The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-02

more Markets for the past week, neatly printed
on letter sheet, may be obtained at our counting
DOM.
If the politicians will do nothing to bring about
q reconciliation between the sections there is but
one thing which remains to be done, and that is,
to appeal to the country. According 10 the theory
of our Government, the people are the source Of
all political power; and it is for them TO declare
what their will is when those whom they have
chosen to represent them altCr in their duty In
an exigency like the present, considerations of
party must give place TO loftier views than the
mere love Of place and power; or even of those
abstract principles which, whether right or wrong
in theory, can never be Of any value in their
practical application. A great danger is staring
us in the face, and the only problem which de-
mands immediate solution is, how best to meet
and overcome ii? Why waste time in wranging
over the origin of the disease, when the patient is
rapidly approaching that stage in his mortal Ca
reer which demands before it is too late, the
prompt application ola remedy. Everybody knows
whether the grievances of which the South CON-
plains have any foundation in fact or not From
Mason and Dixons line to the Gulf stream there is
but one opinion upon that subject. Every body
knows, too that the people of many of the South
ern States do not only regard these grievances as
most serious in themselves, but as ripening into
positive peril since the accession to power of
political party actuated by sentiments hostile to
the peace of that section, and aggressive from the
very nature of the principles that were openly
avowed during the progress of the Presidential
Campaign, and which constituted the ground of ac
ton Whether the seeding States were justified,
by the imminence of the danger, in separating
from the Union, or whether it would have been
better for them to have sought redress within the
Union, are questions which it is not now worth
while to discuss. They have solemnly renowned
their allegiance to the Federal Government, and
all who undertake to fairly weigh this great fact
must come to the conclusion that it was no light
matter which could have constrained two
millions of people to cast themselves loose from
their old moorings; crush sterny out the
memory of the glorious achievements which en-
blazon the annals Of the Republic, and embark
upon a new and untried career. Seven other
slave States now stand in an attitude Of eXpectan-
cy. Their wrongs are equally great, their fears
W
finally elect to take will be governed by the man
ner in which the free States respond TO their de-
mands. powerful wing ofthe Republican party
protests vehemently against making any conces-
sions. 1t is pity that the word CONCESSION"
should have ever been used in relation to this con-
troyersy. 1t is term which, from the interpre.
tation put upon it by the extreme Republicans
has led many well meaning people astray. Con-
cession implies grant Of eytra-Consttutional
privileges but these are not what the South wants
She simply asks for a reafirmation Of her rights
under the Constitution, and in such language as
will admit of no dispute hereafter. She docs not
even insist upon the whole Of her prerogative; for
if she took her stand upon the bred Scott decision,
it would warrant her people in taking their slaves
into any and all Of the Territories Of the Union,
and in claiming there, for this species Of property,
the protection of the General Government. AS
an abstract right she is entitled to do this but she
is willing 10 waive the right and would accept the
CRITTENDEN proposition as a measure of compro-
mise. BY yielding thus much, she surrenders TO
free labor all that territorial area lying North of
SCI 500, on condition that in the Territory South
of that line slavery shall not be prohibited during
the continuance of the Territorial Government;
and that when such territory becomes sufficiently
populous to Justify It's claim to be admitted into
the Union, it shall be received as slave or free
State as its Constitution may determine. It is
proposed further, that Congress shall have no
power to abolish slavery in the States where it
exists-that it shall not interfere with the transfer
of slaves from one State to the other, or with
i q ~ u. -
in Maryland and Virginia. These are the chief
points embodied in the CRITTENDEN resolutions,
and it is asked for the more perfect observance of
them, that they shall be incorporated as amend
ment into the Constitution when ratified by
Conventions of three fourths of the peo-
pie of the States. That the Border Slave
States would readily accept the CRITTENDEN plan
as basis of settlement, does not admit of the
possibility of doubt. The States that have al
ready passed ordinances Of secession might indeed
hold back for brief period; but if the North
met the conciliatory resolutions with the same
frank, and manly, and patriotic spirit which
characterized the action of the venerable states
man from Kentucky, a reunion of all the States
might yet be effected. But the radical Republic
cans would rather 'tlet the Union slide,' than
sacrifice single plank of the Chicago platform, and
hence it is that every effort to bring about better
understanding between the sections, is met by a
factious opposition by their representatives in Con-
gress. So long as the prejudices of these men are
suffered to override all considerations of patriot
ism, all hope of the adoption of conciliatory meas
ures, with their sanction, must be abandoned, and
as the action of the conservative members of both
Houses appears TO be inextricably hampered by
these nonconcessioniss, we turn first for relief 10
the Commissioners of the several States, who are
to meet at Washington on Monday next, and if
they fail to agree upon plan of adjustment the
people of every section of the Union must take the
matter into their own hands. In the graphic Ian
guage of MACAULAY, 'there is fire running along
"the ground" and it is the duty of every sincere
lover of his country to see that it is promptly and
quenched.