Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-25

degree of domestic violence, threatened or fragrant,
in that State sufficiently serious to call tor executive
interposifiOn and for assistance. He was ths sole
Judge and solely responsible for that. He was au
thorized to speak for the State he governed, ana IN
comfy to Maryland his request in her name was
granted ou; of respect to State rights and State re
medirs 10 daend her people and support the majesty
of her laws.
With the highest consideration and respect, have
TIC "''''' " 10 ''N' WV " HENRY A. WISE.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN COVER.
SORS.
lConfdentinIl
BALTIMORE. October ~, 1857.
His Excelleucy, Henry A. WIsE.
Subtitle military organization OF his state has
fallen into such disarray that am mortified to tlnd
not within my reach sufficient number of muskets
to arm the force which shall be- obi ged 10 call ont
to secure the elective rights in the city OF Baltimore
at the approaching general election of the State.
| have therefore commissioned DR.. Wharton to
visit your sIcellency and solicit from you the loan OF
two thousand muskets, for which this State will be
respon-ible and which will be returned when the ex
igency ia over.
| have not time for any detailed communication.
and leave further explanations to DIR. Wharton.
trust you will have difficulty in supplying me for
this occasion.
If there shall be no occasion for extreme measures,
the boxes containing the which may be sent by
you shall be returned unopened.
/ have the honor to be, very respectfully,
'N' ~ T. WATKINS LIGoN.
There was no written reply to the above, but the
arms were delivered to DR.. Wharton, and the follow
ing order entered in the journal:
Extract from the Journal of The Executive, October
30, 1857
A communication received from the Governor
of the State of Maryland, asking tor the loan OF two
thousand muskets 10 be employed in preventing vio
ations of the election laws in that State.
Ordsrcd, That the superintendent of the public ar.
mory deliver to Dr. John o. Wharton two thousand
flint lock muskes, withou, hints dispensing with the
requirement of bond and security.
PROTECTION TO VOTERS OF BALTIMORE.
BARErM's HOTEL, baltimore,
October ~, 1851. )
SIR: Representations from u large number Of re-
spectacle citizens of the condition Of things in this city,
added 10 my own convictions of my constitutional du
IT, impose upon me the obligation respectfully to con-
suit you, the mayor Of the city, rs to what provi
sons should be made by you to guarantee perannai
security and the free exercise Of suffrage by the legal
voters at the approaching election.
The events of October 1856, both at the municipal
and Presidential elections and the violence at the
cent municipal election, which practically disfrhn.
chised many thousands of the qualified, native and
naturszed voters of ths city, conclusivey establish
the nadequacy of the existing city police 10 tho
elective rights and the personal safety of the voters
The citizen has right to good government. lie sur
rsnders his Individual power of defence and pays his
property dues in consideration Of the pledge made
that he shall enjoy it, and am resoute in The deter.
minaon to exert any constitutional power to fulfill
the guarantee.
SubordnateIy you are like myself sworn In your
sphere to put forth your powers in this behalf, and
have coms to this city to confer with you and ascer-
tain what provision OF extraordinary character you
proposs to make to meet apprehended disorders Of
character like those which have heretofore successful
ly deed the ordinary police force OF the city. shall
be mort happy if you can assure me of any detailed
preparation on your part which will alay my solic-
tud and certify to that the citizen may not have
occasion to reprOnch IA Gsrect in duty.
II will never do for u great commercial metropolis
like th. TO be- dishonored by this unchecked violence
of mobs, and it is necessary that the civil power
should ut once bring under subsection those evil
minded citizens wh"ss acts furnishing the hon.
or of the city and State, and destroying the
prosperity Of our COMMERCIAL mechanical and
manufacturing interests Not doubling that you
concur with m. in these sentiments and will mp.
pteca,e the sense o! official duty from which invite
your operation, have addressed you this letter,
and AK most respectfully an immediate reply.
Very respectfully,
Your Obcdirnt aervnf,
T. WATKINS LIGON.
Hos. Tnos. SwAsS, Mayor of Baltimore.
MAYORS OFFICE, CRY HALL,
Baltimore, October %, 1857.
SIR have had the honor to receivs your letter
Of the 9th instant, in which you say that 'represen
rHrDsctRbla
citizens "f hs condition Of thny. in this city added
10 my own convictions Of my constitutional duty.
impose upon me the obligation respectfully to con
suit you M mayor Of tho city of Baltimore, to
Whist provision sh"ud be made by you Ia guarantee
personal security aud the free exercise of rage by
the legal voters nj the approaching e.ction."
Your letter go"S IN TO Indicate duties which are
incumbent upon ia both. The constitutional sphere
assigned to yon m Governor of tbs State Of Maryland
and to ns mayor of tho city of Baltimore is be-
lInt. N lu h..Et IL. boil
claim. by virtue OF my commission. the privilege OF
the initiative III any d-Hhnd which might consider
necss1hry to bs made upon your e1ceency for yonr
md and 60 operation in preserving the peace Of the
city and the rights of its ctssns do not object at
any tins 10 lnphrt to you my other citizen the
fullest lnornhfi0h IN regard To matters connected
with the government Of The city, IN which th. public
might fee! an ln'-re't. u could not fail 10 excite my
surprise that IN letter inviting consultation with
me, your eIc"i"ncy, after pronouncing summary
Judgment upon the inefciency of the city govern.
men should have thought proper to refer Ia the
events OF tn" municipal and Presidential elections OF
ls16 with winch. hs mayor OF the city, | had no
official connection, and 10 impress upon that you
w.rs re-"luts III Tbs determination Ia use your con
-tliutIohal power 10 fulfill the guarantee that the
citizen Il "hti'ihi to good government.
In your r"ier-hr- 10 tho representations you have
received from large number of most respectable
cltlzenr your ehccllsncy would seem to have lost
sight OF the inc', TINT by the authority under which
he IL acting III" mayor Of the city ia made the judge
"i, ami " r'sp""ibl" for the completeness and Fiji.
cheney hi MS arrangements for preserving the public
pence and Tint tbs only official source OF informa.
ton III reference" To the plans heretofore adopted, was
in hun alone and the oTicerv acting under him.
Asto "hHf your orcailrnry has said about the i'm
port"ncs OF maintaining law and order in great
COMMERCIAL In.tr"poi. like ths, need hardly assure
you that u" man hn' labored faithfully assi
duousiy thnn havo dOns towards the accomplish.
men OF this end. Tho events which have trans prsd
since TOOK chhrga Of the municipal government, and
the mnrdered and wounded policemen who have fall
en- h inc WI" Effort TO preserve hn peace nf the city
ann 10 secure to the citizen tho FREQ e,srciae Of hi-
right OF suffrage, will sufficiently n,tss tho activity
uf my lnb"rs.
My preparations Mt thu last municipal election
wrrs, "a IA known, Of hn ample character. suf
hc'-nt'y o.. III my Judgment, to have mrt nny emer
g-hcy. That individual instances Of complaint were
IN ne i"uhh "a not Ia ba wondnrrd nj. Those in
clieh' 10 I'll excited elections that have heretofore
,hR"h PHc" ~ our city. My Instructions 10 the po
'cs were OF Tho iros absolute and impartial chnrnc
i-r' hhh w every ir,nncr of decided euibrcnk Inc
'ti l'ncy ct This force was fl. md Acknowledged
~ mo election in Novsnhar, in iurtheranc" al IN"
object winch have never lost eight Of. in addition
I" me comp a'nsnt Of officers assigned tn The stations
ana inc various e"c'ion prrcHcis netting in''nr'a,e
" W concert with the Judges. together whh ~" az
'h,'S by winch they will ba regulated there VIII Wv
WHAT may u" dHeDad. III my judgment, n 'o'nP"'e"'
pfce 10 nsnr" In thuas who may bs entitled !" '"''
Tho Tree and nntrGinmeled exercise =" their r'sh' 81
suffrage; md will state it my bsllei. TINT unless
some Unforeseen urrunCa should tax" phr" or an
ungnv.rnabIe fe.ny should IN excited by those who
are now engaged IN the .Fo, 10 DreHk down The city
government. that the election will proceed quietly
aud without intarfuptiOu,