The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-04

In accordance with custom, the Office of the
Dai'y Ercbonge will be closed to-day; and we
shall, therefore, issue no paper Tomorrow morn
ing. We publish elsewhere the Declaration Of
Independence, which will, we doubt not. be
studied at this time with unusual interest by the
people Of Maryland No man, we are sure, can
peruse, without the deepest emotion, the language
IN which our fathers protested, eighty years
ago, against the usurpations of the Government
10 which they then owed allegiance. Read in
connection with events which are now trans
pirng around us, its stern and solemn words
assume deeper import than we have
been wont 70 attach to them heretofore.
aud The hOnored figures Of the patriots who
framed 1t seem to loom up from the past in
more mai,stical proportions We can do full ils-
tee now 10 the seit-sacrifciug spirit which led them
to dcnounce the wrongs of their rulers, and TO
resist the coerclve measures to which the latter
resorted to sustain the government and to enforce
the laws. We can realize now the dangers in
which resistance TO tyranny involved the men
who achieved our freedom, and we can APPRECIATE
The generous a,dor which inpeled them to drive
the British legions down the slope of Bnnkcr,s
Hill, and 10 PROSTATE the banner of old ENGLAND
ever, therefore, DO we welcome the return or
day that cur fathers made SO glorious, and which
brings Us, if not bright hopes, at least proud re-
collections. Bat though mindful Of the blessings
and prYl'' gss We have heretofore enjoyed and dis
posed to kca? alive forever he glorious memories
which are so ma urally ushered in with each sue
cssive recurrence Of to-day, we cannot but feel
that this present anniversary will be best kent bv
those Who shall devote ii 10 serious thoughts and
sad reflections. This is not TIE hour for p0mpous
p1geantS or festive merry-makings The citizens
OF Maryland are surely in no heart to participate
in the noisy ceremonies with which the Fourth of
July is annually celebrated. Locking abroad
they see the Republic destroyed. the country d.
Tided, ana the people of the discovered sections
confronting each other on the battle field. At
home they fad as little cause for rejoicing
lhey Know they are suhiugaed people,
and they feel that they have been stripped
OF every right which was won for them in
the great Revolution Of l77G. They know
that the deliberate violations Of the Constitution
which have already been Committed will he sane
toned by the representatives, of dominant fac
uoh who are about to meet AT Washington, and
that the futile war winch has been so Illegally he
gun Is TO he pushed, by fanatical Government
TO the boodle3, and most disastrous consequences
However bright then, may be the "reminiscences of
the past which to-day sugge.ts, they cannot dis
tract us from the present aud prospective gloom and
danger OF our situation. The people of Maryland
will read the Declaration of Independence but they
cannot forget that strange bayonets keep guard
over them; they will talk about the Constitution.
but they will remember that its every provision is
now ruthlessiy disregarded BIZ The Government.
they will watch the waving of their familiar flag.
and they will recollect that it floats now at Fort
Mclienry over men who have been not less despot
ically imprisoned than the victims of the Gar
or Sultan. It will be, therefore, with strangely
mingled feeling Of pride, anger and humiliation,
that the brave and honest hearts which are still
left in the old State will hail the return of n dav
that was once greeted from one end of the Con
tinent to the other, with storm of ioyous accIa.
nation