The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-19

1t seems on the surface, that the chief obstacle
in the way of arranging our national difficulties,
is the want of concentration and agreement
amongst patriots upon a common base of opera
tions. Whether it shall be the CRIrTENDEN plan,
or the CoRwIN plan, some other, that Union
men shall take their stand upon, seems wholly
undecided at present, and point moreover, on
which there is not much likelihood of agreement
1t would appear that the compromises must
first compromise among themselves before they can
hope to get any proposition through Congress
Then men are not agreed about the grevan-
ces to be redressed. Some dwell upon the fugitive
slave question and the personal liberty bills Others
on the dogma of State equality in the common
Territories; others think it a vital point that we
should now establish forever, the condition of
future territory, which,we may, and if we are wise,
aciH never acquire. Many are fearful of la
tent tendencies in the Constitution and
would have guarantees against lurking
dangers foreseen in its future operation
But the true cause of trouble is none of
these. 1t lies deeper and is far more dangerous.
But for it, compromises would not be needed at
all; and if they WERE might be attained at a word.
1t is the alienation between the sections the hate
that stands in the place of former loyalty and love-
and breeds mutual defiance rather than agreement.
Between North and South it is now as it was with
Sir LEoLINE and his friend:
Alas they had been friends in youth
But bitter words can poison truth.
No longer confiding in each others Justice and
'forbearance and fraternal feeling, the sections
"sand apart" and each refuses to yield a lot. al
thOuph u 1
punctilio or point of honor. A party new to
the country, upon platform, in many respects,
hostile to the interests of fifteen States is on the
point of obtaining possession of the Government,
which was made 10 protect all alike Another
party, grown old in office, unused to de-
feat, and FESTIVE under it, is about to retire
from power. This result arrives at the termina-
ton of political contest in which no ap-
peal by which mems judgments can be moved or
their passions aroused, has been spared One-half
the country, justly alarmed at the Inauguration of
what they feel to be policy dangerous to them
Selves demand new Constitutional protection; and
the other, offended at the imputaton that they
cannot be trusted to administer the Government |
according to the Constitution, which has hitherto
been sufficient for all purposes, object to giving it
We state the case as moderately and with as
much charity for the motives of either side, as we
can assume; for we will not suppose that there is
a purpose of disunion, per Sc >on the one, or
conscious intention TO Cypress on the other
Stripping the issue naked, it is not really so much
new provisions in the Constitution as assurances
against injurious constructions of existing provi-
sions, that the South requires and on the other
hand, most of the constructions demanded bv the
South are not so Objectionable to the North. in
themselves, as the mode in which thew are ra-
quired to be given. These differences, which
should be nothing among brethren, are yet amply
sufficient to unsheath the sword among hostile
men. Are We, then, friends or enemies? Peace
or war depends on the answer.