The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-06
TIE REFORH MOVEMENT

HeSsTs. EdltOrs:
As far as l have heard-and think my opportu-
mites of hearing have been as good as those of any
OF my neighbors-there has been and is but one OBJ
lection urged, by conservative people, to the move
ment which the City Reform Convention has re-
Gently instituted among us. The class of people to
whom refer-and speak exclusively of those who
are not partsans, on the one side the other-con-
cur with the Reformers fully, to the existence of
the grievances complained of, and are satisfied
equally of the necessity of change. All their
convictions and sympathies are with the Assoca-
tion-and they have but single doubt. They are
told that Mr. Swami is doing his best, in good aith
to redeem himself and his administration, and that
ii left alone, he WILL with fair confidence al sup
port on the part of the community, relieve his fell
low-citzens of the necessity of any special organ-
cation to their rights in the future. Many of
them think that the experiment is, at all events
worth trying, and that it is, perhaps not prudent
at this moment to do anything which may seem to
interrupt Mr.. Swami in his measures of improve
ment or may afford pretext for his partisans, or
any one else, to create excitement and reac-
ton. state their reasoning fully and fairly. |
do not regard it either just or wise, or at all upon
level with the crisis, but still, it is the honest
reasoning of many respectable people, and it is on
Il
full hearing and consideration. With your permis-
sion, will examine it for moment Let us see
what the authorities are in fact doing and how far
it meets the demands and necessities of the commu-
nifty and the occasion.
As l understand the public estimate of the griev-
ances which require redress, just now at the hands
OF somebody, they cover ground much broader than
seems to occur to the citizens who entertain the
10 yphi I bava oil cd "A
the following:
For the last two years, riot, disorder, murder,
and violence, have had the freedom of the town.
The Police corps, paid to preserve the public
peace, has been found altogether wanting to its du-
ties and to the reasonable expectations of the most
indugent among she citizens.
The judicial authorities, clothed with the duty of
committing offenders when arrested, have been de-
relict to their obligations, until arrests, when
made, have resulted for the most part, in nothing
but an empty form.
The ballot-boxes have been so stuffed with fraudu-
lent votes, that elections have become simple
mockery and disgrace.
Violence at the polls has driven or kept away the
great mass of peaceful voters and the whole COM
munty has thus practically been disfranchised-
Such Acknowledgement is about to be made per-
sumption of the reins of office by men who have
no pretence of right or of popular choice to hold
them. 1t is made douby criminal by the comfy
ance and completely of the police in bringing about
so heinOus wrong.
Here, then, are the evils. Which of them is Mr..
Swami redressing? Which of them has he re
dressed, or does he promise to redress? Which of
them any other of the authorities seeking or pre-
tpn tn tbn oF Z,
change in the details of his police administration,
by the Mayor, not solitary reform has been in
stituted or been pretended to be instituted by any
of the public au thorties.
Has the Mayor dismissed or rebuked any of the
judges of election under whose eyes the monstrous
frauds of the late election day were perpetrated
Not one.
Has he caused the attention of the Grand Jury to
be called to the action of those Judges or has the
Grand Jury itself at its own instance or at the in
stance of the public prosecutor invoked the nterpo-
stion of the law to punish such high offenders ?
Not in one solitary case.
| Has the Grand Jury indicted, or has the Mayor
suggested, or the States Attorney pressed the in
dictment of one solitary rufian among the hundred
who on the last election day trod down into the dust
the sacred right of suffrage No, not one.
Were any such offenders arrested and held suli
GENTLY to answer by the police No, not one.
| Has the Mayor dismissed any important portion
of the faithless police force, who openly and dis
gracefully spurned even the semblance of respect
for the law and their duty at the polls the 18th
of October? No! they are in his confidence still.
lie has not even rebuked them. They are the people
on whom he relies to redeem his own credit and
work out the salvation of the town. They are
our police now they the election dav,
and it is upon these that the conservative people,
whose objection | answering, expect public
confidence fifty times abused, to return and repose
itself STILL
! Has the Mayor removed Mr.. Justice Mearis, who
has let more offenders loose straw-ba than all
other judicial officers in the city Not at all. He
is Mr. SWANS police Justice still-receiving the pay
of the office, while Mr.. Swami comedies his unfit
ness and culpabity, by sitting himself "magste
rally" in his place.
Has Mr.. Swami, by word or deed, expressed the
horror and detestation with which the events of the
last election day must have filled every right think
! ing man among us? Not by one word nor by one
deed On the contrary he applauded to the echo the
result of the contest, when the wretches who had
won it, assembled before his house on the night OF
their saturnaliaand he stands among the chiefman-
ayers of a Ball to be held next Monday night, ia
celebrate the fraud and violence of the 18th of Octo
Der, as a /" brilliant victory
NOW ask conservative people to answer to their
own hearts and judgments whether any good can
really come to this community from sources conta.
minated by such connection with such indubitable
facts. Can any confidence be sensibly or reas-
onably placed in any such people? Is it wise
is it prudent-is it in accordance with what
| we all know of human nature and human affairs
! to surrender ourselves, without an effort in
our own behalf, to men who have never made a
promise yet, that has not been broken, and have
never assumed duty but to violate or neglect it?
JOHN Quincy ADAMS once said of distinguished
opponent-"He has deceived me twice. The first
time, it was his fault-the second it was mine. ;,
Whose fault will it be, let me ask if those who rely
upon Mr.. Swami again, are again met with the
same reward? A CITIZEN.
OPENING OF THE TEHU ANT EPEC RoUrE.-The New
| Orleans PicdYune, in announcing the denartura on