Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-04-22
BALTIMORE CITY ABROAD.


BALTIMORE CITY ABROAD.
Below we give some extracts from the
Philadelphia Enquirer" Gan Opposition
paper upon the truly lamentable condi-
ton of the police government of Balti-
more city. 1t certainly gives US no plea
sure to refer so often to the rufianism
and lawlessnes which so frequently bring
dishonor and disgrace onour Monumental
City, and which have been so severely
cersured by the press everywhere; but,
as public journalists, we give it to our
readers as among the passing events of
the day.
The two murderous assaults made in
Baltimore, since the execution of the
four murderers ON the Sth instant show
that society there is still cursed with dan
gorous and daring spirits, who, if I'M
checked in their reckless career against
liberty of speech and human life, will
eventually bring about either disorgan-
lzation of the city, or establish a popular
tribunal that will insist upon the sum
mary execution of the offenders against
the lives and peace of citizens. No COM
munity can long tolerate any species Of
terrorism, and the recent executions were
evidences of the determination of the
lovers of law and order to strike deadly
blow at all determinations in politics
which tend. to the insecurity of the lives
of citizens, 1t has appeared that three
of the murderers were associated in their
political views with the party in power,
and that the reliance Of these misg guided
offenders, and of their confreres for de-
feating the claims of the law, was estab-
lished upon this fact.
The futility and vanity of such conf
dence have been fully exhibited. Poll
teal power was obliged to yield to the
will of the people of Baltimore, who
have long felt the degradation and injury
to that city from the scenes of blood
which for years have been enacted there
to terrify the people and to alarm stran-
gers. At certain season it has been
unsafe for persons to pass through public
! thoroughtares, even at mid day. as they
might fall dead from bullets discharged
from the weapon of some political villains
associated together to control the city by
violence. At one time, we rccollect.
during an election, the city appeared to
be more like town filed with hostile
armies, than an orderly metropolis, gov
erncd by honest, upright magistrates.
The law seemed to be trampled under
foot, and the spectator at a distance even
apprchended that the hour was approach
ing when men would be gibbeted in the
! streets for their deeds in connection with
such scenes Of bloodshcd and anarchy.
y similar apprehension even seized the
citizens of Baltimore themselves, when
Marion Crop shot officer 3igdon, who
became obnoxious to the lcoguers against
life and aided in the conviction of Henry
Gambrill who shot officer Benton. 1t
was by miracle only that the populace
did not then take Crop and his associates,
without any legal processes, and termi-
nate their lives at any convenient place
within the very area of the courts of
justice Nothing but the assurance that
the laws should be faithfully executed
abated the desire Of a majority of citizens
to express by fearfully tragic illustra-
ton of their will the determination to
which political necessity urged them.
Now the two events to which we have
alluded show that the political and social
immortality for which Baltimore is noted
has not been crushed out by the fearful
warnings given On Friday last, when the
condemned men urged their associates,
with all the means by which dying men
strive to persuade, to abandon the clubs
whose existence hastoned their downfall
Their bodies are scarcely cold in death
before the knives of several assassins are
aimed at the life Of drunken man who
dared to eXult in the execution of the
nurderers. He is found in the street,
covered with blood, his nose cut from his
face, and several severe stabs inflicted
upon his person. No officer of the law,
citizen, bcholds this butchery, or if he
does. is bold enough to unmask the vii
lains who perpetrated the injuries !
Again, at the absurd funeral Of Cam
brill on Sunday, another victim falls by
the hands Of the secret assassins, and it
may be that n0 one will be found guilty
Of the wrong. How far can such acts
be carried without bringing about fearful
results? How many Of the prominent
actors in such tragic scenes can expect
to escape the fearful retribution which
must come upon them?
Is it possible that any class of men
can hope to unite and act in such frater
nizations Of blood, without inviting some
kind of justice to end the terrible drama
which they insist upon performing? We
learn that these desperadoes call them
selves Americans, but we repudiate them.
No American worthy of the name would
JOIN associations that can eountenance acts
levelled at the life of every principle of
our political existence. federation of
opinion is the basis of our institutions,
and 1t is not the knife Of the assassin
that will establish any cause or even aid
in advancing it.
The SIcKLEs TRIAL.-This trial is
still progressing in the District Criminal
Court, and is likely to continue for sew
eral days to come. We have RETAINED
from publishing any of the details be-
cause of their disgusting and revolving
nature. The evidence of the wicked
ness of Key and Mrs. Sicklcs is shock
ing ia the extreme, and presents a case