The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-08
The Sun, of yesterday, says:

= There Is apurpose manifest here elsewhere and
appears IN the editorials and correspondence of tLe
Northern press to represent the character aud action M
me Legislature of Maryland hostile to the Admin,str.
ton and exhibiting tendency to secession II tbis a
true we confess ourselves to be totally Ignorant of and
unable to perceive it," 1900
AS the whole of the article from which we take
the above extract is cautiously worded. as if it was
expressly intended to leave its meaning in doubt
IL Is very possible that we have msinterpreted its
purport II, however, we understand it Alright
it unquestionably, in our judgment, places the
people and Legislature of Maryland in a false
position. If our contemporary merely intend
ed to say that the Legislature would not
take upon itself the responsibility of determin-
ing whether this State shall ultimately adhere to
the Northern or join the Southern Confederacy. il
has done that body but simple justice. The Leg
islature was elected for no such purpose. and has
no constitutional authority to take such step:
and whatever may be the convictions or feelings
OF its members in regard to the propriety or ne
cessity of forming alliance with the slave States
they have too much regard to their own ohlioo
lions and to the principles on which our Govern
ment Is founded, to attempt to hand this people
over, without their own consent, to either section
OF to any government. The Legislature has made
known its intentions upon this point; and that
fact is, and ought to be, sufficient to satisfy its
constituents.
But 1t the Sun means to indicate, as we think
it clearly does, that the Legislature is not hostile
to the principles and policy of the Administration,
and that it has manifested no willingness to vim
dictate the rights of the South, and shown no dis
position whatever to prefer the Southern TO the
Northern Confederacy, when the time shall come for
Maryland to act, then we do believe that our con-
temporary has altogether misunderstood and misre-
presented the sentiments Of the General Assembly.
We are sure that almost every man composing that
body is bitterly opposed to the aggressive spirit
which has animated the Administration and its sup
porters, and to the unconstitutional and ruinous
war which is atout to be waged against the South
and we are moreover satisfied that the large majority
Of the members feel that the UNION is about to be
dissolved, and are convinced that in such case our
State should share the fortunes of those which
have Withdrawn from this Confederacy. And we
cannot be mistaken in the supposton that the Leg
lsiature has meant TO intimate these views to its
constituents and to the world
Under tn Sc circumstances we regret that the
'-'S SNS4A
a course which would, if adopted, be ruinous as
well as discreditable 10 us. 1t suggests
that in any act authorizing the election of conven
ton that body shall be prohibited from passing an ord
nance OF secession so long as the national capital the
uhited States is continued at Washington And as the
personalities are that this contingency will
eu an'ins our day and generation, it will establish
he most intimate relations between the State Of Mary
Immediately admit Of
Now, if we are to be precluded from making
our choice between the two Confederaces until
the capital is removed from Washington, and if
such removal is not to take place in our day and
generation, it is utterly absurd to keep the ques-
ton open any longer. We had better, in such
case make our arrangements to remain forever
with the North, and begin at once to make common
cause with it, Butas believe the suggestions of
our contemporary TO be in direct opposition TO the
wishes and determination of the citizens of this
State, we sincerely trust they will not be listened
10 for moment by the Legislature. The ground
which the people of Maryland take, unless we mis-
understand the issue, is simply this. They do not
desire now to interfere, by violence with the opera
lions of the Government, nor do they intend to
adopt any Improbable measures, or to enter
upon an unavailing contest. But they do insist
that if the Confederacy is dissolved by the separa
ton of the free and slave States, they are entitled
to decide to which section they will finally ad-
mere. This right they will not, and ought not to
wave nor will they suffer the Legislature to sur
ie.uer IT, 1t is one of the most vital political
privileges oequea,hed them by their fathers, and
lucy cannot with safety or honor permit it TO he
"fes'ea from their hands. That they will hesitate
70 MAINTAIN the right they claim, we do not for
an instant imagine; and if they are true 70 thon,
selves they will assert it just as boldly as ;f o
Massachusetts militia men, who are emf '"e
upon our hillsides, were still cruising after codfsS
off Newfoundland. Nl'n