The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-30
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JULY so, 1861.

Yesterday afternoon Messrs. HOWARD, GATCHELL
and DAVIS, three of the Police Commissioners of
this city, together with seven other persons, most
of whom are citizens of Maryland, were placed on
board the steamer Joseph Whitney, and carried, as
Is supposed, 10 New York, there to be imprisoned
at the pleasure of Mr. LINCOLN. All of these
Estate prisoners" rs they were termed in the
order which directed their removal, have, for
some weeks past been lying in Fort Mc1Ienry,
meditating, it may be, on the value of civil
liberty and the blessings of constitutional
government. They had been torn from their
families and homes without form Of law,
and have been patiently awaiting the time
when the flag Of the free'' should cease
to sanctify an act of despotism which could
scarcely have been perpetrated in Austria with
impunity. They have been looking for the Grand
Jury to put into some tangible shape the ISLANDERS
which have been circulated against them, and
they have been prepared to give the lie to their
cusers and to maintain their own integrity But the
Government has failed to make good its insinua-
tons and hostile and INSCRIPTIONS Grand jury
has adjourned without preferring single charge
against them, and Notwithstanding this they have
been arbitrarily hurried out of the State, and arc
to be subjected TO confinement in a Government
fortress. There was time when the voice of the
American people would have been lifted ND in
unanimous and overwhelming protest against this
tyrannous proceeding; when their hands would
have been prompt TO hurl from power the Presi-
dent who had dared for an instant or under any
pretences whatsoever to trample down the
laws and the Constitution. In the DAYS when the
enlightened freemen of this continent were wont IN
denounce the despotic measures of LOUIS Napo-
LEON, and sheer Mt the slavish submission of the
subjects of the Gar, and boast of the spirit with
which Americans would resent oppression-in
those days there would have been at least an ont.
cry against the usurpations of the miserable far.
ton which has the ear of conranial ond ohso.
qulous chief. But that time has passed and We
fear forever. A fanatical majority in the North
stands ready to applaud any outrage that is Der.
petrated in its behalf, and a timd and subser.
Went minority, with but an individual execution
here and there basely shrinks from vindicatnr its
seli-respect Or duty. But though the people O
one section have been thus recreant to the faith q
their fathers, the spirit of freedom yet survive,
elsewhere. Here in Maryland, where political anG
religious liberty was first proclaimed men still
hold hrmy to the cause Of constitutional Govern
ment. They will part with their brthright TO,
no paltry mess of pottage, nor will they forepe
their privileges at the dictation of any people, OF
the bidding Of any Administration. Mr.. LINCOLN
has not fortresses enough under his jurisdiction
to contain the citizens of Maryland who are ready
TO risk life, and all that they hold most dear in
defence of their rights as freemen. In their be-
half therefore, we here record another protest
against the latest and most infamous act of op-
preston, which an inscriptions and foresworn
Government has perpetrated in our midst.