The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-24

We publish in another column the reply Of Mr.
SEWARD TO Governor Hicks, advising the Pres-
dent "to order elsewhere the troops now at An
"napolis," and also suggesting ct that no more
"may be sent through Maryland.'' The answer
which Mr.. SEWARD makes, in the name of the
PRESIDENT, is just what might have been expected
Tterades the point, and seeks to change the nature
Of the principle involved, by declaring, as the
PRESIDENT had previously done to Mayor Brown,
and to other gentlemen who have waited upon
him, that the troops "are intended for nothing
but the defence Of the Capital.' If this be true,
then the Proclamation of Mr. LINCOLN is false, for
it called out the militia of the Northern States, in
explicit terms, for the exclusive purpose of Cen
" forcing the laws" and suppressing combina-
" tons " in the seeded States, and not in or
about the District of Columbia. 1t may, per-
haps, be possible that the PRESIDENT has changed
his mind for the present. Until the meeting
of Congress until war has been formally sane
toned and annOunced-any offensive movement
being grossly Illegal in the meanwhie-it is
barely possible that the troops to be concentra-
ted at the Capital will not be allowed to invade
the soil Of Virginia. or of any of the States
TO the South. Bat that this object is contem-
plated, and that the Administration, which an
nounced that its policy was peace, even up to the
moment when it despatched a naval and military
armament to victual and reinforce forts Sumter
and Pickens-that such an Administration is not
TO be trusted is as clearly true as that the deceit
which it has practsed upon the border slave
States is, in the highest degree, disreputable. We
frankly say that we have no confidence in the pa
cifc professions Of Mr. LINCOLN, or any of the mem
bers Of his Cabinet. We know that, acting upon
the advice Of Gen. SCoTT they had determined to
evacuate Fort Sumter, and preserve the status quo
at Pickens. We know that, after this conclu-
sion was reached, and the Republican journals
prepared the public mind to accept it as a mea-
sure of military necessity, they yielded to the
pressure which was brought to bear upon them by
the radical wing of their party and resolved upon
active operations. We believe, no matter what
their present intentions may be- that they will again
succumb to Northern dictati0n; and therefore it
is that we say-they are not to be trusted. The
order issued by General SCoTT on Saturday last,
to take military possession of the whole line of
route between Philadelphia and Washington was
an act of war; and although, in obedience to
the vigorous protest of Mayor BROWN and the gen
tlemen who accompanied him to Washington,
that order may have been temporarily withdrawn.
we have no assurance that it will not be renewed
rs soon as the excitement has Gained down which
was aroused by the attempted passage of Northern
troops through this city. 1t was that formidable
demonstration alone which induced Mr. LINCOLN
to send back to Harrisburg the troops at
Cockeysville; but even then he arrogated to
himself the right to send them through Maryland
by any other route. To disembark them at
Annapolis or at Benedict, on the Patux-
ent, is as much a violation of the soil
Of Maryland as if they passed through the
city of Baltimore. Rightly considered, it is
greater indignity that these Northern troops
should be suffered to pass through the CAPITAL Of
the State, than if they passed through Baltimore,
Inc plea by which Mr.. LINCOLN seeks to Justify
the marching of troops Southwark for the ALLEGED
defence of the Federal Capital would far more
certainly justify Governor HICKS in calling ont
troops to defend the Capital of Maryland If the
regiments which are now at Annapolis are suffered
TO pass through, or to proceed up the Patuxent
or to land at any other point on our shores.
Others will follow them. At such points, be il re-
membered, they will not simply pass tbrouob
but they will take and hold possession: for if is
essential that they should keep permanently open
their line of communication with the North.
What then becomes Of the sovereignty of
Maryland? With Northern troops accumu-
lated at the Federal Capital, and at An
napolis or on the Patuxent, our powers of
resistance will not only be seriously crippled,
but we are at once virtually reduced to the
condition of subjugated province. It is for
the Legislature, which meets on Friday newt 70
decide whether this thing shall be. There is
another paragraph in Mr.. SEwARDs letter. which
needs some comment. Whether intended to do
so or not, it leaves the impression that the route
selected by General SCoTT has been adopted. at
the suggestion, and nth the Concurrence. of nrom-
inent magistrates and citizens of MARYLAND. We
need scarcely say, that while Mr.. SEwARD's state
ment will bear this interpretation, it is wholly and
VIGOROUSLY untrue in point of fact On the con-
trary, we are satisfied that not a single member of
any recognised and responsible committee, who
has had an interview with Mr.. LINCOLN and his
Cabinet, or with General SCOTT, has admitted the
right of the Administration to pass Northern
troops through Maryland, for the unconstitutional
anu wicked purposes substantially announced in
Tue froclamation, or has made the slightest con-
oe'sion :, 'ua' Wonld be derogatory to the honor
anu uieHiy oi Inc State, or the position which
sne mas assumed in this crisis. What Governor |
hicks may have done in the premises is of course.
known to himself and Mr. LINCOLN
The success of the great Maryland movs,,or,
which at this time engrosses the minds and Goo,
ings of our people, depends wholly upon the mod
era finu apd fairpacc with which - &.