The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-10-26
FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS--BALT
MORE

The city of Baltimore stands pre-emincnt in its
utter disregard for the purity of the ballot-bOx and
slnctity of the elective franchise. For the past
two years the elections in that city have been but
mere mockeries. The existing constituted
thortics rather joined hand in hand with the vio-
lators of the public peacc-and in open day bands
of armed men traversed the streets, while others
Cf the same stamp blocked up all access to the
polls, against all who presumed to differ with them.
The party for which these rowdies profess to
act, have fearful responsibility resting upon them,
and 1t is not expecting too much in a civilized
community, that its presses well as all those of
other parties should cmphatically denounce these
outrages. Baltimore is the frontier commercial
city of the South, and the people of this section
are beginning to feel that she is not entitled
to sympathy, commercial or otherwise at her hands.
We had hoped the election last week would have
passed off quietly but the record is as black as that
of any preceding it.
We will cndeavor to give our readers some idea
of how the late election was conducted Mayor
Swami, the incumbent, elected by what was called
the American party was opposed to MIR Shut an
independent candidate. The friends of the latter
were bullied and beaten from the polls, pursued,
fred at and maltreated until they found there was
in attempting to exercise their privilege.
Mr.. Shut about noon issued the following card
Fellow -citizcns-It being now clearly manifest
city to countenancc the general combination
which now prevails between his police and the
armed band of lawless men who have since the
opening of the ballot boxes held possession of the
polls to the exclusion of all voters opposed to May
or Swami, and being urged upon me by many of
our best citizens that any persistent attempts to
vote upon the part of my friends can only be at
tended with loss of life and the general disorder of
the city, feel it my duty to yield to their judy
MOI wit NV far
Mayor. A. i. SHUT
Wednesday, Oct. 13, II o'clock, m.
We leave it to all who love the free institutions
-four country to consider how long Lbery-Re-
publican Liberty can exist under such regime.
Other cities have exhibited to some extent the
spirit of lawlessness; and although Baltimore
now heads the Black List of rotous cities in the
Union, yet it is but reasonable to apprchend that
the spirit will manift st itself and triumph in
the end in other communities. The municipal Adj
mnistration Of Baltimore ginning its success bv
such means those alluded to deserve the CON
tempt of every good and conservative citizen, what
ever may De his party politics, within her limits.
Col"mLia Guardian.
A gentleman writing from Baltimore to the n
Y. Journal of Commerce. says:
"With us this is the reign of terror Now
while | write bands of ruffians stalk through the
streets armed with muskets, horse pistols and bill
Hes No one may venture out after dark; citizens
are leaving city, for there is safety either for
hte or property. Our press here dare not give ut
terance in their columns to comments upon the
Outrages committed. No one not connected with
the ''Great Know Nothing party stir abroad.
Democrats obliged to close their stores, and in
some cases, those particularly obnoxious to the now
dominant party obliged sell out their proper
ty and leave the city. Aged and respected citizens
are assaulted and killed"
GREAT ROLLING MILL.-A rolling mill. for
the manufacture of Railroad rails erected at
Atlanta, Ga, is very justly subject Of boaSting
on the part of the newspapers of that town. 1t
cost the sum of 100000. When fully manned
it will turn out 40 tons of rails per day Worn
out and broken rails are here converted into new
The Washington Star denies the rumor that
Attorney General Black had declared the proceed
mos of the Naval Retiring Rnard To Ln iiIoc.al