The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-10
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1861.

If signs and portens are to be believed we are
now standing on the very brink of civil war.
Without any forewarning, the Administration has
suddenly exerted all its energies has collected to-
gether powerful feet, freighted it with all the
disposable troops, with arms, munitions, proyi-
sions, and every species of nateriey that is neces
sary in commencing campaign against hostile
foe-including batteries of flying artillery for SER
vice on shore, vessels Of light draught and
launches and boats for use in shallow waters
All our surmises with respect to this imposing ma.
val and military demonstration, point to the con-
clusion that the purposes of the Administration
are two-fold-its first object being to provision
and reinforce Fort Pckens-its second, to disem-
bark strong body of troops in Texas, ostensiblv
to guard the frontier against Indian and Mexican
incursions, but really to break down the power
of the secessonists in that State, by coopera-
ting with the Unionists to re-establish Governor
Houston in authority. Those who best know the
temper OF the Southern mind, can well appre-
cate the spirit in which this demonstration will
be met. The first gun fired, the first blow struck.
the hrst olood shed, puts an end, at once and for
ever, to all hope of reconstructng the UNION. To
the border slave States the crisis now impending
is most momentous. They have steadfastly pro-
tested their devotion to the UNION as it was
founded by the patriots of the Revolutionary era.
They have earnestly entreated the dominant party
to embody in Constitutional form such assur-
ances and guarantees as would quiet the appre-
tensions of the Southern people and bring about
restoration of peace and harmony between the
sections. how have these well-meant, honestly
intended, and ardently advocated suggestions beer
met? If not with scorn and contumely, vet Will
shifts and evasons. The CRlTTENDEN Compro
mise, even when shorn of its most obnoxious fea
ture, was voted down. The CoRw1N PROPOSITIONS
mild and temperate as they were, shared q similar
fate The Peace Congress resolutions wer,
regarded as scarcely worthy of notice Ii
short every effort that was made, with
a view to reconcile existing differences, va
coolly and deliberately thwarted. Hundreds O
petitions bearing thousands upon thousands O
signatures, respectfully appealing to Congress t.
satisfy the wishes of the conservative Union mel
OF the free States, by adopting measures of con
cihauon, were formally received and Immediately
thruSt aside never to be heard of afterwards
W What was finally done? A resolution was passed
declaring that Congress should never interfer
with slavery in the States where it existed. l
was altogether work of supererogation, for tn
CONSTITUTION already provided against any sucl
interference, and it may also be safely asserte,
mat even that resolution would have failed t
pass the Senate but for the fact that the Reput
means well knew that it would never be acte
'pon ny three-ieurths of the States. W
are now told that Mr.. LINCOLN has waite
Pauently to see whether the seeded State
would return to their allegiance, and find
Ing that they give no evidence whatever of hay
ing repented the step which they have taken, h
mas concluded to assert the jurisdiction of II
Federal government, cost what it may. He h,
told US that he does not regard it as an act of c
ercion TO retake the Southern forts and arsensIs.
or to collect the revenue within the limits of L
Southern Confederacy. If he and his Coustit
tlonal advisers have determined to act upon III
theory, war is indeed imminent If, on the 9th
hand, the sending Of fleet to the Gulf is mere
intended as parade of power, with IL view
overawe the supporters of the new Government,
Is solemn piece of buffoonery. We do not how
ever, imagine that all this warlike display is
end simply in a holiday cruise The ultra Repul
lican journals are urging upon Mr. LINCOLN
prove that we have "a strong Government" an
it is more than probable that these extremists hav
at length carried their point. If he attempt
reinforce Fort Pickens, Or to land troops in Texas
in either case collision is inevitable; and III
very instant that the status quo is thus rudey vic
lated the border slave States will be called upo
to decide whether they will cast their lot with Ii
South or submit, with sulen reluctance, to II
domination of the North. What their decisio
will be cannot long remain a matter of doub
Every one Of them has solemnly declared by II
almost unanimous voice of It's people, that no a,
which bears even the sernblance of coercion sha
be permitted. 1t is upon these border slave States
as occupying middle ground between the or
posing sections, that all hopes of final reconc
latlon must rest. If they are forced, by the act
of the Administrator 10 break loose from tt
UNION, and to join the Southern Confederac,
where then shall be found the mediatinn Pover9