The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-20

revelation of the Generals ideas and plans The
original which though slightly smirched by the
fingers of our compositors, is in perfect state of
preservation, we shall be most happy to show TO
The TrIJune's correspondent if he should chance
to return this way.
If there was any prospect before us of a speedy
reform Of the condition of affairs in Baltimore we
should be glad to recur with less frequency to the
past. If we could hope that men will be permitted
without molestaton, to exercise the elective fran
chise-that the police will faithfully perform their
duty on election day, and abstain then and always
afterwards from intimate association with noto-
rious cuprits-that the revolver and the slung-shot
will be heard of in the future only at rare intervals
and that honest and decent men will be elevated
to the various positions about to become vacant in
our municipal government we would, while re-
Joicing at the return of law and order and peace
and good will among our citizens, endeavor to
dwell as little as duty might allow US, upon the
fearful lessons of the last few years. But we are
admoniShed of the vanity of such expectations by
the events transpiring day by day. Riots as dis
graceful-murders awful-and assaults as brutal
DIS luOSe WHICH NtTc Tue precursors OF tue last elec-
tion have lately crowded the columns of the press
The police are held in more contempt than ever,
as is evidenced by the increased resistance they
meet with in the discharge of their most ordinary
duties and lawessness has lost none of its ascend
ancy, as is proved by the number of abandoned
characters who have been nominated to conven-
tons and offices in our midst Sustained and en-
couraged as outlawry has been by the pertinacity
with which a portion of the press has defended or
palated its misdeeds it will rule and ride over
this city uncontrolled unless the growing indig-
nation and complaints of its people shall soon be
heard to some purpose. Every argument and il
lustration which could be invented for the purpose,
has been used to tone down facts and throw dis
credit on those who endeavor to awaken attention
to their existence. The press of other cities, we
are told, subordinates public honor and public
morals to the allabsorbng interests of the general
trade. Nay, The american further tells us that
when ''the Dead Rabbits and Bowery Boys were
'fghting one another behind barricades in the
public streets" the "New York papers were care
'ful 10 impress the distant public that these little
'matters, instead of driving away strangers only
rendered the city more attractive" and this
moral and honorable estimate of the duties of the
press is set up against those who have failed to follow
the same upright course. Ransackng every quarter
for proofs of good government with which to oppose
the differences that might be drawn from successive
ARRAYS and murders, it has learned from the pro-
prietor of our principal hotel' that in the long
period of twenty-five years. mot one of the
''scores of thousands of guests he had entertained
chad been robbed or matreated except by some
negligence of his own," or Through some inds-
tcretion which had led him into improper COM
''pany or dangerous places" Is it TWENTY-FIVE
months since the Western papers published that
BARNUMs omnibus had been fired into? 1t GER
tainly is not twelve months, to our own knowl-
edge, since an Eruption of desperadoes into ''our
principal hotel" startled the guests, of whom
two, at least, were threatened or insulted 1t is
the business of an efficient police to see that sdan-
'gerous places" do not exist in the heart of a
great city, and we have lately been favored with
an account Of the visit of townsman TO dis
reputable place in Lime street, Liverpool, which
the police of that locality took Gaze should not be
dangerous to the strangers who went there
Nor has the portion of the press of which we
speak, been less diigent TO seek excuses for those
who, in responsible offices, have glaringly violated
alike the decences and duties of their stations
Under the influence of passion it assaed the
Judge of the Criminal Court with the bitterest
epithes for wiful and disgraceful delinquencies,
and before the busy public has had time to decide
in regard TO the truth of charges so openly made,
| 1t learns that the Judge has only been guilty of
errors of impulse and of ''eccentrcities'!
Mr.. WHITNEY, as States Attorney, has shown a
| leniency to the ruffians whom he should have
pursued with conscientious and uncompromising
| perseverance, that in a community accustomed to
see the laws enforced with certainty and dignity.
would have rendered his denomination utterly i'm
| possible. Not only has he neglected to have men
indicted, or to bring them to trial after indictment
| found, but he has actually opened the jail doors
himself. He has ordered the release of men on
the most worthless BAIL and has used the fact TO
shield them from punishment, alleging that he
was first bound to try those who were suffer
ing confinement and that the short sessions of the
Court would not permit him 10 reach the cases OF
| those who were out on bail. The american itself.
but few days since, called on him to deny most
disparaging charge, and announced that if he
'AN1 W w So1 IL Ill TeCIl-
'tude of his purpose was forever gone" He has
been unable to clear himself of the stigma cast upon
him. But he is high in political influence and the
paper which ventured to attack him, now APP
proaches with a peace offering and fulsome COM
pliments and praises and mildly asks him to be
more active at the coming term. Let him do his
duty in the future, and all may be forgotten. We
ask whether honest public sentiment in the case of
such man, ought to close its eyes to his neglect
of duty and by silence assent to his reelection
Are we forever to continue to raise men to office
who, in the language of The American are mot fit
''to minister in Court ofJustce' or when there
is the duty of the press discharged when it exhorts
them to amendment and repentance? We believe
not. As long as judicial or executive officers are
responsible to the people, so long shall they be
called to account before them for ineffciency or
corruption. As long as any portion of the press
continues to advocate palliate wrong, or to in
culcate, day by day, principles at war with every
thing like integrity and TRUTH so long is it amen
able to the censure of its contemporaries and the
public. And when a journalist acts in accord
ance with these views, it is gross injustice to repre-
sent him as actuated by rivalry or jealousy, or
moved by patry desire for a newspaper con-
troversy
By the folowinp extract from, n he 19ner,c535, .