The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-03

We take it for granted that no man in orr
midst, who possesses a spark of prnciple desires
that the people of Maryland should do aught that
would degrade them in their own estimation On
all occasions upon which Maryland has called
upon her sons to act, they have responded to that
call like men who were conscious of the duties that
were incumbent upon them, and who were intent
only upon proving that they were resolutely de-
termined to fulfill those duties worthily. Impair
tial history will attest that, during the stormy
period OF the Revolution, no star shone with
steadier brilliancy than that of MARYLAND: no
drawer soldiers ever met the enemy on the battle
held than those of the old Maryland line; no BODY
OF citizens ever made sacrifices in defence of
their just rights. We do not believe that the
people of this State, upon whom are now devolved
the ueStlnles OF the Commonwealth, have in any
respect, degenerated from the race from whence
they sprang. 1t is upon this love for their native
State, this devotion TO her true interests this hon
est zeal for her welfare, that we RELY with I'M
shaken confidence in the terrible crisis that all
must leel is immediately impending. No cues
uoh OF equal Importance has ever before been sub
United TO the exercise Of their best Judgment:
no question half so vital to the prosperity
Oh the industrial classes throughout the State has
ever appealed to them for decision Discpisa tho
TACT as men may, the reconstruction Of the old
Union is matter Of sheer impossib;I;t, cor =
implies the conquest of the Soutb III -
aGout to commence is not war which hos 80
partlsans and opponents in all the States but :,
sectional IN Its origin; sectional in its deveop-
Lueht sectional in the issue upon which the battle
Is 10 De fought, and must continue to be sectional
ihrough all Its varying phases of victory and de-
iea'' ouch war can by no means be regarded
as war in defence of the UNION, for if those who
make the UNION their rallying cry, were vctorions
in the contest, the UNION would be no Ionoer tbo,
glorious UNION which was based upon the ecraI
lty OF the States, but would be COMPRISED Of a
dominant section and of Il number of conouered
provinces held in subsection by the strong hand
ana having no rights that the yictors would re-
gard as entitled to respect The North tolls ne
that In resolving 10 resort to the arbitron,ept of
the sword it acts as an unit The Soutb assarts
that there, also, every dissentent voice is bushed
ii oolh sections speak the truth, what conclusion
can De reached out that the battle is between the
North and the South, ana that the idea put forth
~ the Northern people that they are about to
Asnt IN behalf OF the UNION, is a delusion and a
suate' It's the North arrayed against the South,
s. u all the sophistry in the world cannot divest
r,, quarrel of its exclusively sectional aspect
p0,h'' therefore, which we of Maryland will
NC oai.eu upon to decide, is whether we will form
al "iiiance' offensive defensive, with the North
Ut WIN the oouth-in other words, whether it is
our duty to join Northern or Southern Con.
Ieoefacy. Neutral we cannot be; for our geo.
graphical position is such, that lying as we do
directly across what must be the pathway of the
contending armies, we should in the language of
the New York Tribune, ''be ploughed with cannon
balls and sowed with powder" We have yet to
md the first man, if he be honest in expressing
his opinions, who will not frankly acknowledge |
eua' Maryland is, to all intents and purposes, |
southern state that her people are Southern in |