The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-02
IMMENSE TOWN MEETING.
THOUSANDS OF CgTIZENS III TIE
INSTITUTE EIALL.
THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE CALLED UPON TO
SELECT DELEGATES TO A STATE
CONVENTION.
SPEECHES OF HON. R0BT. NJ. McLANE, S
TEACKLE WALLIS, ESQ, EX-G0V. LOWE,
AND HON. MR.. KILGoUR

In accordance with the published call, an i'm.
mense meeting of the citizens of Baltimore convened
last night in the Maryland Institute Hall. Not
withstanding the disagreeable weather, (ran and
sleet falling,) the immense Hall was well filled
On the platform were a large number of the most
distinguished citizens of the town, representing
all parties, while the speakers were gentlemen
whose regulations for patriotism and loyalty are
well known throughout the entire Union At half
past seven o'clock Hon. Joshua Vansant called the
meeting to erder by nominating DR.. A. c. Robin
son as President. The nomination was unanimous
ly confirmed, and DR.. Robinson stepped forward
and on accepting the position, said
Men Of Baltimore, Citizens Of Maryland:
We have been called together this evening deliberate
events which appeal to our minds and our hearts in a
tone of soemniy to which unused, we'll calcula-
ted to arouse every patriotic feeling and make anxious
to speak and to act, as We shall wish had when we
come to lie on the bed of death We here to deiber
ate upon measures necessary protect our constitutional
rghts-our true interests in the Union, and guard our
honor as citizens Of Maryland Standing on the broad
tabeock of the Union with grateful peace and
security at home, have been accustomed to watch the
dark and surgng waters of trouble, they threatened
other nations swept their crumbling foundations
But suddenly disturbed by the indications
Bile around
In the midst of sunshine and of plenty with peace all
around our borders, the occupations of industry have
ceased, and the working of all classes stand anx-
iously contemplating the future. Part after part of n
government fondly thought was to prove a resting
place for rock bursting every beating
back every bow raised against t.par after mart has
ready been swept away by angry boiling and
has reached very borders the existence of the
Union is more than threatened.
Heretofore Maryland has been advised to be silent as
the safest course but now without consultation with her
people agents have been appointed speak for the
in a conference of States.
Silence on the part of the people of Maryland under
these circumstances, seem best some ''sence
oends party alienates friends but Sit performs
no duty" At period of such danger to the Union from
whatever that danger flows, does it become Mary
tand-gallant Maryland-to shrink from her duty and
remain Slte2 Are her people meS and cannot speak?
cocdrdS and dare not speak Are they destitute of the
intelligence necessary to speak wisely and boldly in their
own behalf? Are they not willing risk whatever NAV
be necessary to secure all their constitutional rigs
II So they are bound to speak so that the North may
derstand hem and the HOh hear them and iud them
while they recognize that voice coming the south
side of Mason and Dixon's line.
Our purpose is to do all to preserve the true
UniOH-the constitutional Union-wth all its national
and federal features recognizing privileged class Of
citizens, North or South but securing the rights of all
alike equally regarding TIE voice the smallest and
largest State and conning its operation within its
domestic affairs and domestic institutions own way
Such are our purposes; our aim the public good, and
strength lies in the virtue the intelligence and the
patriotism of the people whose safety interest hap
pness rest the security of their constitutional rights
construed in the spirit with which it formed-the
spirit of compromise the spirit of fraerna regard for
each others happiness and good construed by the
fanacism of the abotionist by the advocates of
the irrepressbe conflict between free and slave abor'
interpreted by the soldier however brave however
distinguished nor sustained by the bayonet
We want no ;despotic general government miscalled
"The Uni0n"-we want a government of IdlU-formed
for and harmony and sustained by intelligence
and hearts of the people, and not by the Sloord.
If ii be the aim OF others to bind State hand and
foot-let it prove to be with rope Of sand band
iron.
If united nation let the cord of Union be of true
meta-conveying the electric current of affection and
mutual regard around the whole circle-pontng the
compass which is to guide path to the Constitution
as our polar STAR and the great magnetic battery of our
strength
Why then, troops transported from the North and
West-to be concentrated and our capolG
This is new to us and quite enough alone to make us
anxious and to make us speak.
There are occasions my fellow citizens of public suf
ferlng and public alarm, when citizen, of whatever
profession, should, in government like ours shrink
from any duty imposed however foreign his
habits. Such is the dIty accept The purity of
the motives acuating those who called this eeting
their consciousness Of the strength Of their in
hearts of the people, is shown by their selection Of
from the ranks Of the people to act chairman i:
occasion.
Passing by the men Of note in our cty-so many o.
whom are around me-distingushed at the bar, in the
halls OF egation in the ommerca and manufacturing
circles among the representative Of every interest
passing such by they have selected from the ranks
profession which leads its members to mngle with
live among the people, whom they learn to love- and will
whom they sympathze in veal and in Yss-I an
proud to be one you Born in your city, here Ihavt
my fresde have known no other home-no other peo
ple baltimore is my hp'ace, Maryland, my State
and while others have hearts to spread all tie States