The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-28

Tenth ward great many shots-whole volles in
fact-were fired by the rowdies-rifles as we'll as
pistols being found in their hands and bullets dis
charged b. them in the conflict, being seen to
rtcochet over the pavement at distance of two
squares from the polls. 1t was stated by the Mar.
shall of Police, at the time and upon the ground
that there was not house in the street in which
the polls were held, which was not full of arms
The assertion that Mr.. KYLE's death was OCCASION
ed by 'his having first fired no less than three
"shots into an excited crowdn of them with
fatal effects simply false and the suggestion that
''the shooting did not affect the voting" palpably
absurd. That ''no shooting took place in that
ward latter the poll was opened" is, perhaps
not TO be wondered at considering what had
taken place before. In regard TO occurrences
In the Fourteenth ward, the fact is altogether
ignored that the "Amercan" killed WAS n
notorious rufiian, who fell with pistol in his
hand, having been shot by a Reormer, upon
whose person he had used, or attempted TO use,
an awl. Among the Reformers who were 'tscratch-
''ed, u we presume we are to include Mr. STYLES
who was dangerously shot in three places, by the
President of the American Club Convention, and
the porter of the Eutaw House, who was shot in
the leg. That there was emo fighting with wea-
''pons" in the Eleventh Ward, was due altogether
| to the moderation and firmness of the Reformers
and it is not little singular to find the charge of
''illegal'' conduct brought against gentlemen who
by the authority of the Judges and with the occa-
slonal assistance, we believe, of the police en-
deavored to protect the barrier erected for the
convenience of voers-instead of the ruffians who
with axes, endeavored to hew it down The charge
that the Reformers anywhere provoked or began
''the affray, in any ward, or at any hour of the
day, is utterly untrue. No respectable man would
dare TO assert as much over his own signature
Only an anonymous writer could have the hardi
hood to venture upon such statement
From facts, The Courier e. Enguirer's CORES
pendent proceeds to figures. IF we analyse," he
says
utes e hypothess OF dsranchisemen of thousands by
exclusion from the polls
AT the Congressional Election in the 4th District
1882 1889 Mr. Mr. Davis 1883 Mr. Nay 1881
1859 Mr. Davis .1o072 Mr.. Harrison 2779 1851 1888
The result in the Eleventh and Fourteenth wards
is made the subject of particular analysis. With
reference to the former, it is said
How little founded the tales of exclusion from the
polls are, and how entirely worthless the general allepa
uons OF that kind are, appears by the figures This ward
cast for Mr. Buchanan Ola votes ana for Mr. Harrison
! Mr. Davis competitor, 525-a difference of only Sc
| votes , -
In the Fourteenth ward it is stated--as conclusive
evidence that the disturbance" at those polls
equally affected the vote on both sides" that
Mr. Davis received 525 and his competitor Mr. Harri
son. 26S and at the last Presidential Election Mr. Fillmore
received in that ward 63, and Mr. Buchanan 1872 Thu,
the Democratic vote fell of 1884, and the American vote
| fell off l4S, difference of only 16 votes
That seems conclusive the quality Of the parties !,
| me freedom Of their access TO the p0llS''
With reference to all these comparisons, we have
but two observations to make. In the first place
the writer assumes that the figures which he gives
as indicative of the popular vote in 1859, represent
legal and bona fde voters-thus hegging the very
! question at issue. We assert that the recorded
vote was fraudulent and fictitious The author
OF the communication in THE Courier e. En-
q"rer undertakes to disprove the charge by show
ing that the recorded vote in 1859 amounted tc
so much in 1857 to so much, and in 1855 TO 50
much, and deduces the fairness of the vote from a
coincidence in the figures, which may have been
accidental-but was far more likely intentional
We base our charge, that the recorded vote is
fictitious, upon the notorious fact that in almost
every ward of the city illegal votes were poed by
the handful-the same men, in some cases, voting
In dozen different wards, and in others, voting
in the same ward dozen different times.
The next criticism which we have to make upon
the figures of The Courier 4. Ei,guircr's correspon-
dent, is that the standard Of comparison which he
sets up is itself false one Every one of the cleo
hons, between which and the last Il comparison is
instituted, was itself tainted by circumstances Of
fraud and outrage, similar in character to those
perpetrated on the I'd of November The only
result fairly deducibe from the coincidence in the
aggregate of the vote in these years. is that fraud
and violence in 1859 accomplished no more than
what fraud and violence had accomplished in S57.
Had there been one particle of fairness or candor
about The Courier T. Enguircr's correspon-
dent, the comparison made would have
been between the vote at the Municipal
Election in October, 1859, and that at the Com
gressional Election in November Just three
weeks later. While we do not concede the for
mer Election to have been either fair or peaceable
still, by comparison with the Congressional Flee
ton, it was both. In the Eleventh and Fourteenth
wards, which are particularly referred TO by the
writer, every thing passed off quietly, and in the
former ward Mr.. BAuGHER, the Reform candidate
for City Councilman received 70S votes to 26l cast
for his pponent-showing, by comparison with
the result on the End of November, Il subsequent
falling off in the Reform vote of 1873 instead of 80
as asserted in the article under consideration and
an unexplained increase in the American vote Of
404-abOut which tba article &c
Fourteenth ward the facts show even better. AT
the Municipal Election, Mr.. RICHARD PRICE, the
Reform candidate, ran against two competitors
both Americans, and was elected over both by a
majority ofS2, receiving 463 votes. At the Con-
gressional Election Mr.. HARRISON, Mr.. DAVIS COM
petitor whose vote runs sufficiently even with
that given for the Reform ticket to Justify
the assumption that he was generally supported by
that party, received only 26S votes 10 525 for Mr.
DAVls-showing falling off in the Reform vote of
l95 IN three weeks, instead of l64 in three years
and an increase in the American vote of IA, in
stead of decrease of l4S. But it is useless to
pursue further an inquiry which only leads us
through tortuous labyrinth of falsehood and So
phstry We have said enough, we Think to show
| now utterly dslngenuous and dishonorable is the
statement to which The Courier f. Enquirer ap-
parently attaches so much faith We have referred
to the article not with the view of charging its au-
thorShip upon any individual, but with the sinrle
purpose of putting the public in possession of the
probable grounds upon which Mr.. DAVIS RIGHT TO
seat in the House of Representatives will
be asserted. Forewarned is forearmed. and
now that we are advised of the lengths to which
reckleSsneSS Of assertion and eiTrontery of denial
may possibly be carried we shall be better able to
prepare for the contest, with an amount and array
OF evidence on our side, before which recklessness
Will be abashed and effrontery shrink away
ashamed
We directed attention some days ago to the eff
Tort made in the First Branch of the City Council to
OBTAIN extra compensation for the late Judges of Eec
ton and their Clerks. This understandable attempt
to dip into epubc treasury for the purpose of re-