The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-10-23
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER %. 1858.

L
As our neighbor of The Observation-Disclosures
Con, is editorial of yesterday to be con-
5orov exercised upon the subject of ''straw-bail"
"a az we are extremely DESTROYS to secure the
co-operation of that journal, in any work of
oennine and honest public REFORM we take leave
70 offer a few suggestions which may aid it in
doing good service to the cause of public justice, in
fine same connection.
Some time ago, enterprising gentleman,
known as Mr.. JOHN HINsLEY, was offered as surety
in the Criminal Court for the appearance of a
notorious outlaw, who was charged with serious
and violent offence. Mr.. PNKNEY, the Deputy of
the States Attorney discharged, what he was old
fashioned enough to consider his duty, by resist
ing the taking of such security. He told Judge
STUMP that Mr.. HINsLEY made bail-giving his
business-that he was already under heavy bonds
there-that he was in fact "a trader in ball. and
that no such man was fit to be taken, upon his
recognizance, in Court of Justice. Mr.. HINsLEY
replied, with great GOODNESS, and frankness emf
nently praiseworthy, to the efect-that Gle didn't
'care if he was. Gle didn't see why a man
shouldn't trade in bail as well any thing else
'if he pleased His Honor, the Judge, was so
smiten with the force and eminent propriety of the
reionder that he over-rued Mr. PINKNEY's OBJ
iections at once, accepted Mr. HINEsLEY as bail
with great enthusiasm, and gave him from that time
forth, the freedom and good will of the Court, in
all matters relating to the lucrative and reputable
line of his profession. Nor did Mr. HINsLEY con-
fine himself to the Criminal Court He has driven
quite a thriving business, likewise, under the
auspices of Mr. SwANNs Police Justices, and has
even picked up an occasional sporadic job, here
and there, among the outside magistrates who
"release on security" in a private way, without
the especial countenance Of the Getty government
By this, and similar exploits, of good citizenship,
he has become very well known to his fellow
townsmen, and whenever "straw-baip' is men,
toned his respectable nameat once recurs to men s
memories Some impractical people there are to
be sure, who do not look with quite as much
favor rs Judge STUMP upon the way in which
Mr.. IINsLEy goes about doing good. His Honor
Judge PRICE, Of the adjoining District, for in
stance, so far forgot himself some short time
back, as to cry out, in most unjustif-
able manner, when Mr. HINsLEY was brought be-
fore him to give security-''Take that man out of
Court" 1t was a very indecorous exhibition,
to say the least of it, the part of Judge PRICE,
and could have had no other effect, so far as Mr.
HINsLEY was concerned, than to show that, unlike
the prophets, he has more honor in his own coun-
try than out of it.
Now, some of our readers who have been
taught to believe that the EXCHANGE is in evil
courses, and that we always "defaming"
somebody, may doubt the sincerity of the appro-
baton with which we have thus alluded to Mr.
HGNsLEYs daily walks of beneficence. We beg
such persons to do us justice, for once. Whatever
may be our private views on the subjective are
writing here for the benefit of our neighbor The
american, and knowing the confidence which
that journal so implicitly reposes in Mr.. SWAMI
we could not, without forfeiting its favor at the
outset, venture to say aught but good of gentle
man, who stands so high in grace with his honor
the MAYOR, as the worthy head of the ''straw-
''bailn apartment. Mr.. SWAMI differs in opinion
from Judge PRICE. Our readers may not be aware
of the fact, but it is nevertheless an indisputabe
one that this very Mr.. HINsLEY at the last
''eIection''-covered with the recent and multi
tudnous honors of his calling-was one of the
Judges of Election for the Tenth Ward-placed
in that position by Mr.. SwANNs appointment
endorsed by Mr.. SWAMI as a fit man to fill so re-
spectacle and responsible place. When we add,
that by Mr.. SwANN's appointment likewise, he
occupied the same position at the Municipal and
Congressional elections last fall and at the taking
of the vote, last spring, upon the Reform of the
Constitution, the reader will clearly apprehend
of rn NOT 80 A..
with respect, without invading the sympathies of
our neighbor for one so doubly worthy of the
MAYORS confidence, and so often recipient of his
favor
Our object at present is-availing ourselves Of
The 4m0jcan's temporary fervor on the ''straw-
BALI question-to obtain a little of its well
known influence with the MAYOR to the end that
his Honor may inform us how he supposed 'straw-
BALI was to be put an end to- while he knowingly
appointed to Offices Of trust and honor, the most
open and notorious trader in it. We wish to BE-
Informed, by what process of reasoning his Honor
came TO the conclusion that man so conspicuously
prominent in the consummation of what The
american calls 'the greatest evil of the day." was
fit to be presented to the good citizens of Bati-
more, within fifty yards of the MAYORS Office as
Judge over them and their suffrages. We de-
sire to know upon what grounds we are asked to
believe that Mr.. SWAMI is sincere in his determi-
nation to suppress the most disgracefu abuse con-
nected with the administration of justice, when he
openly, knowingly, repeatedly, gives his counte-
nance and his patronage to the most reckless and
prominent transgressor. Can Mr.. SWAMI complain
II we Judge him by such acts? If he will keep
such company, who is to blame for his being
coupled with it in public estimation? And why
does THE Amaican reflect on Judge SrUMp's con-
nection with 'straw.b ball." and its practitioners.
when Mr.. SWAMI endorses Judge STUMP in the
identical premises? These are inquiries which,
we admit perplex us, in view of the CONFIDENCE
"hich we are asked TO bestow on the future energy
and good faith of the ''City Government" In
our humble Judgment, the MAYOR will do much
more good by instantaneously putting out Mr.
Justice AEARIS, and putting some fit man in his
place. than by going through the solemnity of
exercising ''magisterial' functions himself He
Will promote public justice far more, and dis
courage ''strawbai with infinitely better effect,
by cutting loose from such people as Mr.. H1Ss1Ey.
thah by taking docket full of recognizances of
''il IN MS own person. He will make his police
lorce more efficient, by ANONYMOUSLY expelling
"u 'he ElthleSS and bad men from it. and having
II dlStnctly understood that he Will make no
terms with delinquency and dishonesty, than by
putting himself AT its head - on horseback or on
ioo'-"ltha rattle, or without it. His course is
as pam as day, if he can only be brought to see it.
le' MN forget himself his popularity, and his
pioSpec's-hs platforms and his platitudes-and
SET himself to work with the downright resolve to
w ms uuy' The plan would be novelty to him,
uu' he mas no idea how it would act. Cannot
&c 1i"'''ca" persuade him to try tiff only till
IT. next changes its opinion on public affairs-say
for week?
!. 1t would be difficult to say, at this particular
time, whether Beauty or the Beast hos tho most
WorSnippers IN New York, where the public admir-
"'ioh Is divided upon the respective merits of PFC
CoLoAiNi' the eanotrjce, and of MorR,ssry the
IA