The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-25

It's evident TO every man who, in judging of,
political affairs consuls facts rather than his
hopes and feelings, that the revolution which
threatens the disruption of our conederacy, is ra-
pidly gaining ground. The anticipations of those
who thought it would harmeSsly subside, or that
at all events, lis serious consequences would be
confined TO the rcmoter Southern States have been
sadly disappointed The action Of South Carolina
has been initiated already by four other States,
and it is as certain rs any thing IN the future can
be, that Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, will fol-
low the example of their neighbors Eight i'm
portant States, therefore, will within very brief
period, have declared themselves out OF the Union
The indications are, moreover that unless some
such concessions as Mr.. CRITTENDEN has proposed
are offered by the North, the States of Virginia,
Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky, will
also temporarily or finally withdraw from all con-
nection with the existing Federal Government.
That so fearful fate does not await the Republic,
we should be supremely rejoced TO believe, but it
is nevertheless duty to interpret facts as truth
fully rs we can, no matter how disagreeable may
be the conclusions to which they inevitably lead,
and in view of what has been already done in the
South, and of the spirit now manifest
ed by its people, we are compelled to
adhere to the opinion that unless the North,
through Congress some other channel, makes
fair concessions, the mass of the slave States
WILL before the fourth of March, have committed
themselves to a separate government, or to some
other decisive measures, which they will not or
cannot recall. While the country is contempla-
ting these contingencies, it especially concerns the
people of Maryland to give them an earnest and
speedy consideration. We have repeatedly urged
them upon the attention of this community, but
for a different purpose from that for which we
now allude to them. When we have discussed
heretofore, the probable secession of twelve or
fourteen States, we did so in the hope that the
approach of so awful calamity would incite cur
citizens 10 such prompt and energetic action as
might tend to avert the catastrophe altogether
The question then was, as TO how Maryland might
help to prevent dissolution of the Union, and
not what Maryland would do when the Confeder-
acy was hopelessly broken up forever We fear
the time for pressing the former inquiry any
further has almost gone, and that the period has
nearly arrived when it will be necessary for US TO
determine simply whether we wish to cast our lot
with Northern, Southern or Central Republic
Painful and Illuminating though it would be- to
realize as final fact the separation of these States
still we cannot fail to ce that such an admission
may be wrung from us within few short
weeks - sad as it would be to have TO
decide with which portion of divided
household we will dwell in future there ia grave
reason to fear that we must prepare to make such
choice. The South has legitimate cause of
complaint against the North, on account of the ag-
gressive and unconstitutional position the latter
has assumed, and yet the dominant party in Con-
gress steadily refuses to determine these issues which
involve the existence ofthe nation. The Southern
people have the will and the power to destroy the
Republic, and they threaten to do so unless their
grievances considered and redresscd; and the
representatives of the North are too much en-
crossed with the Pacific Railroad and the Tariff 10
take any measures to allay an excitement which
may end in civil war. What sane man can, under
such circumstances, doubt that the Union is in
danger? Who can say that it is not yet time for
the people Of Maryland to take counsel together in
regard to the safety and the ultimate destinies Of
our State?