The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-04

Mr.. II. WINTER DAVIS having determined to
take sides with MIR. LINCOLN and his party, has
after his accustomed fashion, come to the conclu-
sion that it is his business to defend every act and
motive of his allies. He has, therefore set him,
self resoluely to work to find excuses for all tbe
illegal and arbitrary proceedings which the Presi
dent has initiated within the brief period which
has elapsed since he swore to uphold the Consti-
tuition and the laws. Mr.. DAVIS has exhausted
all the arguments which his ingenuity could suo-
geSt to demonstrate the propriety and LEGALITY OF
Mr.. LINCoLN's course; and when forced to admit
that at least one act of the Administration has
been In fagrant and palrable violation of the
Constitution, he has boldly sustained that una,l-
thorized usurpation by pleading the necessity of
the case. He comedies that the President had no
right to increase the army and navy without the
consent of Congress, but he is perfectly willing to
overlook that despotc exercise of power. Now
that he has identified himself with Mr.. LINCOLN G
cause, he is ready to sustain him, whether the
measures to which the Administration resort he
right or wrong. He is content that the President
snail make war without the authority of Con-
gress; that he shall convert the army of the United
States into posse cOmtauS; that he shalr subject
dhe people to military rule at his discretion; that
he shall WELD the sword at his own pleasure
What Mr.. DAVIS thought of such proceedings
when he was in opposition to the Administration
may be seen in the following extract of the speech
which he delivered in the Assembly Rooms on the
9th of last September At that time his patriotic
sensbities had been so shocked and his constitu-
honal convictions had been so outraged by the
arbitrary tendencies of Mr.. BUCHANANs Admins
tration, that his viruous and consistent soul was
fired with irrepresSible indignation. We present
our readers with an extract from his speech on
that occasion, and leave them to contrast his
present views With those he held but q few short
months ago. We shall merely taicize few lines
of this quotation, and let it speak for itself He
said
rs that Democratic party fit to be trusted with the
power OF the sword which has allow innocent and bona
American citizens to be shot down streets of Wash
ington by American soldiers? Is IL fit trusted nth
NE Scord phtch has concerted the ary of the Tinted
States INTO posse cOnidtuS enforce The service f
process and to subject the peoDle Of the Territories IN
mttdTy rule? Are they fit to be trusted with the power
OF the sword who have welded so weakly in Utah so
Illegally in Paraguay? Are thew fit to be trusted With
power OF the sword who, forgefu of all the obliga
hs oi international law, have fired into the neutral
vessels IN or near the Fort of Vera Cruz-an act On
dbs Illegal t mat the courts of this country had to
u'Schsge the captured vessels not legal price Are
they III 10 De trus ed with the power the sword who
nave sought at the hands of Congress authority
whenever, in the opinion of the President American
cltlzens may be injured American interests NAV in
his discretion abroad against any of our Sonth
American Republican sisters? Are they fit to be en-
trusted with the sword who desire the privilege and
have endeayored to get it, of protecting the transit
routes, toithoh the authority Of Congress- giren Of The
Parc~dr time but according to the cH and harnCr
We treS'dent| Are they fit to be entrusted with the
power OF the sword who have recommended to Conress
tat the President should be allowed in time profound
peace, without any serious provoc ton take military
possession OF and hold for indefinite time two great
states OF the Mexican Repubc-Chihuahua and Sonora
"hy my friends, had better qire the 1yboLs
Pooer Of 'car to the PreSidsR Then hare foyoofen here
dH the Limitations upon the Executive po,uer and tb, are
gropng at The right 10 yield the the Styord at the DIs1s,e
Of the PRESIDENT irrespective of the ayiH of the neonJe
'ohenerer or oohererer 1t mays his discretion"