The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-30
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER so, 1858

Our readers can not fail to have noticed an
agreeable interchange of courtesies and compl-
ments, the other day, in place where courtesies
and compliments are seldom exchanged-in the
Criminal Court of Baltimore-between His Honor
the Judge and the members of the Grand jury.
The Latter having safely arrived at the termination
oftheir labors, and being about to adjourn sine
die, thought proper to acknowledge their "many
obligations" to His Honor, for his 'kndness
and polite attentions" during the term, and His
Honor, not to be out done in civility, RETURNED
thanks to the Grand Jury, ''for the faithful man
''ner in which they had conducted their delibera-
'tions, and was happy to say that they and the
"olicers Of the Court, in their business transac-
''tions had always harmonized.' Altogether the
occasion was one of the greatest possible good
feeling, and Court and Grand Jury appear to have
been equally enamoured of each others virtues
and to have parted the best of friends. That on
the side of the Court, at least, there was
some occasion for thankfulness, there can
he no reason to doubt. In the first
place, His Honor must have been grateful
deeply and unicignedly SOTO the Grand
Jury-tor adjourning-a step on their part
which no matter when taken, would not have
Idlltt 10 udTIlOulZc perfectly Win the
comfort and wishes of the Court In the next
place, there cause for gratitude, in the fact,
that among the four hundred and seventy-four
indictments which the Grand Jury did find there
not one found against the Courts Honorable
Self Had such an indictment been preferred
there is not man, woman or child in this COM
munity but what would have said that it was
rightly found. When a Judge in office. so far
forgets the prophecies Of his station and the obi
cations Of his oath, as to tell the counsel of q
prisoner upon whom he j. about to pass sentence
of death, that he has not had time to look at the
authorities to which they had referred him, in
support of a motion for new trial and that he
must override it accordingly-or to proclaim from
the bench, as this man did, on the very day on
which he received the compliments of the Grand
Jury, that if professional bail was taken in his
Court, cit was none of his business, "-practcally
deciding, at the same time, that if a man
was worth $1,000, he might qualify, as a
surety, if need be, TO the amount of $50 COO or of
$500, O00-when in one word, judicial manners
have sunk to the lowest ebb and judicial decisions
have reached the climax of absurdity and nconsis-
tency-then, truly, the administration of Justice
in her chosen seat may be said to have been robbed
of every attribute that make it either respected
or respectable. All this the Grand Jury knew. and
more, yet failed to make their knowledge the basis
of any official action. Nor is this the only or the
greatest even, of the sins of omission which can
be laid at their door, During their term of Office
great crime was committed in this city-involv-
ing equal violation of public and private rights
Those laws, upon the faithful enforcement of
icb tba itv Of oil
ance of all other laws depend-were openly and
ostentatiously trampled under foot At a munich
pal election pretended to be held on the 18th of
October, almost entire population was disfran-
chiSed by systematic violence and fraud Yet of
all these things the Grand Jury took no note. In
every ward of the city the returns of that election
bore upon their face the patent evidence of the
frauds that had been commited-yet the Grand Jury
had nothing to say upon the subject, and adjourned
without making it even matter of investigation
1t may be true as we have heard, that the Grand
Jury was officially advised, year ago, that the
Statute Law of Maryland relative to Illegal Vot-
ing and Corrupt Practices at Elections, was not
applicable to the case Of Municipal Elections and
that thence 1t was not unreasonably inferred by
the rowdies, and practically assented to by the
authorities that, at such Elections any amount
of rascality might be practised with impuntv.
The propriety of this advice and inference we feel
equally disposed TO question. But even granting
both to be correct-it is equally true on the other
hand, that the use of violence for the purpose of
deprivng citizens Of their rights, and anything
like aorc6le obstruction of the polls or conspiracy
to prevent people from voting, are each and all Of
them offences at Common Law, and indictable ac-
cordtngy. There can be no question, therefore.
but that an investigation of the numerous cases of
wrong and outrage alleged TO have been perpe-
trated on Electon-Day, formed part, and most
important part Of the duties Of the Grand Jury.
What boots lt-how many indictments that body
may find for violations of Acts of Assembly de-
signed for the protection of persons or property
if those laws which are intended to provide for
their faithful execution, and for the proper admin
istraon Of the government ITSELF are subject to be
broken at pleasure2 We opine, that whatever
claim the Grand Jury may have-for the reasons
we have stated-upon the gratitude of His Honor,
the Judge, they have small right to expect, under
the circumstances, any ''thanks'' from the COM