The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-16
BALTIMORE.
r17EsDAY, NOVEMBER l6. 1858.

s,ociol meeting of the City Councils was held
Loot evening. at the summons of the City Execu-
+;vo-tbe ostensible object for which they were
called together beng the election of presiding
officers. sto represent the MAYOR of the city, in
case Of sickness or disability" As was to be ex-
,,ected. however, Mr. SWAMI awaited himself of
the occasion to give the public the benefit of a
s:message" dedicated chiefly as usual, to an ex-
altaton of his own motives laudation of his
own conduct, and a denunciation of the "war-
hre'' which ''the partisan press has been waging
AGAINST himself and his incoruptble and ire
proachable subordinates.
We have no idea of following His Honor over
tbe old familiar grounds, which he has trodden
60 often and so YEARLY before. He has OBVIOUSLY
persuaded himself that an assertion becomes a
fact after it has been sufficiently reiterated, and
his mind is clearly made up TO let the history of
his administration suffer no detriment with pos
trri,v from any squeamishness in the matter OF
statement and asseveration. Upon some of the
narrative ecccntricities into which he has allowed
this determination to lead him, we should be dis
posed to comment as they deserve, were we not
inclined to believe from the intrinsic evidence OF
the message that Mr.. SWAMI has dwelt upon the
pleasant story of his own virtues and persecu-
lions, until he actually has begun to believe ii
himself Nothing short of some such hallucna-
ton, or indeed of judicial blindness, could induce
a gentleman of his mature years to venture with
such Il manifesto as he has produced, before a
people, to whom PROVIDENCE has vouchsafed eyes,
cars, memory and understanding. We leave,
therefore to our readers to deal with the subject
themselves, only congratulating ourselves and
them, that Mr. SWAMI has carried the yer.
sion of his life and miracles to a point which
borders on the ludicrous too closely to excite either
Indignation or resentment. few admissions
however, which the Message makes, may not bt
unworthy their notice, and we submit them fol
their especial consideration.
In regard TO the assumption of "magisteraf
functions by the MAYOR, it is now conceded, as We
have always asserted ourselves, that it is no
"possibe for him to pursue the routine which il
"involves, without partial neglect of other and
'not less important duties"
The wearing of concealed weapons, it is admit
ted, has become habit with men of all parties,
only Sin the absence of law"
1t is not only conceded, but it is commended with
great earnestness that there is "a total absence o.
''power in the executive arm, to deal with notori-
''ous dsturbers of the public peace"
1t is admitted, in direct opposition to the speech
at Temperance Temple, that ''the City of Balt-
"more, like other large cities of the Union, has
''been afflicted with more than her usual proportion
''of evil disposed persons"
It is conceded that in the changes which Mr.
SWAMI has made in the government of his Police
Corps he has 'acted without the authority of the
claw" and, at the same time, that emo govern
''ment can be successful without a submission te
Claw, in all the details of its management"
1t is admitted that Mr.. SwANN's present "posi
ton" in respect to his fellow-citzens, growing GU
of the frauds and outrages of the last election day
t'has been a subject of grave responsibility"
And finally, it is demonstrated by the publica
ton of the Circular addressed to the Police on DC
toher 10Th, that the whole of that corps gross
" derelict to their duty on the 18th, and violated
the orders of their Superior, without any punish
ment whatever.
Whether the public will be reconciled to tn
facts thus (among many others) confessed, by tn
gratifying intelligence that Mr.. SWAMI is Isl
largely identified with 'the fortunes of tn
city, they must determine for themselves.