The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-19

portance whether he does so conditonally or not.
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a call for "UNIoN Mass Meetng' appeared in
yesterday Ameri can, addressed to all who are
Sin favor of the Constitution Of the United States,
sand the Union Of the States under it," and invi-
ting them ITO join in an effort, throughout the
"achole country, to prevent fraternal strife, and
'thus TO restore the nation to its habitual and
"long-cherished brotherhood" If the movement
which has thus been initiated held out the faintest
prospect Of advancing the object for which it has
been professedy set foot, there is little doubt
that the people OF Baltimore would rally as one
man to its support. If it bid fair to result in
anything other than an impotent demonstration,
or the adoption of q programme which would hand
Maryland over to the North, without taking the
sense Of her people, we would respond to it as cor.
daily as any of our fellow-citizens We have
since the beginning of this revolution, steadily
avowed sentiments in favor of the Constitu-
ton and the UNION. Nay, more, we have labored
Zea!ously to maintain them. We have called at
tention, day by day, for six months past, to the
nature and imminency of the dangers which
threatened the confederacy; we have pointed out
the inevitable abyss towards which events were so
rapidly hurrying us, and we have advocated the
adoption of such conciliatory and compromising
measures as were calculated TO restore peace to our
distracted country. We have done our best for
the maintenance of the UNION; but we have sor-
rowfuly witnessed the failure Of every effort that
was made to preserve ii, and have been subjected
to the additional modification of knowing that
the lamcntable pass at which we have now ar
rived is attributable to the fanaticism and folly
OF the people of the North, and the credu-
lily and imbecility of those of the Border
States. And now that the disruption of the
UNION is complete and final, we are asked
to ignore the fact and join ourselves to those who
propose still to follow the blind and fatal policy
which has already brought us to the very verge
of destruction. Citizens of Baltimore the most
momentous question which has ever been submit
ted to US is now before us. The vital interests of
our State and the destinics of ourselves and our
children's children, hang upon this issue. The
cause of justice, honor, and the right is to be es-
poused Or rejected by the decision to which we are
soon to come. Let US pause little therefore, and
before we commit ourselves to such course as
"
lead VI.
Is the party with which we are now asked TO
cooperate worthy of the confidence and respect of
the people; and is there any reasonable proba-
bility that through its guidance and counsels we
can escape the perils which environ us? These
are tue questions to be first disposed of before any
sensible and patriotic man in the community can
countenance the contemplated movement The an
swer to each of these inquiries must be an I'M
hestitaing negative. We do not gainsay the per-
sonal responsibility or honesty of the individuals
VINO nave put forward or intend responding to this
CALL but we 90 insist that so far as their political
views and action, past and prospective, are con-
cerned, they are not entitled 10 one lot ofsympathy
or support. From the moment when the nortents
OF the approaching storm alarmed and saddeued
The hearts OF the nation, this shout of tUnion. +"
Union" has been raised as though the gathering
tempest was to be settled by the magic of a word.
unable TO recognize the magnitude and character
OF the crisis which had overtaken us-blind to tbe
obstacles which stood in the way of an adjust
ment between the sectons-uncertain which side
OF the controversy to take-they have, from the
outset done nothing but deprecate agitation and
lit their hands in unavaling protest against the
struggle which was CONFUSING the nation. De-
clded and manly action was needed to save the
UNION; and those who were loudest in expressions
OF devotion to its cause, have shrunk from assu-
ming any responsibility in its behalf content to
ne supne and sentimental. The UNION is now in
the throes of dissoluton-the fair pillars of the
Republic are lettering to their foundations. And
QpI
ertng themselves, if not to uphold the falling fab
TIC, at least to save from utter ruin some portion
OF our priceless heritage, we see a small party
Withdrawing itself from the tolls and dangers of
the contest, and amid the din of a conflict which
Is resounding through the civilized world we hear
from this little knot of timid neutrals the piping
cuckoo cry Of "Union,n "Union.n People of
Baltimore, are these the men who are TO drive
back from our borders the hosts of two warning
nations? Are they, who have been so faiuous
heretofore, the leaders whom you will choose to
Hollow now, when we need, if we ever did wise
anu courageous counsels? We can i'll afford TO he
led by blind guides any longer The prosperitv
ana happiness of this whole people is the stake
wnich Is TO be redeemed or lost in the desperate
suusgie upon which the country has entered. and
we must play manly part in the contest. O
strange hands will, to our disgrace, and PERTAINS
to our ruin, shape our destinies for us.
But it is not only by their past conduct that the
promoters of this movement have proved their in
capacity TO comprehend or deal with the present
crisis The very call which they have put forth
on this occasion affords sufficient evidence of their
weakness and indecision. 1t points to no definite
conclusions or matured line of policy-it indi-
Gates neither settled opinions nor Grmness of pur-
pose on the part of those who framed it. II CON-
'alns not one practical suggestion bearing upon
the fearful issue which has forced itself upon us.
~ simply proposes that all "whe are equally op-
posed to the fanatics and aboli,ionis,s Of the
Nortn, ana 10 the secessionists and disunionists
'ot the South as well as TO all aggressious on the
constitutional rghts-of any portion of the conn
try shall assemble in mass meeting and evnres,
themselves to this effect. Is it possible that
bearded men really believe that series of sound
ing resolutions embodying this emasculated pro-
test can stay the tide of civil war? Can man sit
quietly under bis own vine and fig tree and expect
ms little garden to be at rest when the Continent
Is heavlng and throbbing with an earthquake? Can
be hope that the sunshine will fall blacidly upon
his homestead when the winds of heaven are abroad
ana the clouds are crammed with thNnderbolts2
nuch oeiuSions as we are now invited TO Weld TO
nave seldom before taken possession of line minds
VI iauonai beings. SYDNEY SMITH ohce ilus-
ua.eu d somewhat similar error when speakinp
10 That portion of the English public wbbb ,ra,
attempting 10 quiet the reform agitation nv
smooth words and halfway measures ANns;n.
to those who thus sought to stop the meyon,o,t
he said, they reminded him forclbIy "of the oraat
"storm Of Sidmouth, and of the conduot
"of the excellent Mrs. PARrINeroN on that
occasion. In the winter of 1924 there
set in great food upon that town
lne tide rose to an incredible height-the waves
,usned In upon the houses, and everything was
threatened with destruction. In the midst of this
,, sI'inne and terrible storm, Dame DARLINGTON,
WV i'eu upon the beach, was seen at the door of
nei nouSe' with mop and patteps trundlinu her
hop' squeezing out the sea watar ona T.
'ously pushing away the Atlan,;o o.. T,
Atlantic was reused. Mrs. p,nrr,. n Inc
"was up; but need not tell Won NJ spirit
was unequai' Inc Atlantic Ocean beat NJ,
"PARTINGToN. She Twas excellent at a s1os MIS-
"puddle, but she should not have meddad ~, VI
'tempest." Much as we dislike to illustr.to "
grave subject with anything that savors of .
jest, the case of Mrs. PARrNGToN is SO appropriate
that we cannot but think its introduction here
may be productive Of good. For if men will only