The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-10-24

best be accounted for by themselves. / saw no
evidence Of any combination TO exclude them from
voting. 1t seemed to have been fofegone con-
clusion before the election, that they were to take
no interest in the contest. OF the twenty Demo
cratic Judges appointed by me, all resigned within
a few days Of the election, with the exception of
six Up TO the latest hour their designations
were handed in at the Mayors Office, leaving it
difficult TO supply their places in time for the open
ing of the polls In some of the wards the resi-
dent magistrates were called upon TO officiate in
the absence of the Democratic judges
This is a statement of what transpired at the re-
cent municipal election. The cause of all the dis
order that took place of serious character was
confined to the infatuated Irish OF the Eighth
ward. The deliberate shooting of officer Jourdan
was well calculated to produce excitement through
out the city. That the police should have SYM
patllized in this feeling was not to be wondered
Accustomed and beloved as that officer had been
That 1t may have provoked spirit of retaliation
in some parts of the city is not improbable. can
only say that in the midst Of all this excitement
the police bore themselves with becoming mode
ration, and executed my orders with promptnesy
and fidelity.
How far the systematic effort on the pS.rt Of
certain newspapers in this city, to bring The ad
ministration and the police into disrep ute NAV
have prompted this murderous combination on the
part of the misguided Irish of the eighth ward
it is for the public to Judge can only depIore
the existence OF any such spirit in our midst The
city OF Baltimore will owe it to herself to protect
her Officers by all the means at her disposal
My unceasing efforts shall be directed. as here.
tofore, to preserve the peace of the city. can
give no countenance to lawlessness whether il
shows itself among Democrats or Americans I
know no party in the faithful discharge of my
duty.
If those who are now clamoring for peace and
order are really sincere in the desire which they
express they will find that this object is not to be
accomplished by systematic disparagement OF the
city government whether right or wrong; but by
temperance and moderation, and an appeal to the
misguided elements which have been dashed into
fury by what is daily transporting. They have only
to turn to the murdered and wounded policemen
to satisfy themselves that in their attempts to
break down the present municipal government
they are INDUCING their party prejudices at the
expense of the safety and good name of their
city.
As the chief executive officer Of the city of Bal
tmore, know my duty, and the responsibilities
imposed by my trust. / am yet to learn that /
have lost the confidence of the large majority of
my felow-citizens who have called to this post.
i mean to hold it without intipidation from any
quarter. / shall continue to persevere in my eff
forts to preserve order and ] call upon good cti-
zens of every class to unite with me in this work.
Let them 60 into their wards--and cxpostulate
with those who have fortified their houses to shoot
down the police in the discharge Of their duty.
Let them point out the injuries which they are en-
failing upon the good name of the city. Let them
assist the executive in bringing to conviction and
punishment, the enemies of the public peace.
With such a spirit we may hope for brighter
prospects But to those who, guided by partizan
feelings, are directing their efforts with view to
the prostration of the city government-who are
at this time concocting plans of vigilance commit
tees to supersede its power, and bring discredit
upon its administration, deem it my duty to say
to them in advance, that during my term of ser.
vice shall claim to exercise without interference
the functions of the Office to which have been
called
THOS. SWAMI Mayor