The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-22

patton ana oppression. II Is .or Mr.. WINTER
DAVIS and such as he to justify the overthrow of
the Constitution by the necessity of maintain
ing the Government, and to sneer at the assertion
of the rights of the people against absolute power,
as pettifogging enquiry, "wheher the writ of
"ejectment will lie"
When we insisted in yesterdays issue that the
"UNIoN" candidates for Congress in Maryland
"should state precisely what they hope to accom-
"psh, and explain the line of policy they intend
" to pursue, we spoke with full knowledge of
the views which the Hon. H. WINTER DAVIS had
expressed at the Assembly Rooms on the previous
evening. But, though we certainly thought that
gentleman's speech sufficiently explicit, we did not
deem it necessary to modify the article in ques-
ton. We did not propose to regard Mr.. DAVIS
extreme opinions and random assertions as in any
way answering the inquiries we pr0pounded, for
we are unwilling up to this moment to assume
that he represents the "UNIoN party" in this
State, and did not therefore, consider it fair to
saddle upon it any responsibility for his utterances
opinions. That speech is to be dealt with only
in connection with the speaker himself. The in
science of tone assumption of superiority, vim
dictiveness of temper, and blindness of Judgment
which distinguish its every paragraph, are char
acteristic of himself alone No considerable sec
ton of any party can, we are persuaded, approve
the indiscriminate and reckless denunciation with
which on this, as on all previous occasions, he
has seen fit to assal those who differ from him
and no portion of the people of Maryland will be
likely to endorse the extreme ruinous and SAN
culinary policy which he so mady advocates.
But few of those with whom he has formerly acted
will be desperate enough to agree that Mr.. LIN
COLIN, under the specious pretext of reinforcing
"the laws" shall overthrow the Constitution
and trample the fundamental rights of this
people under foot, Or perverse enough to deny that
what the Administration calls ''civil war; is,
in reality, any war at all. With these convictions
we precluded from regarding Mr.. DAVIS as the
exponent of anybody but himself and compara-
lively insignificant minority of the old Know
Nothing party; and in this light, until better in
formed, we shall continue to view him and his
opinions. The latter we are inclined 10 refrain
from discussing, not only for the reason already
given, but because of the hopelessness of arguing
with one from whose logical system facts are rig
idly excluded in favor of such fiat assertions as
happen to suit the purpose of the moment A man
who can refuse, at this junctufe, to admit the
dread and palpable presence of civil war in the
land, is perfectly capable of denying the existence
of the sun at midday, and of contending that the
world is Illuminated by the Gas Company; and
with such it is idle to argue
But there is one part of the address which
we cannot, for an instant, pass over without
an indignant and plain spoken word of COM
ment. In his criticism upon the conduct of
the municipal authorities at the time of, and
subsequent to, the outbreak in this city in
April, Mr.. DAVIS remarked ''that the Leg
'slature had to legalize certain acts which had
drought certain gentlemen within the range Of
'the Pententary." When we characterize this
observation as not less infamous than insolent our
readers will not, of course so far misunderstood
US as to imagine that we object to any mans
right to censure the authorities, or to condemn
their acts or scrutinize their motives. On the
contrary, we hold that every citizen may call |
them to account when and where he pleases; and |
if he chooses to discuss their proceedings with as
perity and bitterness, it is his privilege to do So
But there are limits within which fair and |
honest discussions are usually confined; and |
when these are transgressed, and animad-
version takes the shape of abuse and |
defamation, then the dispute is removed beyond
The legitimate bounds of political controversy.
The assailant must under such circumstances,
satisfy the world Of his own candor and integrity,
md show that his structures are justified by the
acts to which they are applied, for otherwise the
Vltuperative epithets and calumnious imputations
of the accuser recoi heavily on his own head. In
his position Mr.. DAVIS stands and unless he can
convince this community that the municipal au-
horties have been guilty of some disreputable
'onduct-have been animated by dishonest mo-
ives, or have prostituted their authority 10 base
has but brought lasting odium upon
himself by the scurrilous aspersions in which he
las ventured to indulge. We will not enter upon
IN argument to demonstrate the monstrous and
ltrocious outrage of his attempt to connect the
proceedings of the authorities in the mind of the
public with Penitentiary offences, and to cast OBJ
oquy upon them henceforth as men who escaped
punishment and degradation through the favor
Of the Legislature. The people are familiar with
The facts, and the characters of the accuser
ana tie accused are not unknown to the citizens
of this State and city, and we are content that
they shall be the judges of The decency of Mr..
DAVIS malignant suggestions That they NAV
liner ABOUT the expedency, necessity and legality
'f tne acuon OF the authorities in April last, is
very likely; that they will disagree about the good
or Ill consequences of that action is equally nrob
'ble; but that the vast majority of the people of
his city believe the authorities to have acted con.
cientiously, and according to their best Judgment
We are thoroughly convinced. And we are more.
ver satisfied that the community is well assured
hat in the fearful emergency in which they were
laced the authorities had no end in view but the
onest discharge of their duties, and were neither
lsposed to forget nor disregard the purposes for
Thich they were appointed nor the oath they had ,
sken There is one other point also upon which {
ne public will, if we mistake not agree, and that e
that Mr.. DAVIS is to be regarded with very con- e
derable distrust when he thrusts himself forward a
urge the enforcement of the laws and to expose a
hcial oelinquencies. If he had ever denounced p
Il lniquity that Injured to his advantage-if he
ad ever repudiated solitary knaye or rufian
nose laoors contributed to his own political
dvancemens-the people of Baltimore ,o;cbt
ossioly attach some Importance to his
ociferous invectives. But they remember too
ell that he was familiar with the atrocities
hich for series of years disgraced this CITY, and
, did not, through that long reign of anarchy. e7
tier one manly word of protest or condemnation G
at he bolstered up every INSCRIPTIONS official, p
neither Mayor, States Attorney or policeman, W
it'll whom he was in political affiliation-that he
'fended outrages and frauds from which the ma p
rity of his own party had at last to turn away
slckenng disgust-and that he accepted, time
~ again, the fruits of the criminal and brutal
'unpns that were achieved by his adherents
the expense of the liberties and lives of =.