The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-06
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1861

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1861
To say that the public has been altogether dis
appointed by the inaugural address of the new
PRESIDENT, would, perhaps, be going too far; for
the uncompromisng attitude of Mr.. LINCOLN and
his party during the tendency of the present trou-
bles, had prepared the country to expect from him
very little in the way of Cancellation or compro-
mise. But we did not anticipate speech like
that delivered on Monday, in which the COM
plants of the South are treated as unworthy OF
serious consideration, and the memorable purpose
of the Federal Government 10 maintain lis author
ity in every quarter is Enthusiastically avoWed-ln
which living facts are ignored, and technical
propositions opposed as sufficient barrier De-
tween the Republic and revolution. Mr. LIN
COLIN was known to have about him in Washing
ton some men, who, whatever might be said OF
them in other respects possess at least fair claim
to be called statesmen; and it was hoped, and We
may even add, generally believed, that his first
official communication TO the people would show
that he had at all events begun to comprehend the
character of the issues he has been called upon to
meet. But even in this particular the country
has been doomed to disappointment and that dis
appointment is all the more bitter, because we can
foresee so clearly the fearful and momentous con-
sequences of Mr.. LINcoLN's error. He has said
nothing that can, by any possibility, tend to ap-
pease the South-he has said much that is almost
certain to precipitate a collision between that
tion and the North. When consider the Pres
dents views of the grounds of the dispute be
tween the slave and the free States, we can but
feel that there is scarcely the remotest possibility of
his being able to bring about an adjustment of the
quarre-Then we examine the means by which
he proposes to restore amcable relations between
the hostile parties, we are compelled 10 yield to
the sad conviction that a conflict is well nigh in
evitabe.
Concerning the causes which have impelled the
South to assume a defensive position, Mr.. LIN
COLIN speaks follows:
s'An apprehension exist among the people of
the States that by the accession of Republican Admin
straton their property and their peace and personal
security be destroyed There has never been anv
reasonable apprehension Indeed the most
ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed
been to their inspection 1t is found in nearly
all published speeches him who now addresses
you"
He then quotes from the Chicago platform,
which he says is a ia law'' to him, the resolution
Control its domestic Institutions" and he adds
81 now reiterate these sentiments and in doing So
only upon the public attention the most usive
evidence OF which the case is susceptible"
Such is Mr.. LINCoLN's estimate of the validity
of the complaints and of the reality of the fears of
the Southern people-and such are the assurances
which he holds out to them as satisfactory. can
apprehension seems to exist among them he
admits but then he tells us there 'has never been
'any reasonable cause' for it, and he thinks that
a reference to the Chicago platform and his own
speeches ought to be enough to quiet it. The
Chicago platform, which is to be "a law'' to the
new administration, deliberately repudiates the
decision of the Supreme Court, and the speeches of
Mr.. LINCOLN tell us that the UNION 'cannot exist
''haf free and half slave" and still expect
ed to look contentedly for protection and for JUS
tce to the authors of conservative documents like
these We cannot discuss now the absurdly unsat- /
isfactory nature of these propositions, but we do
insist that if this is the most conclusive evdence
of MIR. LINCoLN's disposition to deal fairly with
the South 'of which the case is susceptible" then
the people of the slave States have ample warrant
for the mstrust and alarm with which they regard
his elevation to the Presidency. 1t is plain that
the statesman who entertains these views has
hopeless task before him, if he should undertake
to reconstruct the confederacy Seven States have
seeded because, in their Judgment, their appre-
tensions are we'll founded, and several more have
intimated their determination to withdraw also I'M
less something is done to remove the sense of inse-
curity which the success of the Republican party
has inspired throughout the South Need we ask
whether the words of the PRESIDENT on Monday, |
are likely to re-assure the people of the South,
to induce the seeding States to return to- and the
others to remain in the Union? Has Mr.. LINCOLN
dealt with the causes of the dispute between the
sections in such way as to give any reason for q
hope that his administration will ever be able to
effect reconciliation? Surely there can be but
one answer to these questions. But this is one of
the minor points of the address, and we forbear to
dwell upon it further
We pass, then, to another and more important
branch ofthe subject. 1t becomes US TO inquire,
how far the measures proposed by Mr.. LINCOLN,
for the settlement of this controversy, will answer
the desired end? He avows his intention to resort
to coercve measures to compel the seeding States
to return TO their allegiance to the Federal Gov
eminent. There are, it is true, some few phrases
scattered through the body of the address, which,
standing alone, have peaceful and soothing |
sound. "The Government will not assal YOU" |
says the PRESIDENT to his fellow citizens He in
tends to enforce the laws, but in so doing he as
sures us that
-"there need to be boodshed violence and there
shall be it be upon the national au
thority."
These sentences are supposed by many to be |
tn tba
terances of the PRESIDENT, and they are quoted |
everywhere as evidences of his pacific policy. But
they mean nothing. They merely give US an as
surance that there will be war if he is suffered
to execute, without obstruction or resistance in the
seeding States, such laws as he thinks proper. |
Thus much we could have surmised before the |
address appeared. There are other sentences,
however, which announce, in unmistakable terms,
the future policy of the administration, and the
results to which that policy must inevitably lead
no man fail to comprehend. We cannot con.
ceive how the following remarks, some portions of
which we italicize, capable of being misunder-
stood.
81 therefore consider, that in view of the Constitution
and the laws the Union is unbroken and to the
pressIy enoins upon me. that the as Of the Union be
faithfully executed in all the States"
'The power conded to me aoH used to hold occupy
ana possess the property and places belonging to the
Government and to collect The duties and in.posis
You have oath registered in heaven TO destroy the
Government CLe shall hare the most solemn one pre-
serre protect and defend it.'
We will not stop to consider whether the seces-
sion ordinances are void, or whether the States
which have passed them are or are not, in legal
contemplation, still in the UNION. Nor need we
discuss at present. the technical right of the Gov
eminent to uphold its authority nor the character
of the obligations which Mr.. LINCOLN has assumed.
Political societies as well as individuals must yield
sometimes to the memorable behests of fact and |
stern necessity, and with these it is our business
now to deal. Recognizing, therefore, the seces-
sion of seven States and the establishment of
separate Confederacy actualities, it is impossi-
BILE to understand how Mr.. LINCoLN's mode of
dealing with those States Can end otherwise than
in a civil war. He intends to execute the laws of
the UNION thereto collect the duties heretofore
paid to the Federal Government-and to hold, &C.
cupy and possess the forts and custom houses.
All these things he is bound to do by virtue of an
oath registered in Heaven. There is only one
single contingency in which this programme will
not result in war; and that is that the Confed-
Grated States will surrender at discretion rather
than tight to maintain the position thew have
talfan. This contjnoancv ~ -.