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

The undersigned, being the Central Committee
selected by the authority, and under the provision
of a resolution passed by their fellow-citiZens il
Town Meeting assembled on the sth inst, respect
fully ask leave to place before your Honor the &C
companying resolutions which were adopted by
said Town Meeting; and also, the following Address
which, it will be perceived by your Honor are
required by the first of the said resolutions to pre-
pare and present.
Understanding your Honor does, the princ
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 freemen, we feel satisfied that it is neceS
sary only to state the proposition, that the guaran
tee for both against any evil-disposed person or
persons who might attempt to perpetrate 4 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 secure your as
sent to it. 1t is impossible that this proposition
can be successfully controversial; and, 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 or 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 are distinguished for ''unmpeachable
character, unfnching firmness, undoubted courage,
and the purest honesty"
In regard to the increase of the police force by
the appointment of special constables who shall
operate with the regular police the ensuing cleo
ton 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 expectancy of compliance with this re-
quest.
We utterly disclam 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 hrmness of honest judges of election, who
Will promptly close the polls, and thus put stop to
voting 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
VIII not permit confusion or any circumstance to be
made the occasion or opportunity to poll an lille
gal vote, or exclude legal one vet it will doubt
less appear to your Honor, as it does to u.s. that a
numerous and strong body of f'order-loving, reso-
lutte, conservative men," clothed with authority
emanating directly from the chefmapistrate of the
city himself will tend to inspire our citizens with a
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 well comprehends
the extent of your lawful power in this respect.
that we can do no more than express our belief and
desire that the request of the said Town Meeting
both as regards them, and as regards such "other
measures as will tend fto secure a fair and peace
iul election, and guarantee to every legal voter his
sacred rights, will have your Honor's proper con-
sideration and such attention as wise discretion
will dictate
Your Honor will also observe that the Central
Committee" have been instructed to respectfully
tender to you their Incorporation and assistance in
selecting the judges of election, and the speciaI
police Tor each ward" we, therefore, beg leave to
express our readiness to serve your Honor if Won
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 be
published in the daily papers of our CITY, according
10 requirement, sin order that the citizens of Bal
tlmore, whose deep solictude the subject is ap-
parent to every observer, may have the fullest as
surance of protection and security"
This communication 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 renre
senting so large and respectable body of their fell
loW-cltlzens whose interests seriously involved
we had hoped to have an opportunity of conferrin9
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. lG, 1859.
Whereas 1t established principle in all republican
governments that the power of selecting men to fill the
various offices of trust and emoument in the State is in
herent in and may be exercised only by the peope at
large or by those to whom they may delegate that pow
er; and
Whereas, In the city of Baltimore this principle has
been departed FROM to important degree that the
authority to select and nominate for every office has been
of late seized and appropriated without the sanction
the masses of the people, by small minority of our c
zens, who have in many instances in most dsorderlv
and violent manner prevented fair expression Of sent
ment on the part of the legal voters of the city, and
Whereas 1t is impossible that in the present condition
aars there can be uncontrolled exercise of our
elective privileges and franchises either in primary meet
ings or on election days at the polls; and,
whereas, We are convinced that city is suffering
both in her domestic and foreign interests of the
abuses which have resulted from this wrestling of prv-
lege and authority from the MANY and concentrafin
both in the few; and,
Whereas Many our best citizens both native and of
foreign birth, are rapidly losing confidence in the ability
or the Willingness of the people to protect their lives and
their property; and,
Whereas Its true that while political rule rests where
it does many strangers business men and others
may think 1t unsafe to maintain existing relations, or
form new ones with US; and,
Whereas, There can be question that apprehension
hangs like Ta npOn the minds of large number of
our people, and that eered and secuted by our
rivals, and greatly censured by friends of other
cltes, anu OF me country Tor so long permitting the
grievances named to exist without effort abate
them, and
Whereas, We believe that combined effort must and
will result in the fullest and happes success therefore
Resotred, That we will re-esablsh in our midst the
principle herenbeore set forth, and that invoke all
good and true citizens to aid US in the effort
Resolved, That the legal voters of Baltimore be they
whom they may shall exercise their elective rights and
franchises uncontrolled and unintimdaed by any parties
or persons and that all who seek to modest or interfere
with them shall be visited with the heaviest penalties
of the law.
eolUed That the public offices Of this great ov ouab
to be entrusted to none but competent honest and faith
full men, who will regard the public welfare as paramount
to private interests and who cannot be corrupted by
brides, or intimidated by threats
ReSotced That We have such men in midst and we
hereby pledge ourselves to employ best place
them in authority.
Resolved, That in this we utterly repudate
all party motives ties and predictions being governed
and influenced solely by desire to retrieve the good
of CITY. which has 81,
msed and to establish authority so necessary to GOOD
oder in the hands of good men, without regard to part
names or party politics.
Resolred That there shall be appointed by the Pres
dent and Vice Presidents of this meeting majority of
them, Committee of twenty 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 nominate at as
early day as may be eXpedent and practicable, cand
dates without regard to party and be the
best most reliable, and most competent this com
munity, for the following offices, namely:
For TIE Senate Of the State of Maryland .........
For the House of Delegates of the State Maryland
For Attorney for the State for city of Baltimore
For Sheriff of the city Of Baltimore .........,..,
For Clerk of the Circuit Court for the city of Baltimore
For Judges OF the Orphans Court of the city ofBatmore
For the First Branch of the City Council for the city of
For Justices of the Peace for the city of Baltimore %
For Constabes for the city of Baltimore.
And that in selecting candidates for the CITY Council
Justices of the Peace and Constabes in the
wards, the said committee of twenty one shall call 10 their
aid and counsel subcommittee which they NAV annoint
of not less than five members from each ward they TO be
residents of the respective wards in which they shall be
appointed SAID subcommittee to confer and consult with
the SAID central committee of twenty and that the
ward nominations be made for each ward by the said
trail committee of twenty and the subcommittee for
each ward, or majority of both.
Resolved That the said central committee shall
and present in person to his Honor the Mayor the city
of Baltimore respectful address, claiming at his hands
the appointment of judges Election in every ward in
the city, and particularly for the ensuing elections in DC
ober and November, of unimpeachable character un-
ainching irmness undoubted courage and the purest
honesty Also, that he will enrol and commission two
hundred special oonsabes police officers in each ward
or so many for each ward as in the opinion of the Mayor
and the committee may be sufficient or neoessary ga
special consabes to he order loving resoute conserya
tive men, who shall cooperate with the regular police
force IN preserving the peace arresting offenders
pecay any person or persons who may interfere with
matreat attempt to interfere with maeat any
voter who may endeavor prevent any legal voter
from exercising his elective rights, that he will clothe
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 will authorize them promptly and
effectively any and every emergency and justify them in
using their authority with such vigor as occasion NAV
require also that he will If the power to do so rests in
him, all drinking to be closed on said cleo
ton days. and that he will take all other
peaceful and fair election and guarantee
legal voter his sacred rights free citizen this
monwealth.
Resolred, That his Honor the Mayor be respectfully
requested by said Central Committee reply in writing
the address presented to him by them and that thew
both the address and the it. to be prnted
in all the daily papers of the city in order the eti
of Baltimore whose deep socitude the subject
apparent to every observer may have the fullest
anoe OF protection and security.
ReSolred, That the said Central Committee shall also
respectfully tender their cooperation and assistance his
Honor the Mayor in selecting the Judges of Election and
the special police for each ward.
ReS0iued That while this meeting that the
they will produce the desired result and
that the authorities of this city will efficiently in the
OrdP in