The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-10
BALTIMORE AS IT is.
BALTIMORE, October 8, 1857


10 the Esi,or Of the Union:
that the American press in this city exceedingly
concerned in indicating the reputation Of Baltimore from
the exceedingly just structures contained the other day in
your paper If zeal could supply the place of argument
if passion logic, recriminaton demonstration,
possibly might be their side. But the
stands these papers forced into the dilemma either
as has been DONE of denying the truth of what every
body knows, and their records certify to have
Cured admitting the occurrence of such of dis
order, of pallating them by unfairly conceang all their
ugly points, of justifyng them by throwing the blame
upon the democratic minority is obvious that this is
merely shifting the argument. When accusation is
made against the city, when the city is said to be the
theatre of daily and nightly outges to oppo
site faction of being the of such outrage is surely
not dsprovng the imputation The fact remains unal
tered and unmpeached The city is to blame gov
ernment the police of the city. The law-abidng of
either party the majority is lawabding not
should not approve of any act done in violation of the
very first principles of their organization and certainly
to administer the city justly and lawfully every
right of property and every right Of person. is most APP
proprate and evident function of government There
FORE when the party in power fails to make adequate pro-
vision for this tits little in its Defence when its efficiency
is denied for it to alege that the nactons of and
order the part of its adherents to repe assaults
made upon them There sins of omission as well
of commission it is little less than absurdity to
cuse crime flor bad government is crme by the sug
geson proof admission of gross negligence and reck
lessness the criminal side sa heinous fault apollo
giving for another equally henous Is this Granting
that the democrats the orgnato of every riot this is
somuch against those democrats who begin and these
riots but it is much against the American party
They have undertaken and responsible for the gov
ernment of the municipality. If they have failed what
n IN
opponents the of their failure If there
any dstubes of the peace let them democratic Amer
ican be put down. A good government put down
any outbreak and petty riot ought to be extnguished
before alarm in large city like Baltimore in
city making such professions Baltimore in city
sustained by public opinion Baltimore has been. The
truth that its present municipal authorities lean for
support upon organized bands of rufans. The police
themselves are receiving the reward of their righteous
and if there is intensity of actional hatred ami
mostly and reckessness such the world has wit
messed it is to be found at this day in the city of Ba
Better to have murderers, robbers and burglars
whom the law is not ashamed to punish than political
rufans whom its ministers awn before and favor. Bet
ter stand the chance of being murdered with possibility
of detection and revenge than the risk of being acct
dentally victim to plug ugyism No evidence is
strong and connected enough to convict of these
and the mockery of solemn judicial farce every
now and then gone through with famarlZes crime with
the certain blindness Of justice Well its eyes here
bndfolded but strike from her hands the meaningless
symbols of sword and balance, and send her begging
awaythe naked and discarded prostitute of political
ancor.
now come to the main point of my communication
and that is to add my individual confirmation to the
of experience the subject. was walking last evening
in seemingly quiet and unfequented part of the city,
when observed standing at three men. As it
late and had heard much of Baltimore ruffan-
ism, grasped my tightly and prepared myself for
the encounter which, had feared Immediately en-
sued. / walked quietly and unconcernedy by them
when one of their number asked me where was going
made answer, and walked on. With curse he
repeated the question and seizng by the ARM shook
violently. Fortunately, he between me and his
assistants who were scarcely yard off and shifting
the stick which i had in my right hand to my left
struck him with all my force the head. The blow
had its effect in stunning him little, and had diff
Guilty in getting free from his grasp then up
the street crying police, but met not single person in
distance of five squares at first pursued, but the
chase soon given up. Now, / southern
chant and well disposed to Baltimore but hence
forth shall strive and all my efforts to make others
shun this hotbed of villany, outrage, and rufianism
But for my previous preparedness should in all proba
by have been robbed and left senseless in the street
Even curiosity to have been extingushed by the
dark demon of violence and crime broodng over this
CIV for looked from a window to sec what
onearo thus to DO treated the it meets the fate
Of Sodom and Gomorrah the better