The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-07

There appears 10 be a growing belief, in many
quarters that the l'ading Republicans are pre-
pared to offer to the South, as a settlement of the
Territorial question, the admission of New Mexico
and Arizona as a State, with the power of future
subdivision into several States when the pop
ulation shall justify it. These Territories, as our
readers are aware, all that belong to us South
of the Missouri Compromise line. Indeed, the
Northern boundary of New Mexico, towards the
East, encroaches degree and half upon that
line, and extends to lat. $50 n. Slavery Is, at
this time, recognized and established IN the pro-
roged State so that its introduction will add one
more to the slavehoding members of the Conted-
eracy. So far, therefore, the proposition for lis
admission is perfectly fair, and its adoption would
practically remove from Congress the agitation of
the leading and exciting question involved in the
DRIED SCoTT decision. As We understand, how
ever, the parties who favor the proposed basis OF
settlement, desire to couple it with yet another
proposition, looking TO the possibility of future
territorial ACQUISITIONS Their idea upon this
noint is supposed to be- that any territory here
after to be acquired, by treaty or conquest, shall
come into the Union, as State, and with or With
out the institution of slavery, according as the
fact shall exist at the time of the acquisition. BY
this rule any portion of Mexico, if acquired,
would come into the Union as free State, negro
slavery not being allowed at present IN that re-
public. But the acquisition of Mexico Or other
territory in that direction, would only be desired
by the extreme South as ''""-1 VI extending me
;,,;t,,;., OIL slavery and augmentln9 ITS pro-
tbo ,rnpoSitioD which
we alude will not be likely to meet acquescence
in that quarter The extreme South will pro
ballv wish TO acquire q portion Of Mexico,
os Territory: to introduce slavery there, as
an institution, and bring the Territory
finally into the Union as a slave State. In
view. then, of the possibility of the pro-
posed basis Of compromise being offered and
refused farther South it becomes us, in
MARYLAND. to consider and determine what our
own policy should be IN respect to its acceptance
or rejection. For ourselves, we do not hesitate to
say, that the proposition as Il whole, is one which,
we think, ought to command the appreciation OF
all moderate men, and that it ought to be gladly
accepted as a settlement of all that portion of our
difficulties involved in the Territorial controversy.
Inc reasons IOF HIS COuCluslOu are III OuI Jug
ment, simple and obvious.
As to the admission OF New Mexico and Arizona
as a slave State, with provsotor lis future subd-
vision, nothing need be said. It has the advantage
Of practically settling the great point in dispute,
without exacting from either party that most diff
cult of sacrifices, the open remuneration of opin-
ions long proclaimed and bitterly fought for.
nv Lr,o
after 10 be acquired, has to US, we confess, its
chief recommendation, in the fact that it would
probably prevent any such acquisitions altogether.
The South would not be likely to struggle for the
dsmemberment Of Mexico, in order TO bring a free
State into the Union, and the North would be
but little apt to join in any projects of purchase
or conquest having for their result the introduce
lion of a slave State, like Cuba. Any plan,
which, either directly or indirectly, would thus
contribute TO eXtinguish that spirit of territorial
extension and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which has been
our hane thus far, and is at the foundation of our
present diScords, would, in our deliberate iudg-
ment, come recommended by every suggestion of
wise craftsmanship, that has its origin in the
principles upon which our Constitution was
founded. We repeat, as we stated few days
ago, that any constitutional amendment ex-
pressly prohibiting the future acquisition of terri
tory, in any way, or under any circumstances,
would meet our hearty appreciation and receive
our most earnest support. Such q provision
might create embarrassment perhaps, in a few
conceivable cases, but such embarrassment we
should regard as utterly insignificant, alongside
of the evils with which the contrary doctrine is
pregnant. Believing this, and being willing to
see clause Of absolute prohibition introduced into
the fundamental law, we are of course prepared to
welcome any proposition whatever, tending in
the same salutary direction We are opposed to fl
ibuserism in every shape whether il be awless in
Vaslon, national war, annexation fraud or forcible
purchase and we should therefore hail as blessing
any step towards the removal of all temptation
10 engage in 1t, under any name or pretence what
SoeVer The theory and the experience of all
leuefatlVe governments combine to point out ter
roral expansion as the most perilous test of their
weakness. In proportion as their sphere extends.
the centrpetai force becomes less and less active,
ana force actively centrifugal will sooner or
later usurp its place. The pulse of nationality
winch beats vigorously at the heart, grows fain-
ter and fainter towards the extremities. and dies
away altogether when these are too remote. Among
tue great and good men who framed our Consti-
luton, there were many whose most painful
douo's, as to the permanency of the system they
were founding, arose from the territorial extern
sion, then so limited, of the republic they be-
quea'hed to US. They made, therefore, no provi
sion Tor Its expansion much less for its being dou
oled. Mr.. JEFFERSON himself admitted the pur.
chase OF Louisiana TO be unconstitutional, al.
tnough ne justified it upon the ground of abso-
4u'e ota'e-necessity. That necessity may now be
conceded, but the dscords which have foIIourod
III lis tram, and from its subsequent exapuera.
''on, ana winch are now threatening to rend us
asunder, admonish us that we have followed
such necessity far enough The demonstrations
OF weakness which recent events have develoned
In the General Government, ought, we think, to
sa'lsfy every rational mind, that any additional
weight thrown into the scale of the States. mpst
sooner or later overturn the federal balance hone
lessiy and forever. To be strong enough 10 keen
together an almost boundless confederacy, the
central government must possess a degree o.
power which would enaole it to strike down fea
dom also. We are opposed therefore, we repeat
u further annexation of all Sorts We believe it t,
be the real interest of Maryland, and of the who'll
Union as well, to unite in such opposition. We con
sequently think that the proposition for the intro
ducon of New Mexico and Arizona, instead of be
ing disadvantageouslyq qualified by the other propo
sition 10 which we haveauded, is made more states
manlke, and ought to be rendered more accepta
BILE, thereby. 1t may be, and doubtless is our in.
terest, as Republic, to exclude European infu.
ences from extending themselves further on tbi;
Continent; but we do not think that such interest
In any sense, demands that we should posross ths
whole Continent ourselves. IT, instead of invading
and plundering our neighbors; instead of foment
ing their disc0rds stimulating their passions, cor
ruping their people and annexing their soil, we
were to go among them on the true mission of re-
pHbicanlsm and civilization, our work would be
done, not only more worthily and more honora
bly,, but even more in accordance with our owr
material interests. If we were to unite our per.
suasions and our power to put an end to their rev.
olutions and stay bloodshed and ruin among
them; if we were to lend them helping hand in
their weakness; teach them the lessons of peace,
industry and knowledge, and show them, by our
own example, the genuine beauty and beneficence
OF republican institutions and regulated freedom,
they would grow up around US, a bulwark and a
blessing. They would be bound TO us by every
tie of gratitude and sympathy. They wonId in
crease our trade, promote agriculture and man
nftrra Il,