The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-20
CORRESPONDENCE
THE REFORM COMMIITEE And THE MAYOR.
THE LETTER OF THE COMMITTEES.


The undersigned being the ''Central Committee
selected by the authority and under the provisions
of resolution passed by their fellow-citizens il
Town Meeting assembled on the Sth inst, respect
fully ask leave to place before your Honor the ac
| companying resolutions which were adopted by
said Town Meeting; and also, the following Address
which, it will be perceived by your Honor We are
required by the first of the said resolutions to pre-
| pare and present.
| Understanding as your Honor does, the princi-
pies on which the purity of the ballot-box rests
and experienced as your Honor is known to be in
whatever pertains to elective rights and privileges
among treemen, we feel satisfied that it is neces-
saTy only to state the propositions that the guaran-
tee for both against any evil-disposed person or
| persons who might attempt to perpetrate fraud
upon the one, or prevent free exercise of the other
is to be found mainly in the integrity and faithful
ness OF the Judges of Election, to your as
sent to it. 1t is impossible that this proposition
| can be successfully controversies and, as we can
| not believe otherwise than that your Honor is as
deeply and sincerely anxious as are those whom
we represent, that the elections to be held in this
city in October and November ensuing, shall ex-
press fairly the free and uncontrolled will of the
legal voters of the city a majority of them, we
make our appeal with perfect confidence in the
language OF the resolution that the Judges of Elec
| ton who may be appointed by your Honor shall be
men who distinguished for "unmpeachabIe
character unflinchng firmness, undoubted courage,
and the purest honesty"
| In regard to the increase of the poice force by
the appointment of special constables who shall CO.
operate with the regular police the ensuing cleo
uon days IN preserving order, in preventing NAL
treatment OF or interference with legal voters and
| in arresting offenders against the peace and the
| laws at or about the polls those DAYS we trust
| that your Honor will agree with us as to the pro-
priety and expediency of compliance with this re-
| quest.
We utterly dsclaim both the desire and intention
to dictate to your Honor either terms or conditions
in reference to official duty but we would with all
respect suggest that although the surest safeguard
of the purity of the ballot box rests in the faithful
ness and firmness of honest judges of election who
will promptly close the polls and thus put stop to
Votng II need be, in the event of riot, or in the
event OF seizure upon, and taking forcble posses
| sion OF the polls, as has sometimes occurred who
| Will not permit confusion any circumstance to be
made the occasion or opportunity to poll an lille
gal vote, or exclude legal one, yet it will doubt
less appear to your Honor, it does to us, that
numerous and strong body of "order-oving, reso-
| lutte, conservative men," clothed with authority
emanating directly from the chiefmagistrate of the
city himself will tend to inspire citizens with
sense OF protection and security" and will prove
| at the same time, an encouraging support to the
| Judges themselves, in the performance of their
| duty.
| In reference to the closing of the drinking
| houses on the days of election, we would respect
fully remark that your Honor so we'll comprehends
the extent of your lawful power in this respect
that we can do no than express our belief and
desire that the request of the said Town Meeting
both regards them, and as regards such nother
measures as will tend 'to secure a fair and peace
lul election and guarantee to every legal voter his
sacred rights" will have your Honor's proper con-
slderatlon, and such attention wise discretion
will dictate.
Your Honor will also observe that the ssCentraI
Committee" have been instructed to respectfully
tender to you their Incorporation and assistance in
selecting the judges of election, and the special
police for each ward;" we, therefore beg leave to
express our readiness to serve your Honor if YOU
should be willing to accept our services
In conclusion, the undersigned do, with all re-
spect and Difference, solicit your Honor's written
reply to the foregoing address, that both NAV he
published in the daily papers of our city, according
to requirement. sin order that the citizens of Bal
tmore, whose deep solicitude the subject is ap-
parent to every observer, may have the fullest as
surance OF protection and security''
This communication was prepared before the
nominations for the Judges of Election were made
yesterday, by your Honor to the CITY Council and
the Committee feel constrained to add that repre-
sentng so large and respectable body of their fell
lowcitizens whose interests are seriously involved
we had hoped to have an opportunity of comforting
with your Honor in reference to these appoint
ments, and cannot but feel greatly disappointed.
WIN. WOODWARD
Chairman, &C., &C.,
On behalf of the Committee
Baltimore Sept 1G, 1859.
Whereas ltis established principle in all republican
governments that the mower of SELECTING men ~ eli th
various offices of trust and emolument in the State is in
herent in and may be exercised only by the people at
large, by those to whom they may delegate that
err and, ~"
Whereas In the city Baltimore this principle has
been departed from, to important degree that the
authority to select and for every office has been
OF late seized and appropriated without the sanction of
the of the people by small minority of our c;ti
zens, who have in many instances. in most disordery
ana violent manner prevented fair expression Of ent
ment on the part of the legal voters of the city, and
Whereas 1t is impossible that in present condition
of affairs, there be uncontrolled exercise of our
elective privileges and franchises either primary meet
lngs or on election days at the polls and,
Whereas, We are convinced that our city is suffering
IN her and foreign interests because of the
abuses which have resulted from this wrestling of priyi
iege and authority from the many and concentrating
both i'll the few; and,
foreign BIRTH rapidly losing confidence in the ability
or the Willingness of the people to protect their lives and
Whereas Its while political rule rests where
it now does many strangers business men and others
may tnK II unsafe to maintain existing relations or
form new ones with u.s. and,
Whereas, There can be question that apprehension
hangs like ral npon the minds of large number of
our people, and that we are eered and by our
rivals, and greatly censured by friends of other
Cities and of the country, for long permitting the
them, and ~
Whereas, We believe that a combined effort must and
will result in the fullest happiest success therefore
ReSolred, That we will reestablish in our midst the
principle herenbefore set forth and that we invoke all
good and true citizens to aid US in the effort
ReS0tred, That the legal voters of Baltimore be they
whom they may shall exercise their elective rights and
franchises uncontrolled and unintimdated by any parties
or persons and that all who seek to moest or interfere
of the law.
unht
to be entrusted to none but competent honest and faith
fn who will regard public welfare as
to private interests and who be corruped by
bribes, or intimdated by threats
ReSOtced That have such men in our midst and we
hereby pledge ourselves to employ best efforts to place
them in authority.
Res0lued, That in this movement we utterly repudiate
all party motives ties and predictions being governed
and influenced solely by desire to retrieve The oooJ
name of city, which has been so seriously comnro
msed and to establish authority necessary to GOOD
order In the hands of good men, without regard part
names party politics.
ReSord That there shall be appointed by the Presi
dent and Vice Presidents of this meeting or majority of
them, Committee of twenty men, consisting of one ON
each ward and that these twenty with the President
of this meeting, shall constitute Central Committee -
who shall be authorized and directed to nominate at as
early day as may be expedient and practicable candi
dates wlthoutregard to party and to be from the
best most reliable and most competent in this com
munity, for the following Offices namely:
For the Senate OF the State of Maryland ....... I
For the House of Delegates Of the State of Mary
For Attorney for the State for the city Baltimore
For Sheriff of the city Of Baltimore e.........,,..
For Clerk Of the Circuit Court for the city Baltimore
For Judges of the Orphans Court of the cy of Ramore
For the First Branch of the City Council for the city of
For Justices of the Peace for the city Of Bamor 90
For Constables for the city of Baltimore. ......44 Al
And that in selecting candidates for the Ctv Council
Justices of the Peace and Consabes in the respective
wards the said committee of twentyone shall call 10 their
aid and counsel subcommittee which they may appont
OF not less than five members from each ward they to be
residents of the respective wards in which they shall be
appointed saa subcommittee to confer and with
the said central committee of twenty and that the
ward nominations be made for each by the said cen
tra committee of twenty and the subcommittee for
each ward, a majority of both.
Resolved That the said committee shall prepare
and present in person to his Honor the Mayor of the v
OF Baltimore respectful address, claiming at his hands
the appointment of judges of Election in every ward in
the city, and particularly for the ensuing in DC
tober and November, of unmpeachabIe character nm
linching frmness, undoubted courage and the purest
honesty. Also that he will enrol and commission two
hundred special cOnstabes police officers in each ward
many for each ward in the opinion of the Nayor
and the committee may be sufficient or necessary: said
special constaoles to be order loving resoute
tive men. who shall cooperate with the regular police
force in preserving the peace arresng offenders and es
pecaly any person persons who interfere with or
mareat attempt interfere with or matreat any LEGAL
voter or who may endeavor to prevent any legal voter
from exercising his elective rights that he will cothe
the entire police force regular and special with the full
est powers of the law and publish them in the daily
papers of the city such perempory plain orders and
directions as will authorize them promptly and
ehectVey any and every emergency and justify in
require; also that he will if the power to do so rests in
him. cause all drinking houses to be closed on said eec
tion days and that he will take all other measures to e
peaceful and fair election guarantee to every
legal voter his sacred rights free citizen of this COM
monwealth.
ReSoued, That his Honor the Mayor be respectfnlv
requested by said Central Committee reply in writing
to the address presented to him by them and that thew
cause both the address and the to it. to be prnted
in all the daily papers of the city in order that the ct
zens OF Baltimore whose deep soctude subject
apparent to every observer have the fullest assur
I anoe OF protection and security.
Resoced That the said Central Committee shall also
respectfully tender their cooperation assistance to his
Honor the Mayor in selecting the Judges Election and
| the special police for each ward.
ReSOued That while this meeting trusts that the meas
they propose will produce the desired result and
that the authorities of this city will efficiently the