The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-24
From the London Star, Jan. 81
ENGLISH VIEW OF THE SECESSION OF

a..
The secession Of South Carolina cannot be SOL
itary event. When one such star quits its place, a
constellation is sure to follow. The banner of the
United States will rapidly be shorn of alf its in
sigma. This Republic, that but yesterday stretch
ed from the pine forests of Maine to the tropical
shores of the Gulf of Mexico, may presently be re-
duced to half its imperial dimensions, Georgia,
Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and per-
haps the more ancient Mssissippi-thefa famous COM
munites of Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia NAV
be dragged into adopting the resolutions of the
Charleston Convention. This most magnificent
temple OF democracy on which the sun has ever
shone will be reft asunder. The only nation under
heaven which founded its institutions directly on
the abstract rights of man, and which has enjoyed
career OF prosperity surprising all the examples
OF history, and almost realizing the dreams of
philosophic imaginations, will be suddenly split
into two hostile confederaces unlike In everything
but the language they speak, and mutually irrita-
ted by the remembrance of the bonds from which
they have broken loose.
No Engshman will regard this event with feel
ings of satisfaction. We are all accustomed to
sympathze with the pride of Americans in their
Federal Constitution, and to rejoice with them in
the hope OF its perpetuty. 1t has been with us for
years subject of the fondest anticipation, that
they would not only cast out the demon by which
the temple was defed and endangered, but pre-
serve and enlarge the temple itself. The blow that
has fallen upon them falls also upon u.s. Their
commerce can scarcely be more affected bv the
disruption than viii our own. Their modification
OF uniting all their influence with ours upon the
destiny OF the world, is echoed in our own breasts
But these are not the only sentiments of which we
are conscious The English people perceive at once
what the American people in the Northern States
may naturally be more slow to perceive, namely
the compromising elements of this unlooked-Gor
vexation. Often and loudly as the South has
threatened to secede, the fulilment Of the threat
even by single State, must strike the great ma
Jority of Americans with surprise, and almost dis
NAV.
The suddenness of the event. and the very con-
seriousness of the Northern States that they have
given no just cause for such act of revolt against
their common allegiance, may blind them for a
time to the smallness of their actual loss. But We
more remote from the of conflict, are sensible
rather OF an imaginary than material grievance.
The Union has been to us rather an imposing spec
tacle than an indispensable structure. We have
regarded it as magnificent embodiment of great
principles, but not as their essence and reality We
have admired the splendid combination of indie
pendent rights and separate interests into Federal
unity; but have looked upon the preservation of
the former as far more important than the preser-
walton of the latter. We have sometimes feared
that the abolition of slavery, or even the liberation
of the Union from the shame and guilt of that afro
city, could not be accomplished without a rupture
between the North and South; but we have never
doubted that the result would be well worth the
sacrifice. So now that the event has come to pass
we condoe with our friends upon the sacrifice they
are called upon to make, but we congratulate them
that the temptation to compromise is taken out Of
their way.