The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-16
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, MAY IS, 1851.

sist the advance of Northern troops across our
territory That body has been graveiy lectured
because it did not enroll, equip and ofhcer an
army. and form entrenched camps, and procure
artillery within the space of a week; and the ways
and means by which all these things were to be
done, have been explained with marvellous volu-
bility. What the ablest generals of the world
have always admitted to be a difficult task or one,
at least, which was only to be accomplished at
the expense of much time and labor, has been
treated as though it was one of the most ordinary
of every day events. 1t can surely require but
few moments consideration to satisfy any think
ing man that the Legislature could not, by any
any possibility, have done the tenth part of what
some persons seem TO have expected of it; and
that If, under the circumstances, il had taken any
such steps as have been suggested, we would have
paid fearful penalty for the misguided zeal or
rashness OF our representatives. It is perfectly
PLAIN that, had any attempt been made three
weeks ago to oppose the unlawful proceedings of
the Federal Government by force of arms such
attempt would have resulted not merely in failure
but in the certain and irretrievable ruin of Balt-
more. When the Legislature met on the 9th ult.
1t found the State in more defenceless condition
than it had probably been for thirty years. The
militia were scant in numbers, and far from we'll
disciplined, aud were commanded by very many
officers, in whose judgment or experience no one
reposed the slightest confidence. There were
scarcely any cannon in the whole State worth
speaking OF; and among the few muskets that
could have been gotten together, many were
wholly uns6rviceabe, and others were unfit for
the purposes of modern warfare Men and cap-
talns and engineers, guns, equipments and camp
furniture were all 10 be first found, and put in
some sort of discipline and order, before any re-
spectacle commander would have assumed the re-
sponsibi!ity Of undertaking to defend Baltimore
even against comparatively insignificant organ
Jed force. But before the Legislature had even
Tie opportunity to consider our situation, the Ad-
mlnls'raton had almost perfected its arrangements
'or taking possession of this State. The Pres-
dent, nearly two weeks before the Legislature
met, had issued his proclamation calling ont sew
enty five thousand men, and from every point of
the North, regiments had been rendered for in
slant service. Many of those which were accepted
may have been but badly armed but there is no
ing, Mr.. LINCOLN could have MANAGED to
throw into Maryland fifty thousand well
equipped soldiers, who could, moreover have
brought with them all the artillery they
needed. lie could also have procured far
more transports than he required, and he could
have sent fleet of Steamboats, up our bay and
our rivers sufficiently well armed to have swept
everything before them, and to have prevented the
erection of any such batteries on shore as we were
'heh IN a condition to attempt TO establish. Pos
seS5ed OF all these resources, the Government at
the very time the Legislature assembled had q
garrison at Fort McIIenry and was strongly en-
trenched at Washington, and it held indisputable
possession of Annapolis and the whole line of
communication between those two Capitals. II
was also master of the head waters and the month
OF the Chesapeake and of every river in the State.
1t could therefore have brought troops to Wash
iugton and Annapolis faster than we could have
organized them in Baltimore, and in infinitely
larger numbers and the march of its forces from
the North directly TO this city would have been
embarrassed only by few broken bridges.
Virginia might have furnished us temporarily
herself was VIGOROUSLY unprepared at that mo-
ment even for self-defeuce, and it is sheer deu-
sion to suppose that she either could or would
then have sent troops to Baltimore. Such was
Inc position of affairs on the 9th Of April, and so
faP!d were the movements of the Government
mat within eight days afterwards it had estab-
I!Shed formidable post at the Relay House. and
had thus cut off all communication bv railway
between Baltimore and Harper's Ferry. But the
a"i"-'i.~s G~~~.~,I. ae~1>sla ,,raaao5;nc.- tho
gisature had indicated an intention of taking i'm
mediate steps to place this State or city in an ati
tnde OF resistance. Before one solitary practical
or eihcient measure could have been matured NV
mat body, swarm of steamers and n line of
strong posts would haveeffectualy cut us off from
virginia. fleet of vessels of light draupht
would have reinforced Fort McHenry and have
brought large detachments with heavy ordnance
winch could have been landed or anchored at sucb
points as would have enabled item to command
The city. Instant orders would have been oiven
TO the forces in the North to march forward and
our raw levies, if indeed any number Of such
could have been collected within a week vould
nave been compelled to face their antagonists in
the open Held. Heavy batteries would have been
erected by the Federal troops at the distance of
mile Or more from the city, and these together
with the fort and the hostile ships must have been
taken by assault, Baltimore would have spf
ie'ed the horrors OF a bombardment without being
able to strike Il Llow in return. Such wopld mn
questOnably have been the consequences of any
attempt on the part Of MARYLAND to stem alone
ana on Inc spur Of the moment the torrent of the
Northern invasion, and the bare effort 10
obtain arms would have been defeated in
less than torty-eight hours after the AGENTS
OF the State had been instructed to procure
them. we do not believe that any man
whose OPINION Is regarded as of the slightest
weight in military circles would hesitate to say
That the Legislature would have exposed rs 70 an
lgnominious failure Or humliating defeat. if it had
ehneavored to carry out the wishes Of those who
desired 1t TO adopt warlike, or even defensive
measures. 1t would have been madness to have
feIied on the momenary excitement to which
i'rge part OF this community yielded for few
u"ys' ana 10 nave sent forth an Harmed and I'M
organized multitude to meet the hosts with which
the Administration could so soon have surrounded
US. Had the people of Baltimore been enthusiasts
eaiiy united in their determination to drive back
the northern troops, it would still have been
desperate undertaking, upon few days prepara-
uoh; ont to have encountered Mr.. LINCoIS's CO.
horls outside of the city, when so many of orr
own citizens approved, and would have sanported
The cause for which the former fought, would have
Deeh The height of madness. Baltimore could GER
-,
family have resisted the passage of any isolated
body of men which did not number over a few
and which brought with it no heavy
guns. But if the State or city had Deliberately
dehed the Federal Government thr,e weeks 400
we should nave been now not merely subiugated,
out destroyed 1t is easy TO talk fippantly about
organizing and equipping brave armies and send.
ing them forth to do or die, and it is a simple
matter to hight triumphant battles, or to conduct
successful campaigns paper But real wars are
not made, nor are cities defended after that fash.
ion. There are such things as stubborn facts in
ms world which even the most desperate valor
cannot overcome, and we are glad that the Lepis-
Ia'ure carefully considered some of them before it
precipltated us into a collision with the Admins
ration. And we are very confident that what.
ever differences OF opinion may exist on other
points, vast majority of the people of tho
State will unite in thanking their representatives
or the calmness, prudence and sagacity which the
atler manifested IN dealing with the subject under
consideration. If Maryland has been taken ma
wares aud thus subjugated, the responsibility |
must ana Will rest, hcnceforth nno, Cora..-