The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-11


the Court fall far short of the public sentiment"
Is this all, in the name of right and reason, that
they "feel warranted in saying ~ Can they be
ignorant that the thing of which they speak, is
surrounded by hundred glazing, living abuses?
Why not point out some of them and denounce
them? Why not compel the Clerk TO produce
list of the scores Of indictments, pending or sus-
pended, against notorious rowdies and aSsassins,
who are running scot-free, with blood-stained
hands--trampling down and laughing AT the laws
Why squandertime, in discussing the worthleSsness
of recognizances taken by Magisrates-when
scrutiny into the records Of the Court Wonlu
show hosts of the same - taken uhuer INC
direction of the tribunal or its ofcers-eft iru''-
less and unforfeted, term after term i"'e 'ne'
not noticed in the police reports OF the uay, INC
UNPARALLELED scandal of the very CLERK OF the Oourt
;tsaIf- dnrinp the session of the Grand Jury-be-
coming surety upon the recogniZance OF a noto-
rious outlaw? Why not expose to the pubic
the names of official functionarles and dependents
of all sorts whom the records of the Court may dis
close as thus tamperng with justice, by becoming
the shield and defence of the crime which 1t is their
duty to aid in bringing to punishment? why not
oct at the facts and proclaim them, and lndlct the
entity parties for the official ''miSbehavior which
such practices involve? One such manly, compre-
hensive exercise of official vigilance and ylgor, by
the Grand Inquest Of the city, backed by It's law
full authority and the personal character OF the IN
dividuals who compose it, in the present instance,
would do more good than ten thousand present
''ments " too ''generaP to invade the lmpunlty
and insolence of official misconduct.
What, again, did the Grand Jurors believe,
would be the good of mild platitude about the
evil effects of political rowdyism, when here-tor
four years past, at election after electlon-every
right of the citizen has been trodden into the dust
with blood, and the law has never lifted hand or
said word, for its own vindicaton? 1t is not
the fault of the late Grand Jury, it is true, that
their predecessors failed to discharge their duty in
that regard-but, if they chose to speak of the
matter, at all, why touch it, from afar off with
phrases and paraphrases? Why not name thedays
and the places where the treason committed,
and speak of it and of its perpetrators they de-
serve? Why discourse, in generaities, about ''po-
ethical clubs, +" when they find, at the head of or
in league with such, the officers of at least one
State institution-which they were bound officially
to visit, and did, in fact, visit and commend for
the fidelity of its administration-and whence the
very outlaws, whom they denounce, were fur
nished with the arms of the State for the purposes
of outrage on the right of suffrage? Why did the
Grand Jury ignore-how could they ignore-the
developments in regard to the State Penitentiary
and the completely of those who control
it, with the crimes of the last election day.
We might continue these inquiries for yet another
coumn-for there is no end to the suggestions
which the ''presentment'' makes to u.s. But we
have said enough to indicate its impression on our,
selves and the public. We have done so, in nc
unfriendly spirit, nor from disposition to carp OIL
criticise, but from profound and undivided con.
viction of duty The evils under which we labor
will never be cured, until honest men make up theil
minds put an end to the present system of delicate
consideration for the feelings, and sickly tolera
ton for the offences of official delinquents and pub
lie culprits. What we require is the truth-spoker
in the face of day, and front to front with thos'
whom it touches, whosoever they be--the higher
the better, for the truths sake. What we want il
not new legislation. 1t is the fearless, upright
nay the decently, moderately honest-adminisra
| ton of the laws that we have Let US try that
before we make any more. "eappeal to the goot
sense of the Grand Jurors themselves, to say
whether we are not right in this, and we beg them
again, to believe that the freedom of our common
upon their imperfect action, does not derogate, il
any wise, from the sincerity of respect for tn
motives which prompted it.