The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-19

be received at The same rate
Our neighbor of the american, no doubt by
way of showing that it is not one of those 'pubhc
Tbellers'' who ''confne their independence to
'posing the of conduct of their political oppo-
snents'-dedicated a column and a half of its edi-
torial wisdom yesterday, to the establishment of
the fact, that all the evils, under which il now con-
fesses our community is groaning, attributable
to the Democratic party, in general and his Honor
Judge STUMP in particular. The especial sins of
the Democratic party which have resulted in so
much wrong and outrage, were-our neighbor in
forms us-the adoption Of the present Constitution
of the State and the election of Judge STUMP to pre-
side over our principal criminal tribunal. Our
neighbour it is true, does not mention his Honor's
name, because that of course, would be ''assaling
his private character 1t only describes him, so
that nobody can mistake him, which, according to
the late regulations is the way for an Independent
press to make itself truly 'he best safeguard of
the public liberty" and at the time avoid all
personal risk of assault and battery
With what the american is pleased to say of our
existing Constitution, in the point of view referred
to, we have certainly no ground of quarrel-hav-
ing ourselves said the thing ard over, be-
fore our neighbor awoke TO the consciousness that
the duties of journalism involved anything but re-
ceivng pay. So too, in respect to the Criminal
Court-the want of dignity which disgraceS 1.-THE
levity and laxty of conduct and administration
which render its daily sittngs mockery of decen-
cy and ustice-we have no reason to dispute what
our neighbor has said SO well. 1t is all true-sad-
word oft. And yet, for all that we do not think
that there is any cause for neighbours trumpet
ing it about a discovery of its own, after the
manner of the Mayors Proclamation touching the
Atlantic Telegraph To have said the same thing,
long ago and often, was part of the 'provoca-
tom for which our "deserts' were recently
administered to us-but still, as our neighbor has
said it over, without our 'scurriliy," and with the
"moderation and discrimination" which are its
leading virtues, trust that the parties ''pro-
voked' may not insist upon giving the '1ibellers''
their 'share of the responsibility" by blowing out
the brains Of the Editors, or overturning-what
are much more important and accessible in their es-
tablishment-the table of their money-changers.
So much for the evils denounced. As to their
origin, our contemporary and ourselves do not so
exactly agree. We are quite willing to admit that
the share of the Democratic party in the connection
of the present Constitution was large and culpabe
enough to be sin not easily aoned for But that the
Constitution was exclusively democratic measure,
our neighbor must, if it remembers anything,
know not TO be true The Convention which
framed it was nearly equally divided--so nearly,
that a Wing President was chosen. Many of the
most obnoyious features were introfluced nv Who
opponents of the measure, in order to make it as
unpalatable possible to the community, and
thereby secure its rejection. When the popular
vote was taken, neighbor perfectly well knows
what its own columns and those of its contem-
poraries at the time will show-that its success
went far beyond the measure of any party-both
in the shape of ballots in its favor, and ballots
which were not deposited against it, The Anaeri-
can knows further that it states what is equally
without foundation when it insnuates that the
defeat Of the recent movement to reform the Con-
stituton was the result of successful effort
of the Democratic party. Surely, if such reform
was desired or intended by the party now domi-
nant in Maryland-and before which the american
bows down and worships, even unto its OK and
its ass-that party had the absolute power to make
the movement triumphant. If, therefore, we are
still longer to be saddled with the existing Consti-
tuition, and the Criminal Court as part and parcel
of it, it is the will and the fault of the majority
who are omnpotent, and not of the minority who
are utterly powerless We have personal right
to speak upon this point because we gave our best
efforts and most earnest advocacy to the measure,
which would have removed from the community
both the one incubus and the other.
Nor is the american whit nearer to telling the
whole truth in its reference to the election of the
Objectionable judicial officer referred to- 1t is true
that he was the nominee of the Democratic Con-
vention-the more shame to it and that the
party which adopted his nomination was then in
power in Baltimore. But there was also an indie
pendent judicial ticket in the field, untrammeled
by party nomination ompromse-composed
of gentlemen of capacity, character and integrity,
members of both parties-to the success of which
would have been everything, and which the
conservative men of the two parties could have
triumphanty elected, against and in spite of
the corrupt organizations of both. 1t is, of
course, needless to say that the american
gave that ticket no such support, and that
INSCRIPTIONS party organs were found to say to
good citizens then, what the American I'M
scrupulously says to them now-that conservatism
and independence were 'Whig tricks or 'Demo-
cratic tricks" and that every body was to be sus
spected who pretended to be honest. The result |
was the triumph of the bad and incompetent men,
whom the American's independence has now |
constituted itself-what we are not allowed to be
ga tribunal to Judge"
We thank our neighbor, therefore, for thus illus
trating the results of its own political morality
the fruits of its preaching and its practice We |
thank it for so palpably demonstrating, against |
its WILL truth we would arouse the community |
to feel and act on-that offices connected with the
administration and execution of the laws are not |
to be trusted to the place-hunting rowdies and |
demagogues of the primary meetings and the pot |
houses or to the nominees who represent them in |
the partisan conventions.
We would 60 farther, and congratulate the |
american upon having given, in its article of yes
terday, decided and extraordinary symptoms of |
actual vitality. We abstain, however, lest evil |
minded persons should be disposed to think, that
we claim some credit to ourselves for restoring |
its suspended animation.
The doubts we ventured to express with respect |
- +Lo richness and avtanf 81 tho