Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-11-04
Excitement i'm Baltimore.

Excitement in Baltimore.
The State election in Maryland takes place to-
day, and there is reaspn to apprehend that some
bloody scenes will be exhibited in Baltimore
Governor Lyon issued a proclamation last week
notifying the citizens Of Baltimore that he had
ordered the Nmilitaryto be in readiness oractive
service at once and especially on the day ofse-.
lection. This publication created intense excite
ment-in the city. Mayor Swan, in letter to the
Governor, protested against 'whathe considered
an hsurpatiorf Of the municipal authority and
constitutional rights, stating that to bring the
military into contact with the people on the day
of election, without an official requisition, would
seriously endanger the peace of the city, and
lead to serious consequences msli13
Milton Whitney, State Attorney for Balti-
more, has published an opinion on the subject OF
the Governors Proclamation, in which ne says
that, after careful examination Of the Laws and
Constitution, it is his opinion that the action OF
the Governor in ordering out the military is not
authorized by the Constitution and Laws OF the
DlelIS. llo lulliSi rtfI|+"1@
ut is therefore my clear opinion that the force
ordered to be enrolled and embodied. by the
order above referred to, is military force I'M
known to the laws of Maryland, and the persons
enrolled and acting hereunder are not protected
from individual responsibility to the criminal
law for any act they may commit under the or
der of any officer in command" ''l
This opinion is concurred in by Frederick
Pinkney, Assistant States Attorney, and Messrs.
Dulaney, Meredith, Price and Alexander, dis
tinguished lawyers of Baltimore.
The Baltimore American of Saturday, on the
first page of the paper, manifests the utmost a
larm. 1t says: tb7
1--WE write under the impressive solemnity oil
the feeling that to-day will be one of excessive
excitement, that to morrow it may grow worse,
and the dread dangers surrounding US accumu-
late in the bloodshed and violence of civil war.
And with the responsibility of such an event
overhanging the city We feel impelled to ask is
there no way out of these difficuties9" hah
In another part of the same paper, the editor
takes more cheerful view of the matter. lie
says:
notwithstanding the natural excitement oc-
casioned by the Governors proclamation, the
emergency has been met with degree OF calm
ness, and been productive of desire to abstain
from all exciting counsels and rash measures that
is giving evidence of good results Already the
! military preparations by which the city was
threatened are assuming a less formidable aspect
than they at first presented. People now smile
when they talk of the regiments ordered out it
: is not improbable that by Wednesday next the
smile will spread into genial laugh, and we
shall pass through the crisis with only amusing
"reminiscences of how closely personal weakness
is allied to official temerity. The character and
extent of the responses made to the call promise
to sufficiently expose its needessness and to
' show that the great mass of our citizens are III
unison in asserting, by refusal to assume the
position to which they have been invited, theil
condemnation OF the Governors action."' '
f After the above was put in type we received
, the Baltimore papers of Monday, which an
nounce that Gov. Ligon had withdrawn his or
der calling out the military, the arrangement:
made by the Mayor proving satisfactory. A
letter from Reverdy Johnson and other lawyer:
: is published, sustaining the legality of the Gov
ernor's course The officers of the volunteer
military companies reported that the men nearly
all refused to do duty except under the orders o.
/ the Mayor. A despatch from Washington, Oh
Saturday, states that committee of citizens d
Baltimore had applied to the President for Uni
ted States troops to aid Gov. Lyon. The tele'
: graph also reports that Gov. Wise had sent on
5000 muskets in compliance with Gov. Ligon's
requests. But peace is now declared, and, it is
hoped, will be maintained without the use o.
: firearms.