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

The. Thrty-Sixth Congress of the UNITED STATES,
probably more important and more memorable
than any of its predecessors, has at last come to
u close. Called upuu 10 egisate as to promote
the harmony and union of the Republic, by its
weakness, its incapacty, and its culpabe reckless
ness of consequences it has closed its labors not
only over diminished territory, but over a di
cordant people Whilst protesting the utmost
solicitude for the vital interests of the UNION, it
has voted the appropriations for the Army, the
Navy, the Pos-Offlce, and the support of the gov
eminent; but has, at the same time, neglected the
great question of the day, upon which the very
existence of that government depends. As if the
Republicans feared to be cheated out of the victory
which placed their party in power they have adj
journed not only without Offering a shadow of a
compromise, much less of concession, but with the
disgrace of having persistenty avoided aud resis-
ted 10 the last taking any action which could in
any way conciliate the States that have seeded,
or tend to quiet discomfort among those that re-
main. They have moreover used the final hours
of the existence of Congress TO strengthen the
power of their party by the organization of
three new territories-a singular method GER
tainlv of settling the difficulties and embar-
rassments which have distracted the Republic for
the last three months.
The Congress which now comes into power can be
no longer called Congress of the UNITED STATES.
OF the thirty-three States which should lave
acknowledged its supremacy, but twenty-six
remain who owe it allegiance; and a few
weeks more may show a still further reduction.
So long as the old Congress was in session,
so long as the Government had power to offer
satisfactory measures of compromise: there was a
hope that the country might again be reunited.
But now that such hope longer exists, we
cannot blind ourselves to the fact that seven of
the States which but lately formed most i'm
portant part of the Republic have not only alien
ated themselves from it, but have organized ri
val Confederacy. They have elected their Chief
Magistrate; they have provided for the support of
the Government by the passage of a tariff bill;
they have provided for the establishment of a
postal system on basis that is intended to be
selfsupporting, and they have adop ed measures
for the formation of navy and the organization
of an army. They have secured already
a large number of officers for both the
one and the other, from among those who
nave recently reslSueu tnelr coihHilssionS III
the army and navy of the UNITED STATES, AID
they have appointed foreign ministers, some OF
whom will, probably, soon present themselves at
Washington to demand the recognition of the
new Confederacy. On the other hand, In what
condition are the States which still remain osten
sibly attached to the UNIoN2 At the North, a
great diversity of sentiment has already shown it.
self. In the Border States strong spirit of dis
affection has for some time manifested ITSELF which
nothing can pacify nor subdue but truly frank
and cordial policy of Cancellation; whilst neither
the army nor the navy, if report speaks true can
be relied upon to act against any of the seeding
States at the dictation of Republican and sec
tional President.
Such is the condition to which the country has
been reduced by the action and policy of the domi-
nant party Melancholy, however, as it is, 1t re-
mains to be seen if, in short time, the continual
ton of this policy will not plunge us into crisis
even more momentous and more perilous than
that which has already broken up the foundations
of the Government.