The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-20
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1861

The session of the Convention held in this city,
under the call of the Frederick and Maryland In
stiute meetings, was brought to close, yester-
dav, by the unanimous adoption of the address
and resolutions which will be found in another
column. The report of the committee by whom
the resolutions and address were presented was
likewise unanimous, so that the action of the Con-
vention will carry with it not only the intrinsic
force that belongs to it, but all the weight that
can be derived from the perfect and absolute ac-
cord of the large number of able and influential
citizens who took part in the deliberations of the
body. When it is considered that the Convention
was composed of gentlemen representing all shades
ofpolitica opinion; comparatively few Of them pro-
essional politicians, and almost all of them with
heavy stakes in the welfare and peace of the nation
and the State, we cannot imagine that their
renee, without a dissenting voice. in the measures
tons the respectful and serious consideration of
the whole people of the State Upon one point we
should suppose that their action would be con-
elusive with every fair-minded man, and that is,
their loyalty to the existing union of the States,
and their unwillingness to take any step involving
q consideration of our severance from it, until its
promise and Cancellation shall force US TO select
that fragment of the wreck which is fttest and
worthest TO be trusted with our fortunes
Upon the point, too, Of moderation and prudence,
it seems to US that the action of the Convention
has left no room for cavil Instead of the passion
ate haste, with which it has been charged, by the
advocates of the do-nothing policy, that it was
their purpose TO tear the State from its moorings
they have thrown around the contemplated move
ment of the people every safeguard of deberaton
and delay. Accused of corrupt and disorgan-
izng purpose to snatch the reins of government
from the hands of the constituted authorities, they
have nevertheless cordially invited the co-opera-
ton of the chief of those authorities, than whom
no one has more recklessly assailed them with the
accusation. There is not single particular, in
which they have not vindcated themselves tenn
perately and manfully, from the misrepresen-
tations which have been the staple of
the opposition to the policy they repre-
sent. So far as the proceedings of the
Convention, and the personal bearing of its mem.
bers, are concerned, it may be said, without any
peradventure, that no similar body ever collected
in the State afforded less ground for invidious or
unfavorable comment. Except upon preliminary
questions of organization and order, there was
scarcely any debate and of the desire for speech.
making, so universal on such occasions, there was
not solitary manifestation. The whole temper
of the Convention was one of resolute and solemn
earnest peculiarly BETTING the gravity of the is
sues involved, and we cannot but regard it as
palpable foreshadowng of the spirit in which-if
the catastrophe impending should haplessly ensue
the people themselves will sweep away the tenn
PORTING subterfuges which have been interposed,
thus far, in Maryland, between them and the reai-
ties and responsibilities of their position.