The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-05

From the proceedings which are said to have
taken place at the primary meetings of the Ameri-
can party, on Tuesday night, the people at large
may form some idea of the probabilities of there
being fair and peaceful poll at the elections in
October and November. According to the report
published in The american, whose testimony we
take TO be, at least, that Of a not unfriendy wit
ness free-born American citizens had their heads
punched with rs little ceremony as if they had
been so many Odd Dutch Z" or democrats and
"natves " were throttled and slung-shotted, bull
lied ard billed, apparently with as little compunc-
ton as might have been expected toward party of
Sunday School children on a picnic. To have
been ''true son of Columbia-a child of the
'tmighty Republican, the eloquent language of
Mr.. A. D. Evans--and to have faithfully sup
ported the American party from the hour when it
first commenced its career Of violence and misrule
among u.s. constituted no protection and afforded
no security on the occasion referred to, unless ac-
companed by willingness 10 do the bidding of
the outlaws, vino, from having been the useful
tools of the party, have now grown to be its mas
tiers. The American flag was not ample enough
to with its folds one-half of the patriots who
judiciary Convention of the party was character
lied by all the fraud and violence that usually at
tend sely-contested electon-the fight being
mainly between the ''Whitney men, and the
''Leakin men, for the States Attorneyship and
the ''Duttonites'' and the "Stewartites'' for the
Sheri0alty. Which side came out winner, it does
not now concern us to inquire-as the action of the
Convention itself will officially determine that
fact 1t is only to the violent and disgraceful
character of the proceedings themselves that we
desire to call attention, or upon which we propose
to comment. We do so, not from any especial So
lcitude we feel for the preservation of the good
name or responsibility of the American party, or
from any sympathy we have for those who have
thus tardy been made TO suffer from atbrutality
which they have hitherto never scrupled to justify
and applaud, so long as it has been directed
against others. Our interest in the occurrences Of
Tuesday night arises simply from the fact Of their
affording an inkling and premonition of the sort
of treatment we may expect ourselves, should we
attempt to cast our votes in opposition to the can
ddates of the Clubs, at the coming elections Il
these brethren quarrel thus among themselves,
what measure of cruelty and violence may we moi
reasonably anticipate at their hands, when they
come to unite in a common contest against the op
ponents of their party? That we may not be &C.
cused of exaggerating the facts of the case, will
briefly recaptulate them, as reported in TIN
american of Wednesday. In the Sixth Ward, be.
sides a large amount of fraudulent voting, two
men were shot. In the Tenth Ward the rowdies
closed the polls summarily, after depositing their
of
ing in the Eleventh Ward seems to be implied
in the statement that in this ward also, ''the mem
''bers made quick work of it." In the Fourteenth
Ward ''from the time the meeting was organized
Confusion and strife existed" There was q
''row'-"one of the tellers and several Others
''were knocked down'-''the hat containing the
''votes emptied of its contents, and wher
gathered up, spurious tickets were thrust among
Chem" OF the five delegates elected, three d.
not reside in the ward, and two are members o
the famous ''Rip-Rap Club. In the Twentieth
Ward the ballot-box was broken up and thu
tickets scattered, and a man named AIREY shot at
No election was consequently had, and another
poll was ordered for last evening. In the rest o
the wards, The american reports ''quiet to have
prevailed" but from the facts above detailed
and the list of delegates returned, the nature O
that "quiet'' may readily be inferred. 1t wa
only in the Wards where the opposition was stron!
enough to attempt to make its voice heard, tina
there was fighting. Elsewhere the rowdies had
all their own way, and consequently there wa
'quet'' just as at the Municipal Election las
fall, in the Fourth and Eighteenth Wards, tn
balloting was said to have proceeded wihou
interruption. May not such scenes be reason
ably accepted as "sigus'' of that 'fgood tim
looming" when the knives and pistols of thes
ruffians, which they now seem disposed TO us
against each other, shall be turned with one accor
against the breasts and Threats Of honest and dc
cent men? From the interest manifesto
in the selections of candidates for the va
rious offices connected with the administration 9
justice in this city, about to become vacant W
may infer the character Of the exertions they vii
make to secure the triumph of those candi
dates at the polls. Several of the delegate
to the Convention are men against WHOM
there are indictments for penitentiary offence
pending at this moment, and whose escape fror
punishment necessarily depends upon their retain
ing in the office of Public Prosecutor friend abb
and willing TO stand between them and justice
Who shall say that from a condition of affairs Xix
this and in the absence of any efFectual organiza
ton among decent and respectable men, for tn
purpose of avering the fate that is impending owe
us, we are not at liberty to augur the worst pos
sible results, for the peace and prosperity of tn
city, and the lives and safety of its citizens?