The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-27

Notwithstanding the desperate efforts of the
''Unionists" to evade the stern and paInaba is.pe
which, for six months past, has been steadily
FORCING Itself upon them, they have at last been
reluctantly compelled to meet it, They have now,
determined to stand by the Administration and 10
"accept civil war" They have pledged them
selves to sustain the outrageous and unconstitu.
uonal measures of Mr.. LINCOLN, and to support his
hostile movements against the South. They have
consented TO strike hands now and forever with
the North, and they ready to seal the new GOV.
enant with the blood of their brethren Sncb ;s
the point at which the ''Unionists." after q nain-
rully devious course, have at length arrived. Tn
10 within few days past, they appear to have
been involved in bewilderinr maze of crude nd
contradictory opinions, so that it was impossible
10 imagine upon what ground they would ulti
ina'eiy plant themselves. They opposed coercion
ana denounced war; they repudiated the notion of
reconStructing the UNION by force, and insisted on
the passage of the Crttenden or some similar
compromise between the sections as absolutely ne
ceSsaFy Tor the safety of the Republic they avowed
thelr sympathy with the people of the slave
states, and even the american asserted that
no sane man could doubt that the in
terests OF Maryland were with the Soutb
But still they avoided dealing with actuaI
lacts. Under mass Of verbiage tbev vainIv
ehdeavored to conceal their embarrassment
They disputed the legality of secession, and denied
that there was any justification for revolution
but they could not say how they proposed to deal
with secession and revolution. They summed nm
q Of Tho
OF Its perpetuation, but could not tell how thew
intended to maintain it. They protested their
loyalty to the national flag but could not suggest
by what means they hoped to prevent a rival fac
from waving triumphantly over a new Confedera
cy. They brought forward no views that were at
any given moment applicable to the existing state Of
affairs, nor did they advocate any Ineligible line
OF policy that seemed likely to lead to anv definite
result. But under the gradual pressure of events
'ney nave been forced to approach nearer to the
SUBSTANTIAL issues before the country As the con-
ToVersy became narrowed down TO one sinoIa
point and the ''Unionists'' found Themselves
suddenly In the presence of a simple question. to
which practical answer was demanded. thew
sought refuge again in the vague generaities, the
paid lnanities with which they have for so lono
comforted themselves and amused the nnblic. hnt
they had been taught that something mora wac
required OF them, and with the honeyed phrases in
which they have reiterated their love for the UNION
ana their attachment to its flag, goes forth now
their sanction of a war by which the former will
inevitably be destroyed and the latter disbonored
Ihey nave thus ranged themselves squarely upon
the side OF the policy of the Administration. the
ohlcago platform and the North, and are of course
prepared to sustain the armies that are noy on
tneir devastating march against the South. They
nave not ventured yet to inform the naonIo
whether they expect the UNION to be reconstructed
by the sword, or whether they only desire 70 I;nl
TINS State at once to the Northern Confederacv
ihey nave not held out the hope that the slaughter
vi "ou'nern men viii secure the stability of the
kepaollc. Having made up their minds that the
oouth IS wrong, they have simply decided unon
us punishment or subjugaton, and beyond this
lhey DO not care to look. The results of sucb =
course they do not appear to have THOUGHT II
worm While to consider. A blind and obstinate
determination to stand by reckless and uncom
promising government, without regard to conse-
quences, Is the final position Of the nUnionists ),
Millions of money may be squandered tbopsond,
vi n'eS Sacrihced, and the sections more hope
lessiy separated than ever by adhering to Mr.. LIN
COINS poiiey; but none of these things do the
onlonlsts' deem it essential to discuss. Becansa
secession Is wrong, it is apparently matter of in
difference to them how much they aggravate
lis consequences. They have gravely asked the
people OF this State to rally around their flag and
to follow them through seas of blood and over
the ruins of the Constitution; but to what end,
they themselves neither know nor care. 1t remains
to be seen how many true Maryanders will nut
confidence in the craftsmanship of the "Union
party" or countenance its policy.