The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-06
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, JUNE 6, 1859.

If the recent disturbances upon the track OF the
CITY Passenger Railway involved nothing but The
interruption or Illustration OF corrupt ana shae-
lass ob by the partisans or contederates OF those
Who contrived il. we should be disposed TO take
no further notice of the subject, regarding both
parties to the contest as equally unworthy the
sympathy or interest Of the public. When AC-
TEoS was eaten, in due course by his own hounds,
he left perpetual moral behind him, for the bene-
fit of that large class of people who take the
risk, along with the profit, of using unworthy and
dangerous instruments for the furtherance of sell
fish and dishonorabe ends. Before long, we are
quite sure that more than one conspicuous illus
traon of that sort of retributive justice is des-
tined to make part of the annals of the times in
Baltimore. Indeed, it would be rash to say that
at least one such has not, already and recently,
become matter of history, before our eyes. But
the subject to which we particularly abiding
has a much more comprehensive bearing than
mere question of individual dement's and proper
retributon. 1t involves precisely the same issues
which have distracted and alarmed this commun-
ity, over and again, since the present Municipal
Administration was inaugurated, and it is render
ed of serious import by the fact that 1t indicates
the continued existence of the same lawlessness
upon the side, and the same official incapacity
or dereliction the other, which, during that ad-
miniStration, have characterized the relations be-
tween the officers and the transgressors of the law.
We have taken some pains to arrive at the true
state of the facts, and we believe it to be, accu-
rately, as follows:
That part of the Passenger Railway which is to
pass through Broadway and Baltimore street, has
been let out for construction by the Philadelphia
proprietors to Messrs. SHOEMAKER & Co., to which
firm Messrs CATHCART and BEACHAM-two men,
bers of the City Council by which the railway or
dnance was passed-beong. The contract for
opening, grading and paving the track, has
been sub-let to Messrs. DISNEY & Co., paving
firm of this city-industrious and worthy men,
as we learn on all hands, who are only connected
with the affair." in the honest and legitimate prose-
cution of their calling. 1t is in connection with
their part of the work that the disturbances have
taken place. The report that there was a strike
for higher wages among their employees, or any
discomfort or insubordination, whatever mani
tested in that quarter is altogether misrepreSen-
tation. The workmen of Messrs DISNEY & Co.
were, LOT Tue IuoSl Pdlt PeISoHS ioHB III tueir
employment, perfectly satisfied with the wages
they were receiving,-which were at the current
and usual rates,-and willing and anxious to earn
those wages by continuing their abors upon the
track. The disturbance came altogether from out
side and was created by gang of riotous and i'll
disposed persons, who were not employed, or
sought to be employed or in fact fit for such employ
ment but who insisted upon being taken into the
service of the subcontractors and at the rate of
dollar and quarter per day-being twenty-five
cents above the terms upon which those gentlemen
were commanding all the force which their con-
tract required. These demands were not only en-
forced by violent and threatening manifestations,
but accompanied by the further and peremptory
requirement that no foreigner should, under any
circumstances, be employed thereafter on the line.
Until these acquisitions should be obeyed, all fur
Their prosecution of the work was forbidden, and |
the demonstrations were such as effectually 10 de-
ter the laborers engaged, and especially the for
egncrs, from going on, though the precaution was
taken to stop short of actual violence. In this |
condition. things have remained since Thursday. |
The statement made to the reporters, that Messrs.
DISNEY & Co. had allowed themselves, on Friday, |
10 be forced into a compliance with the demands |
of the conspratorS, altogether premature, and,
so far as we can learn, without any foundation,
whatever. The application made by them 10 the
authorities, for protection, resulted, usual, in
the formal attendance of the police, and nothing
more and the work now stands suspended, simply
and only, because ;here is no administration of the
law among us with integrity or courage enough |
10 +bo, ~.
any outrage, which is backed, no matter how dis
reputably, by show of popular feeling. What
recourse is left TO the sub-contractors is hard to
perceive. Doubtless the Sheriff. if called upon,
would summon posse and do his duty, but the |
damage has already been done. Such demonstra-
tons, to be overcome at all must be crushed in the
very beginning. 1t is too late TO attempt repres-
sion, for any useful purpose when they have |
already had their way. Laborers could not be |
found, now, to work in the midst of tumult or
a conflict, exposed to violence and vengeance the
moment they might leave the presence of the pro-
tectng force. Messrs. DISNEY & Co. are con-
sequently thrown upon the alternative of aban-
doning their contract with the loss of the work
done and the responsibility of leasing it-or yield
ing TO demands, which cannot be submitted to
without both ruin and disgrace.
But, much as the sub-contractors referred to may
deserve the sympathy of the public and oppressive
and ruinous as the consequences of the outrage
must be- for the time, to the unfortunate
foreigners, who are thus driven from the op-
portunity of earning their daily bread-the in
suit to the majesty of the law and the absolute
lmpunty-indeed the triumph-with which it is
perpetrated, must absorb all other considerations.
If it stood alone-if it were an isolated, excep-
tonal, accidental case-it would be bad enough
But coming, as it does in the train of host of
similar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS like them, in
open day, with banners fying-in the presence of
the polce-after full warning and ample opportuni-
ty for preparation and prevention-it startles us,
with irresistible sense of utter insecurity in pri-
vate right, and utter worthlessness in the machine
ry of government. 1t shows that the City Execu-
tive and the City Legislature are part and parcel
of one and the same SYSTEM and that each, in its
turn and its department, and under influences
equally unworthy, is ready to abandon its trust
and make such capital as it needs out of its faith
lessness to duty and its connivance with outrage
The Railway disturbances form graceful sequel
to the Railway ordinance and the Railway message