The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-14

BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY. MAY Il, 1861.

Is the movement in the South riot or q reyo- |
luton? This is the all-impor!ant question for
Ir. LINCoLN 10 consider; for if he makes any mis-
take upon this point, he will not only be respon-
sible for the utter ruin which will he thereby |
brought upon the country, but he will work his |
own inevitable destruction. If be is dealing with |
':insurrrc.iouary combiuations,'' which care now
existing in several States for the purpose of ot-
s,rucling tie execution Of the laws he ought, Of
course, 10 enforce the latter by all the constitu-
tionM means in lis power If the persons who
have renowned thsr allegiance to this Govern
ment, and dcicd It's authority and seized lis prop
er'y. constitute mob-which although in the
minority, has overawed the people of the South
1t IS cminenty proper that Mr. LINCOLN should
appoint Federal officers in the seeded States and
afford them, and the of the population who
are ready to sustain them, all necessary protcc-
ton. and render them such assistance as will cna-
Bile them to discharge their customary duties But
il Mr.. LINCOLN is face to face with a revolution
which is earnestly supported by twelve powerful
state Governments and which six millions Of
Americans are with unparalleled unaniNlity, bent
upon maintaining, then he must pause 10 calcu-
late the consC quencts Leiore he proceeds TO dclu9e
tie land with blood, in order to vindicae the SUI
prrmacy of this Government. Under such cir
cum,tl@cc5 the Administration has two difficulties
10 contend against. 1t must be able to satisfy
the people Of his country that no such thing
a Ire right Of revolution" exists, and it must
convince them of It's power 10 compel the
South to reccde from the position it has taken
Neither Of these two things, however, can the
Administration do. We have endeavorrd re-
n.1'.dly heretofore TO demonstrate the impossi-
hiljly Of coFquering the South, or Of compelling
II by any means short OF absolute suhiuratiOn TO
rc.iuq":sh It's determination 20 establish q scDarate
and Independent Contcderacy. And we now as
seri with equal confidence that the Adminisra-
ton can never persuade the people Of this continent
that Tic principle for which tie Southern States
M" IN arms is other ihan that which was pro-
claimed at the time when the thirteen colonies
threw of the yoke Of Great Britain. The history
of that struggle is too well known. and the Ian
g:aEe OF our Declaration Of Independence is too
explicit to admit Of any dispute upon this point.
The proposition which cur fathers then laid down
as Ia" Tor themselves and heiSchildrcn after
them, was that the inhabitants of any country.
trr'''N4'
genoous nation and desiring &c establish govern
lnent 0! their own, had the indispuable right to
Go so, On this theory the great charter of our
liberties was fran d, and of this theory our own
Independence was the practical and triumphant
result as has been continually and clearly set
forth IN the writings and speeches of all our
'a0ln9 Statesmen and in innumerable state papers
"hlch nave eman0ied from various departments
OF Tie Government itself. But though few or
none have the hardihood to deny that this doctrine
has been always maintained in this coun-
try they viii not permit any appeal to it in
the present instance. They seek in every
possible way TO evaGe its consequences
ANA resort to all tie arguments that inpenni,v o
-''- 90 '"---- ,.I.l,r.upuiiIy ,1y ,,,.,r
between the North and South. They discuss Tie
s"iIclencY Of the causes which have induced the
South to demand separation, and they refer n the
unfortunate results which must ensue shopId ,bc
prop' son for which we contend be practically
carried out 1t Is scarcely necessary TO say that
ihe%e structures do not touch the issue. They in
10 way affect the question Of fact as TO whether
The principle we have referred to has or has NOT
bcen recognized here ever since the foundation ne
our government. That it has been so ac}now-
ie1Eel IS virtually conceded by the very character
Oh The ohjc''iors which have been thus nroed
against Il. If, Therefore, the Southern movement
Is MOI, rs Mr. LINCOLN terms it. Il mere local ipsur
fec'ion, BAT national reyoution if. moreover.
It's supporters are contcnding for principle which
was deliberately laid down eighty years ago by
the founders Of the Republic, the President is
clearly about to commit Il fearful mistake in deal
ing with it as he has announced his purpose TO do
An awful responsibility now rests upon him. and
before he proceeds with the extreme ard arbitrary
measures which he has inauguratcd, it becomes
HIM again to consider whether he has not wholly
mISapprehended the nature of the political conyuI-
sion which he proposes to treat so summuriIv