The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-11
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, MAY Il, 1851.

In Mr.. LINCOLN proclamation, announcing his
purpose to increase the army and navy, he repeats
that his object is the !" impartiM enforcement Of
constitutional lars - and in the letter of nstruc-
tions which Mr.. SEWARD sent TO Mr. DAYTON on
the following day, the Secretary Of State observes
that site c0HSt dWionql remedies fur all the com
'P1aiMs Of the insurgents are still open 10 them,
"and 1riH remain So" 1t might have been Sup
posed that both Mr.. LINCOLN and Mr.. SEwAR7.
after the fatal and absurd mistakes which they
have heretofore made in regard to the character
and extent Of the revolution in the South, had at
last seen the necessity Of dealing like practical
statesmen with the facts before them. and that
they were now prepared to make some proposition
or suggestion looking towards peaceful adjust
mant OF our national Discussions. But the stu
pendous events of the past two MONTHS have
apparently wrought no change in the opinions
aud sentiments of the Administration. Though
the whole South is now in arms, and has formed
new confederacy, and organized an independ-
ent government, and published solemn decara-
ton of its determination to maintain henctforh
its lately assumed nationality, Mr.. LINCOLN and
his advisers still continue to regard the issue from
the same point of view that they did many weeks
ago The movement they think, is either an
agitation caused by few restless politicians, and
which will speedily die out if left TO ITSELF or it
is at tie worst rotous and discrdefly combna-
ton of dissatisfied =" citizens, which mist be
checked by display of force. II is an
artificial crisis" attended by lawless de-
monstrations, and the government can see no
necessity for negotiating with or conclatng
the parties to such unlawful proceedings.
Time and Il small army are in lis Judgment
the only things needed to preserve tie UNION, TO
restore harmony between tie divided States, and
TO bring about 4 return of br1thery kindness
between the people of the hostile sections. The
Administration, therefore, still refraius from
indicating any disposition to compromise or even
to listen TO the overures of the seeded States.
1t contents itself in this awful emergency with
utterng platitudes about or blessed UNION, our
glorious flag, and our common Constitution, and it
will not recognize the Fact that, rightfuly or
wrongtully, legally or illegally, these have been
now repudiated by six millions of Americans
the inhabitants Of twelve rich and powerful
States. No madden more suicidal bunder
has ever misled q government or lured q nation
to destruction. But if Mr. LINCOLN and his sup
porters will cling to the notion that the South
can be moved ny appeals Or declarations which
make no mention Of guarantees or concessions
if he or they will persist in the idea that the
seeded States are TO be pacifed or caioled by
mere phrases, they migh' ct least abstain
the AdmlnsT@ho as excite the 0e'r-' Of
its vague generalites about an mn inoirta
enforcement of the laws, and constitutions
remedies? The people of the slave States hav
had some experience of what the North consider
sufficient enforcement Of the law where the;
property and rights are involved; and they hay
been outraged and in5ultcd too often to be nov
soothed by fair speeches on the part of those VIII
have done the wrong. They have demanded no
mere protestaons and promises, but redress anC
guarantees, and they have offered the alternatiy
OF peaceful separation. Ii is worse than useless Il
tell them that the Government will mpartialIv en-
force the laws; for they reply that the Government
Is IN the hands of a man who has repudiated q in.
olcal decision which secured one of the vital rights
OF the South and who is now, in his determination
10 sublugate lis people, disregarding and deryino
the p!anest obligations which the laws of the conn
try impose upon the Executive It is idle 10 refer
them to their constitutional remedies, for they say
they have already Intellectually rcsorted to these,
and that tits folly for them 10 seek redress through
Court which the Administration will not re-
spect, through Congress which will not hear
them, or under Government which at the very
moment when it asks their confidence, is tranu,-
ling down every constitutional barrier which
stands between the people and the despotism Of
the mob or military. IT. therefore, Mr. LINCOLN
ana Mr.. SEWARD have nothing to say to the peo-
pie OF the Sl"v States except to recapiuate the
inanlties which they have so long INDUCED in
ABOUT the laws and the Constitution, they may as
wei devote themselves henceforlh exclusively to
the war measures of the Government, aud confne
their proclamatous to such explanations as NAV
be needed on these points.