The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-02

THURSDAY, NAY 2. 1861.

At time like this, men must think and act.
We are on the verge Of shipwreck, and our best
energies, courage and judgment are required TO
enable US to make some safe harbor or at least to
preserve from absolute destruction some portion of
our possessions. It is neither wise nor manly TO
content ourselves at this juncture with protesting
that we did not bring ourselves into our present
position; with deprecatng the violence Of the
storm; or with appealing to old memories and
rooted sympatlies. The sailor, when the roar Of
the breakers is sounding in his ears, does not as
sembe his fellows on the quarter deck, and tel
them that the tempest has carried them out of the
course they wished to steer, ard remind them Of
the gIories Of tie flag which floats at the mast
head and Of the skill and integrity Of the builder
Of the ship, and SO 90 crashing upon the rocks.
Nor does the statesman when an EN- ire is crumt-
ling to ruin around him, entertain the public with
fond remniscences Of the past, and advise the
people to shut their eyes to the unpleasant images
which are Swallowed forth from the gloomy ftl-
ture. All men in perous emergencies deal with
living facts and so too must we in this grave
crisis if we 1T to be entrusted any longer with
the high privileges we have been accustomed to
exercise. Let US then, neither deceive ourselves
nor be deceived any longer, but endeavor as
speedily as we may TO realize the precise nature OF
our position. Let us understand exactly where
we are going before we blindly join those who
enthusiastically call on us to follow, simply be-
cause they have unfurled a loved and familiar
flag.
We are invited TO cooperate with a certain por-
ton of our fellowcitizens and with the Admius-
tration in order 10 preserve the UNION and it be-
comes us to give the proposition the fairest EXAM
inaton. If the policy they suggest could restore
the harmonious relations which have heretofore
existed between the Northern and Southern
States, we should be heartily for that policy, by
whomsoever it might be initiated or carried out.
But we unfortunately are unable to comprehend
its wisdom, or to anticipate from it any good re-
suits. On the contrary, we are thoroughly salts
fed that the course which the "Unon' men Of
Baltimore desire to pursue, will pat an end to the
last lingering hope which now exists of recon
struc'ion of the Conederacy. Does any one be
lieve that the South can be compelled, by force o
arms, TO return TO its allegiance to the Fedora
Government? Does any one imagine that the cam
non and the bayonet will induce the Southern
people TO resume their political and social rca-
tons with those who have sent an invading army
TO the South and have melted servile insurrecton
throughout its territory? Surely the "UNIoN''
men Of Maryland do not suppose that such conse-
quencs are to ensue from the expedition which the
North has set on foot, and they do not therefore
look to see the UNION restored through the coer-
Give system which Mr.. LINCOLN has adopted
How, then, dcs the "UNIoN" party propose to
win back the seeded States? Does it EXPECT the
Administration, which has refused to hearken 10
the advice and remonstrances of the people of Vir-
ginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, to
be guided by the counses of the 'Uniouists' here
Does it venture to hope that the people of the
North, after having spHrned the overtures Of The
representatives Of four or five large and porulous
States, will defer 10 the wishes of portion Of the
citizens of Maryland? In the name of reason
and fair dealing, let the " UNION " party, which
is waving the flag of the old republic, and cheer
ing Justify for the preservation of the old con-
federacy, toll us by what means it hopes to attain
its ends? Until it does this, we can peither re-
spect nor join it. We have seen it blunderinr on
in the same path for six months past without
accomplishing anything, and we are a a loss to
understand how it can ask now for the confidence
and support Of the public. 1t has constantly
protested to see 4 way ont Of our difficulties. and
has continually predicted their speedy adjustment,
and all the while the aspect of airs has been
growing worse aud worse. 1t has urged us to
" cling 10 the CNIoN,'' and to support the Ad-
min: cf,Dt n,,lf H.,
the UNION, and encouraging those who were
striving to preserve it, and has been obedient to
the Administrations of Mr.. BUCHANAN and Mr..
LINCOLN up to the moment when the Massachu-
sets militia began to march against our brethren
We have done rs the "Unonsts" desired, and
where are we now? Where is Virginia, our
iriendiiest neighbor and our trustiest ally?
Where viii Tennessee, and Kentucky, and
North Carolina be three weeks hence
How is the UNION party of Maryland to bring
about the dissolution ola ConfeGeracy containing
twelve States, when it could do nothing TO infiu-
ence the course Of any one Of these States sep
aratey? Are the people of this State to lend will
ling ears forever to the dreamers and false
prophets who have led them so far asray already?
For ourselves, we believe that Maryland has lis
tened too long TO the delusive voice which has
persuaded Ter to silence and inaction. We are
convinced that a reconstruction of the UNION on
anything like its old basis is utterly hopeless, ex-
cept in one contingency. If the united South
taxes up arms and presents TO the North the alter
native OF making concessions, or consentinp TO a
SEPARATION the UNION may possibly be re-estab-
llshed. But the 'UNIoN" party here disapprores
OF this policy, and hence it is manifest to Ms that
the ''UNloN'' party is impotent for good. 1t can.
not help the UNION. 1t can unite Maryland to the
North, but it can do nothing more