The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-09-05
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1861.

To-day is assigned for the meeting of the dele
gates recently chosen in the various wards to Sc
lect eleven persons to represent the city of Balti-
more IN the State Convention called for the 10th
instant TO nominate peace candidates for the Offices
Of Governor and Comptroller Of the State. We
sincerely trust that the respectable gentlemen who
compose the City Convention will manifest their
sense of duty and responsibility, by the choice Of
delegates whose character and fitness will COM
mand the confidence of the community. This is
not time to consult individual preferences or
crafty individual aspirations. 1t is no time for
party manipulation or the play of ordinary poiti-
cal machinery. No man is fit to be thought of, in
connection with either of the responsible offices re-
ferred 10, who is capable Of intriguing or canvass
ing, or packing a Convention, at such time, to
have himself nominated, and if any man were
successful in procuring nomination by such means,
his defeat would be as certain as it would be well
deserved We have no doubt whatever that an
overwhelming majority OF the people of Maryland
are opposed to the prosecution OF the war which
the Government is now waging; and that if can
didateg wortbily representing that sentiment are
presented for their suflrages and fair election is
permitted the result admits no peradventure
Bat there must be no trifling with the solemn and
earnest feeling which animates their convictions
There must be no attempt to divert it into parti-
san channels or abuse it for individual purposes
Party hacks and professional politicians must
stand aside. The country has had enough of
them, and wants no more. Men Of intelligence
and character must be brought forward, if the
support of The character and intelligence Of the
community Is expected. Men who no polili-
cian8-to whom public Office is distasteful and
public service a sacrifce-must be pat in the stead
Of piace-hunters, if public respect and confidence
are sought to be commanded. The peace party
Of the State of Maryland enrols in its daily
Increasing ranks citizens of all varieties of
previous political opinion and utilization. The
only bond which unies lis members together,
is their earnest and patriotic desire that n
stop should he put by public opinion, irre9ist-
bly, expressed, to the bloodshed and desolation
which the fratrici,al contest now going on has
involved and is threatening. They believe that
the welfare Of the people the hopes OF the Repuh-
lie aud the destiny of free institutions on this side
of the Atlantic, combine with every instinct OF
humanity and all the dictates of civilization and
sound policy to demand truce Of arms It is for
the purpose of giving expression to these senti-
monts, through the voice OF the State of Maryland
that they propose 10 themselves to elect candidate;
whose sentiments shall be Identical, and who will
devote themselves to the support and propagation
and enforcement Of these sentiments by all Lawful
and constitutional means This, and nothing else
is their platform, Al other questions are entirely
apart from it and outside Of it. All considerations
whether personal CT political, which diverge from
If, must be thrust aside, no part or parcel of tn
issue. Il is the duty, and it ought to he the high
est object and effort OF all who have anything
to do with either the nominations o
the choice of delegates to the nominating conven
ton, to realize these things and carry them out
faithfully and unswervingly. Every one VIII
hesitates 10 do so, fails in comprehension of tn
crisis and Of the fearful needs of his country
The cause is one which demands all prejudice
and all differences of opinion, not less than n
predictions and past associations, 10 be forgot
ten. Those who are not willing 10 do this, 70
such cause are unworthy OF it. Those VIII
personal or party ends, have no conception of III
feeling which upholds it, and of the ptter insig
nifcauce of common men and common clap-trap
beside it.