The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-09-11


know what is treason and what is not, and when
the pains and penalties of making mistake on
the subject are SO serious and go promptly admin
istered, we have deemed it but a prudent thing to
endeavor 10 collect from orthodox and unexcep-
tionable sources, the best opinions to be had upon
current questions. The following statements of
doctrine we believe to be beyond peradventure,
and we take it for granted that any man is safe
who does not transcend the limits which they pre-
scribe. They convey our own opinions SO fairly,
in the main, that we should be unwilling 10
change their language, or vary their principles, in
the slightest degree, except, perhaps, here and
there, in a more moderate and conservative sense
Upon the right of people, Or the majority OF
any portion of people, to change modify their
institutions, at their pleasure, know nothing SO
comprehensive as the doctrine announced by Mr.
LINCOLN, in his speech delivered in the House Of
Representatives on the 18th of January, l648.
which the reader will find on page % of the Ap-
pendix to the Congressional Globe of the lst ses.
sion of the Both Congress. 1t is in the following
words, which we quote, however, with the OBJ
servaton that their distinguished author goe9 con-
siderably beyond our own views in the premises
and indeed transcends all orthodox opinions tina
we know of concerning the same-except that o.
his Excellency Gov. Hicks, expressed in the Con-
vention Of Maryland, wherein he asserted the con-
stitutional right of the Eastern Shore to secede at
pleasure. But we return to Mr.. LINCOLN, who
says:
Amy people, anywhere, being inclined and hac-
''ng the porer haze the right to rise up and shake
'ot the eristjag gorernment, and form a neac one
'that salts them better. This is a most valuable, a
'most sacred right--a right which, we hope and
'believe, is to Iberate the world Nor IS this
''ght confined to cases an schich the achole people Of
''dn e1lang Government may choose 10 exercise IT,
ANY PORTION Of such people that CAN, MAY repolu-
'tionize, and male their OWN Of so much of tie terri
''ritory as they lha5d. More than this, A MAJORITY
''oF ANY PORTION of such people may repo7mioaize,
put dorm MINORITY, intermingled uith, or near
''a6o1d hem acho may oppose their movements. Such
minority acas precisely the case Of the tories Of our
''o7n rerot'tt'on. 1t as quality Of resolutions not
go By old lines or old lars but to break mp both,
"and make new ones'
Attorney General BATES, in his recent letter to
the Hon. A. f. RITcHIE, denies that there is any
right of revolution at all, and says it is
power which "exiss in force only" We agree
however, with the President-and while we regret
that he and his chief law-officer do not think
alike on so vital a subject, we presume we cannot
be in error, in supposing that the Presidents
speech overrules Mr.. BATES opinion In his In
augural, Mr.. LINCOLN was careful 10 refer the
people of the country, for information in regard to
his principles and policy, TO ''the published
speeches of him who now addresses you" He
will hardly deny us the right to shelter our poor
opinions behind one of them, published" ever so
long ago.
Upon the right of the President, or any officer
OF the Government, to dispense with or trans
gress the Constitution or any law under If va oro
willing to stand by the doctrine announced bv
MIR. BATES in his letter of July ed, 1861 to Mr..
MCDOWELL, the United States Marshal of Kansas
We quote his words viz:
at is the Presidents constitutional d,t IN ttol,o
care that the laws be faithfully execn,ed,
'That means all the la,cs. He has no rigbt to dis
fcriminde-1lo right to erecme The Iars he EEee
"and unexecue those he disIites; and, Of course uon
'and l. his subordinates, hare no acider discre
'tion or latitude than he has,
As to the right of the State of Maryland to in
sst that any offences charged against her citizens
or officers are individual offences, and that they
90 not deprive the State of her rights as member
ol the Union, we desire no sounder doctrine than
that announced by the same high functionary, in
the same letter, In reference to the State of Mis-
souri,, viz:
missouri is a State an the Uo;ou The ;neur-
''rectionary disorders in Missouri are Inn, ;nd;,r,
"crimes, and do not change the legal statue of t1o
estate, nor change ats rights and obligations 10
"nember Of the Union"
80, also, we cheerfully accept the following
from the same paper the rule applicable to Mr.,
Pos'master-General BLAIR, and making it his
duty, not only not to arrest, but duly to forward
and deliver all matter, whether written or print
ed, which is mailable under the acts of CONGRESS
=" REFUSAL By a ministerial officer, to ereeus
"dny la'o w's properly belongs to his office, is an
''o6Fcial naisdemeaaor, Of qohich do not doubt the
''President srould take notice. Tery respectf,au
edward Bates
In regard to the folly of going to war, in order