The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-27

Our prediction yesterday of small vote and
quiet Election in the City of Baltimore, has come
true. Not more than one-third of the whole vote
of the City was polled; nobody was killed. and the
Majority for the Convention is Al. The small
ness of this majority renders the success of the
Reform mo vement, in the State, exceedingly prob
lematica. In the Counties the feeling in favor Of
a Convention was by no means so strong as it was
in Baltimore. In the rural districts the defects of
the present Constitution have not been experienced
to the same extent that they have been felt in the
City, and consequently the necessity for change is
not generally appreciated In some portions of the
State, suggested, local interests and party
prejudices operated seriously against the movement
and doubtless made the contest much more lively
Here, if there was no very decided expression of
the popular desire fora change there was certainly
no evidence given of any great affection for the
existing Constitution. The general feeling of the
community was as we have stated one of pro-
found Indifference. We do not know there
fore, whether we are to aScribe the per-
feet tranquility, and absence of all disorder,
which distinguished yesterday from every other
Electon-day which has occurred during the mul-
and most exemplary Chief Magistrate, to the very
efficient measures taken. by His Honor to preserve
the public peace, or to the popular apathy upon
the subject of the Election. ewish 10 give credit
where credit is due. We are charitably inclined,
and are rather disposed to refrain from any nice
investigation of this delicate question. We will
take for granted that the peace of the City was
entirely owing to the admirable arrangements of
the MAYOR, his judicious disposition of the Police
force, and his known determination to secure to
every citizen the free and undisputed exercise of the
right of suffrage. We can only regret, therefore,
that similar success should not have attended His
Honor's laudable efforts to the same end, during
the Elections last fall, and that so small propor-
ton of our fellow citizens should have availed
themselves yesterday of the rare opportunity, so
graciously afforded, and of so unfrequent occur
renee in these turbulent times, of voting without
peril either of life or limb We trust that the
lesson will not be lost upon the community
and that having thus demonstrated to the world
the possibility of there being a peaceabe Elec-
ton in the City of Baltimore we will not
degenerate shortly into the state of barbarsm
from which we yesterday happily emerged. We
Will not be too sanguine, but we really begin to
hope that if the MAYOR will only adopt the same
efficient measures at the Elections next fall that he
took yesterday, that provided the contest then shall
excite no more interest than did the question of
Constitutional Convention, the lists 'of Killed and
Nounded' will not be more than half as long as
they were last October and November, and the
painful necessity of putting down ''the infatuated
Irish ofthe Eighth Ward" at the point of the bayo-
net, be most eilectually obviated