The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-02
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2. 1858.

iiupeach his n1ollNtS Ut dispute Ills sliteHeHlS.
Such has been his course from the first moment
that injured men presumed to impute fault to his
administration, down to the evening when he ac-
caoted a denomination as a candidate for the
MAYoRnTY. If the "City Government has a
RIGHT TO anathematze, surely the citizens to whom
it is responsible, may freely speak out too. On
behalf of portion of that body we propose, with
out touching upon the MAYORS motives, to again
address ourselves to some of his averments.
He said in his address to the Convention which
nominated him:-
81 have exerted the whole power of the city
put down awessness and to hoid IN check the in
creaSng immortality OF the times
This has been asserted by himself, and reiterated
by his defenders so often, that some persons who
have not examined the facts, mi 3ht be content to
believe that the MAYOR is in no way responsible
for existing evils, but that the crime and lawless
ness committed in our midst are really, as he con-
tends, Preferable to the prevailing epidemic of the
times" Let us glance at the opportunities
which were afforded him "to put down lawless-
ness" and see whether they have been neglected
Let us look at his power to ''check the increasing
immortality" and say whether it has been
abused? In reply to various facts alleged by
those who complain of his administration, his
friends have always framed their pleas upon the
strict letter of the law. 1t is well to remind them
that in questions of government, there are other
essential elements of grave consideration. Mr..
BURKE, in one of his noble letters, has said
''Manners are of more Importance than laws. Up
Con them in great measure, laws depend. The
claw touches lis but here and there, and now
"and then Manners are what vex or soothe,
Corrupt or purify, exalt debase, barbarize or
"refne us, by constant, steady, uniform, insen-
''sihle operation, like that of the air we breathe in.
''They give their whole form and color to our
Olives According to their quality, they aid
"morals they supply them, or they totally de-
"stroy them
As it is with manners, so is it with the
class of morals which exist beside the law but
not necessarily dependant thereupon. So is it
with the customs and mental habits which lead
us to contemn or reverence the law, and by their
"insensible operation" vivify or render nugatory
its provisions. Amid demoralized people, JUS
tce walks unhonored, and labors to little profit.
Nor is it less true that the laws become worthless
or valuable TO citizens according to the unfairness
or integrity with which they are administered
The anjnuS of the Judge will be sometimes weighed
with or against the letter of the Judgment. Thus
it is that in well regulated societies the effect
which the law produces is often owing less to the
force with which it strikes down an offender, than
to the spirit which animates the blow-less to
the severity of its sentences than to the certainty
and uncompromsing honesty with which they are
pronounced.
They who, mindful of high duty, WELD author
ity with impartial and unfatering hands, prevent
the crimes which magistrates of lower tone and
looser consciences behold continually springing up
around them, and vainly strive, too Late to check
by punishment The latter unfortunate condition
is ours, and in discussing it, we now waive all
criticisms the letter of the law for it is chiefly
towards Mr.. SWANS total violation of its spirit
that we would direct attention. We alluded
some days since to the removal of the 'pols of
'varous wards from central positions to their
'extreme outskirts where, for evident partisan
purposes they were ''placed in juxtaposition to
''those of other wards and straightway the cham
pions of the MAYOR refer to the statutes which
confde the duty Of locating the polls to the Judges
of election. He shelters himself behind the dis
cretion exercised by judges whom he himself Sc
lected. Is it no concern of his if they commit a
wrong by a dishonest exercise of that discretion?
Or if they failed TO exercise it honestly or prostr-
ted it to most unfair purposes, on one occasion,
was it not for him TO take that his appontees
at the next election should be men who were dis
Greet enough to do their sworn duty to people,
rather than obey the behests Of any party? Twice
within few weeks was power thus abused, and in
precisely the same way, and we are quietly assured
that he who as often nominated these unfit Judges
is not to be held chargeable with their acts.
The BALTIMORE and Ono RAILROAD, as we also
showed, was in imminent danger of destruction,
and the action of the 'City Government, was
such, as in our deliberate Judgment, amounted to
an invitation TO the rioters to go beyond the city
limits, and there be lawess at their leisure Sup
pose it 10 be true that the MAYOR had no jurisdiction
beyond those boundaries, was it necessary to in
form an infatuated mob of the extent of his sway,
and to notify them of the precise point beyond
which they were safe from his interference? A
example of this impotcnt method of
performing duty is furnished from the sad history
Of the late Staten Island mob. The marines were
and the incendiares were awed and powerless,
until the commanding officer gave notice of his in
ention to protect nothing but the property of the |
UNITED STATES. That night, arson riot and disorder
renewed their hideous orgies. We know happily, |
II no similar instances in which officers have thus
executed the trusts delegated TO them by an order
owing community, unless perhaps where the repre-
sentative of the Public Prosecutor has been known
o instruct Desperate in what cases he might
Knock down the policeman who, having failed to
discover the flaw in the warrant under which he
acted, was attempting, in good faith, to effect an
arrest.
Again, IT Is said, the police are weary of arrest
ne criminals who are discharged Immediately by
nose shameless Magistrates who habitually accept
d what Is iamlarly termed straw-bail, and no one
las more s'renuously urged this complaint than
Inc MAYOR himself 1t is his duty to appoint the
magistrates who sit in Judgment at the Station
Houses, and he has full authority to order the
onehuers there Tor hearing If there is one honest
'ustice IN tis city, would it not seem to be more
'atiohal 10 complain less of those who are fathess.
'nu seho all cases before the upright man? If
here are any such delinouents who have
been appointed by the Mayor, would not Main
men naturally expect to see them driven from the
lhey olshonor, before the Chief Mapis
ra'e, VINO paceo Them there and is responsible for
heir retention, begins to bewail the misfaasance
hat no act of his own discouraoes,
Still another asseveration We rrs+ o,,.u,o. e,,,,
The MAYORS address. He says of his Police !.
inefficient men have been appointed in ~ :. $780,.
nut DENY that lhelhclent or bad men hono I
knowingly appointed, either by the Nat ever peeh
elfn harshai or my
IF we are bound to accept this stotor,or+ o.a
conclude that those notorious charac,or, -.
nisdeeds are familiar to our citizens ord -
,orded in the open annals of our Crim;ro, e..
we're unknown as such to the MARsu, o,5 A.,
iAYoR, we have only to regret the slight invast;-
,ation that preceded the rewards which ,
onferred upon these outlaws But vero tho has
nen removed, when decent people excIoin,oa
gainst the mischievous mistake; or did &c. a.. ,
ficient men walk always in the path Of d,+,9 |
,et the history of the last election answor =.
he insults that were heaped upon the voters Of ]
hat day, and the blows and wounds tbat Ill.,.
ssailed them testify indisputable facts Ont of
ne numberless policemen who stood bv caroloss ]
oectators of the wrongs done-treacherous c,,or-
ians of the rights that were invaded-we sborId
Ike to hear how many were rebuked or punished {
ONE persons may believe that no single instance