The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-29

The SIN of yesterday undertakes to defend tha
position which it assumed on Saturday last in re-
Ia'Ion to the danger incurred by the coastwise and
foreign commerce of Maryland, from the privateers
of the Contederatei States. It still contends that
Maryland is subject TO the laws affecting bel!ig-
erent. We, on the contrary assert distinctly that
she is not; and any intelligent merchant who
looks at the facts for himself must see at a
Si""Ur, 'l''' - 80 OF tiru YuUsuOn she should
De- Her commerce has, by the official proc
lamaion OF President DAVIS, been specially cx-
empted from interruption. and she has thus been
clothed with all the rights that appertain to neu-
trails. The San is in error when it states that al
though an exception was made in her favor,
that exception has ceased to operate. Such
Is not the fact. 1t still remains in full
force, and must continue 10 be binding, until
it is formally and publicly annulled. 1t is not at
all to the purpose to say that Maryland is within
the jurisdiction and coatrol of the United States,
and therefore must, necessarily, be regarded in the
light of a belligerent. We admitted in cur former
article that, theoretically, as IL member of the
UNION, she is subject to all the evils which affect
beIgerent. Whether, however she was to be
so considered and treated depended solely upon in
decision of the Government Of the ConGedera,cd
States; and as that Government has officially de-
carea that does not recognize her as Jelligere1t
and in clear and explicit terms has exempted her
vessels and thsir cargoes from seizure she is un-
questlonaby entitled to that freedom of the Lioh
seas which has been accorded to her. Grant that
1t he true, as rule of law that 'ships are deemed
10 belong to the country under whose flag aad
pass they navigate, and this circumstance is
conclusive as 10 their character" vet il
is still absurd TO Suppose that such a rule
applies to ships belonging TO State or
province TO which the privileges OF Il neutral have
been conceded. If England, in declaring war
against France, should, by an official decree ey-
empt from capture the merchant vessels of Havre
he has perfect right to do So and if such vessels
were seized, even though they were registered
under the laws of France and their papers issued
and authenticated by French officers of the GUS
TOMS upon satisfactory proof that they were
owned by citizens Of Hayre 10 tribunal before
which the case might be brought for adudica
ton, could condemn them as lawful prize
This is exactly the position OF Maryland at the
present time with reference to the Confederate
States. Though sailing under the flag of beig-
erenf her vessels and cargoes-e EXCEPT articles
contraband OF war-have, by a special act of
Congress at Montgomery, been absolved from all
the liabilities which attach to Il belligereut She
is, therefore, practically neutal-is formally
recognized as such by the government of The Con-
tolerate States, and, under this recooniton
neither her ships nor cargoes nor parts of cargoes
are open to seizure by privatee S, or subject to
confscaton.
Whatever foundation the San NAV find for lie
theory, in the idea-that because MARYLAND has
not seeded, like North Carolina and Missouri
the treason has ceased 70 exist for her being
excepted, and therefore the exception has ceased
likewse-is not foundation Of fact. Tie reso-
lutons Of the Maryland legislature have expressly
declared, that the State will take no part drectlv
or indirectly, in Mr.. LINCOLNs war. This decIa-
ration was made, subsequently to theproclamatou
of President DAVIS, and confirms, instead If
destroying, the grounds upon which the execution
of Maryland was placed by the Confederate
Government.