton States has been precipitate, reckless
and revolutionary, and still the admission does
not affect the question Of the Justice of their COM
plants against the North. In order to determine
this the relative positions of the two sections must
be candidly considered, without reference 10 the
events which have transpred subsequent to the
election of Mr.. LINCOLN. What, then, was the
situation of either on the third of November last?
1t cannot, we think, be successfully denied that
the anti-slavery agitation in the North had, for a
long time, been gaining ground and that it had so
rapidly increased within the last few years that
large majority of the leading politicians there had
become committed to doctrines which indicated
an unrelenting and active hostility towards the
institutions of the South. Nor can it, on the
other hand, be questioned that the South had ev-
cry right TO doubt the friendliness and mistrust
the intentions Of those who continually, through
the press and from the pulpit and the hustings
vituperated and mathematical the STAKEHOLDER,
and who had resisted the Fugitive Slave Act,
passed Personal Liberty Bills, and gorifed the
ND Of Dro, W.
Southern people would have been more than hui
man. if they had regarded. with calm Indifference
the many words and deeds which have evidenced
the inimical feelings of large proportion of the
population of the free States The two sections
had therefore become estranged from, if not in
some measure hostile towards each other, prior to
the nomination of Mr.. LINCOLN; but so long as
the Federal Government should stand between
them, and have the disposition and the power to
enforce in every quarter obedience 10 the Consti.
tuition, the South dreaded no systematic and ire
slstible assault upon its rights. When, however,
the Republican party met in Convention at
Chicago, it presented an issue to the country
which changed altogether the aspect of az
fairs. 1t assumed an attitude which few
conservative men then believed it would dare to
take, and which could not fail to excite the gra-
vest apprehensions in the South. Under the shall
low pretence of reafirming the Declaration of In
dependence it asserted that governments are nsti-
tuted TO secure to all men the inaIienable rights
''of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
1t adopted the language of the charter of the Re-
pablo, but it gave to it widely different signif-
cation, from that which it bore when it was first
written. The Chicago Convention meant simply
that it was the business Of this Government as of
all Others to secure the liberty of every class and
race Having thus indicated as clearly as it could
venture to do the spirit in which it proposed to
deal with the subject Of negro slavery in future,
the Republican party denounced the decision of
the Supreme Court in the bred Scott case de- |
cared that the normal condition of all the Terri
tories of the United States is that of freedom
and explicitly denied the "authority of Congress,
cot Territorial Legislature, or of any individu-
Gals, to give legal existence TO slavery in any Ter
''ritory of the United States - Now the Supreme
Court had said with equal distinctness, that the
Constitution recognized slavery in the Territories
and that neither Congress nor Territorial Legis-
lature, could constitutionaly prohibit slavery in
holder had the right to 60 there and the Federal Gov
eminent was bound by the Constitution to protect
him. The Republican party, therefore, deliberate
ly announced its determination to repudiate this
act in defiance of the decision of
of the supreme judicial tribunal of the land
to legislate in contraventon of the established
law. 1t made its appeal to the North
vast majority of whose people determined to sus-
tain it, and it is now indignant at the reproaches
and suspicious of the South, and tells the latter
that its fears are groundess. But the Southern
people having vast interests at stake and fearful
dangers to guard against are compelled to exer-
else more foresight and vigilance than nations
which are less peculiarly situated. They cannot
but see that the power cf the Federal Govern
ment can and may be now turned to their de.
struction. They know that if the Republican
should ostentatously abolish sa-
very in the District of Columbia, and in the
forts and dock-yards throughout the South, |
and should encourage the circulation of incendia-
ry documents through the Post-office, and inter-
fere with the Interstate slave trade, that then |
their utter ruin would speedily follow; and they
feel that they cannot trust to the magnanimity |
Or justice of those who have assumed menacng |
md illegal position, and who refuse to recede |
rom il. Surely the slave States have some cause
or the alarm they have manifested. If the ques-
ions between the North and South were other
han they are, the latter might quietly await the
ssue of events. If the dispute concerned Tariffs
Banks or Public Lands the South could afford
when vanquished to be silent, for no conse-
nences which would be absolutely fatal to its exist
nee, could spring from any policy relating to these
ubjects. But if the North should interfere with
he institutions of the slave States the most disas-
'ous results must follow. The South could not
it would, get rid of negro slavery within any
easonable or, indeed, definite period; and any in
with the matter from without must |
e productive only of discomfort and insubordina-
ion, and would bring upon the slave States
narchy and desolation. The people of that sec.
ion are compelled, by due regard TO their own
afety, to resent promptly every aggressive move.
nent and to demand such guarantees as will in
ure them peace for the future Have they now
n view of all that has transpired within the last
ew years, taken alarm too soon? Is it foolish
imidity or wise foresight that makes them antici-
'ate danger to themselves from the elevation of
he Republican party to power? They have deter
mined that it is the part of prudence to endeavor
O arrest the anti.slavery agitation at this point:
hey are convinced that the Republic will ulh-
nately perish in n more terrible CONFUSION than
hat which now threatens to destroy it, unless the
'irrepressible conflict is at once depressed; and
hus far we can but acquiesce in the Justice of
heir conclusions The people of Maryland, un-
oubtedly, disapprove of the action of the Gulf
tates. They have had no disposition to seek re-
ress at this juncture, by resort 10 extreme or
esperate measures. But waving all question
bout the propriety of the course the seeding
tates have pursued, we are satisfied that an over.
helming majority of the inhabitants of Mar yland
el that the South has good cause of complaint
gainst the North; and that its fears, its suspicious
nd its anger are alike well-founded
The newspapers of Philadelphia are unanimous
declaring that the meeting of mechanics and
orking men, which was held in independence
1uare on Saturday evening last, was one of the