The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-15
MARYLAND TO BE HELD BY THE NORTH

| The New York World, (Republican,) says
we do not wish to act the part of alarmists and
dare say the administration has full appreciation
| OF whatever danger there may be- But the cortin-
ued possession of the feder al capital is of such vital
| consequence that the government will be derelict
If it does not make Washington against all
possible attacks, whether the preparation is open
or covert. The capital must be held at all hazards
and at whatever cost All the material interests of
Maryland to which the district belonged iden-
tify her with the Northern States. Her greatest
work of internal improvement (the B. & o. Rail
road) was built to give her hold on the trade of
the fertile and teemng Northwest-the great
prize for which all the principal Atlantic
cities have. been vigorously competing since the
completion of the Erie canal gave astonishing
impetus to the growth of New York. Maryland
has small and declining slave population, having
exported, within the last ten years, considerably
more than the natural increase Of her slaves during
that period. But, without entering further into
argument founded on the interests of Maryland, it
is sufficient to state the ruism that the possession
of Washington is vital necessity to the govern
ment of the Union; and t1haterer the people of Ma
ryland may aoish, the federal capital must be held at
all hazards. 1t is not for us but for the military
authorities to say what is sufficient force for its
protection; but to provide that force, whatever it
may be, is the most imperative duty of the govern
ment.
The DEBTS OF THE Two CoNFEDERACIEs.-The At
lanta Confederaey remarks that the seven States
composing Confederation have an aggregate
public debt of 100000. The twenty-seven
States composing the Northern Confederation owe
STA, 4,O0O,00O These amounts show the aggregate
of the State debts of the two Governments, from
which it will be seen that the Northern State gov
ernments are far heavily saddled with debt,
according to population, than we are-the proper
tion being about one dollar and three-quarters to
our one.
| Our Government is about borrowing Sis, ,O00, ,000
which will make whole Government indebted
ness, State and Confederate amount to S32 900 00O
The United States Government now owes over
on6 fhn a,rIa 4f ~
loan which is already authorized is taken, it will
owe 500, 10000. This will make their indebted
ness, State and Federal, amount to S274 100000.
If to this we add their city, corporation and rail-
road debts which amount to nearly S400, 900 900,
we have the fearful aggregate of nearly $500, ,000,-
600 of public debt, owed by the Northern people,
Mobile Advertiser.
MosT DISASTROUS CONFEDERATION AT HICKMAN,
| KY.-Thrty-one Houses Consumed-Loss Estimated
bereen $1,000 and S125, ,000.-The officers of the
steamer Memphis, which arrived at the landing
this morning, inform us that on Sunday night,
about II o. clock, as that boat effecting land
ing at Hickman, Ky., flames were discovered issu-
ing from negro shanty, in the village, some dis.
tance from the river. In short time almost the
entire population were aroused and exerted every
| effort to subdue the flames. This however, owing
to the absence of fire engines they unable to
do, and as the wind was blowing pretty sharply,
the flames spread very rapidly.
| Before they could be subdued, thirty-one build
ings, the greater portion of them composed of wood
en- material, were consumed. We are informed
that among the number were between twenty or
twenty-five business houses. The progress of the
fire not checked until it reached large brick
building, which being provided with fre-proof
walls and roof, effectually checked the further
| march of the flames. The loss, according to the
estimate of the officers of the Memphis, will reach
| between one hundred and one hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars, which there was not an
insurance OF over seven thousand dollars.-Mem.
phis Argus, Aprils.
FoRr PULAsKI-Notice to Pilots, Ship Masters dc.
MIR. Collector Boston has handed the following
letter received yesterday from the Comm andant at
| Fort Pulaski, of which all concerned will take due
| notice:
HEADQUARTERS lst REGIMENT GEO. ARMY
Fort Pulaski, April IL, 1861. :
John Boston, Esq, Collector, DC:
| Dear Sir-For the present no vessel will be al
lowed to pass Fort Pulaski, going in the direction
of Savannah, after dark. Vessels after dark will
be required to anchor in the most convenient an
chorage abreast of Tybee.
In the day time, cannon shot fired across the
bows of any vessel, will be signal that her charac-
ter is unknown When the shot is fired, the vessel
must heave to. She will then be visited by an
officer of this garrison. If no shot is fired she will
be allowed to pass without stopping.
Oblige me by communicating this to the Pilots
of the river and harbor.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
CHAs. j. WILLIAMS, Col Com'dg.
-Sarannah Ne,Cs, April II.
The Newburyport Herald states that in conse.
quence of the accumulating stocks of coarse cot
tons and print cloths, the mills in that work are
shortening production. The Globe and Ocean in
that city stop one-third of their machinery; the
Merrimac, Prescott and other corporations il
Lowell do the same; and operations of the same
kind are taking place all the States, to relieve
the markets. The mills in Newburyport have
their cloths for several months on hand. In Man
chester they propose to make similar suspension
of labor throughout the city; but there being
better demand for fine cloth, such as the Bartlett
and James make, the prices of these keep up, ant
the work, for time at least, will continue at full
speed and full pay.
MEXICO AND THE CONFEDERATE STATEs.-A CORES
pondent of the Galveston NeDs, writing from
Brownsville on the 23d ult.; says
l have noticed in some of the New Orleans paper
a few weeks since, correspondence hence, intma
ting that the Mexcans are jealous of the intention
of the Texans, etc.
Now, have taken considerable pains to learn th
truth Of this report, and l am convinced that tn
! Mexicans favor the course the South has and
! pursuing, and they do not have any fear that W
will ever trouble them. They seem anxious
keep up a friendly intercourse with us.
BRITISH ACCESSION OF TERRITORY IN CHINA--O
the 18th of January, at Hong Kong, the ceremon
of transferring the newly acquired territory, o
the kowloon shore, from Chinese to British rule
took place in the presence of a large assembagt
including the Earl of Elgn and other distinguish
personages. PrOclamations in English and Chimes
were read. The royal standard was then displayed
: and salutes were fired from a battery on shore
= and by all the vessels of war in the harbor. Fou
Mandarins acted on behalf of the Emperor in cedin
this territory.
The monthly return of the Boston Banks mac
: up on Wednesday last, show an increase in circ'
r lation of SAG, ,355.42; an increase in specie
| S6O 069. Az. an increase in foreign exchange {