The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-09

majority govern. My vote is my birth-right as al
American citzen-it is that which makes me to dife
from Russian serf it is my dearest right my only pro
lection and saguard for by the of the people aon
IS the whole machinery of government in motion He
then who deprives Of my vote deprves me of that
Whch all my other rights are protected and secured
he who disfranchises whole community deprves then
alike of the power of self and sefproecon
And this for some years has been the condition of the
city of Baltimore.
reference to the political proceedings of the past few
weeks will illustrate what mean. An important elec
tion is coming on which will determine the character OF
city government for the next year Candidates were
to be nominated and it has been done But how was il
accomplished. Instead of an orderly assembly of peace
able citizens to select the best for important Offices
we have seen mastering al over the city of political
clubs, whose vile purposes best Indicated by the vile
names names winch they assume These were the active and
efficient instruments in the nominations. Plug Ug,es
Blood Tubs, Black Snakes and Tigers of the
names IN whlch these people rejoice and by which they
characterize themselves. The vilest reptiles and most
savage beasts in the Judgment these men of the club
from their most appropriate designations and test
blems Their clubs comprise the individuals who seek
control and often do control the primary meetings of the
people Their services be had by those who nav hib
est intrigue successfully and thew accom-
their work by fraud and violence, with knife and
pistol, the cowardy sung and iron knuckle They
have indeed come to be recognized element in the no
tcal canvas, and even honorable gentlemen are not
ashamed to seek for and accept nomination from such un
clean hands. do not mean to say that all the party
nominations before the people have secured by
these MEANS for would do injustice to no man but do
mean to that at ward meetings and at the political
conventions which have been recently held in this city
notorious leaders of these clubs whose names are ia
nlllar the annals OF the police have
nent and influential members If the stopped here
the evil could be borne with If the clubs were content
to bring forward their candidates with fraud and violence
ana then leave the people to vote for them asthey
thought proper it would matter but tle hut this is not
the The law of the clubs vote for our candidates
or not at all Their mode of proceeding exhibited
the elections of the last few years is very simple but
very efectual. The polls the day of e'ection
are surrounded by rude gang, holding in their hands
striped or marked tickets Those holding tickets diff
ferent description are intmidated or driven off No
challenge of striped ticket allowed however false or
fraudulent the vote If foreigner approaches the polls
it is taken for granted that he is opponent he
unceremonously knocked down driven of-that is a
matter of no consequence-he is only an Irishman or
Dutchman, and citizen not, has business
The government of the United States protects with its
whole power the rights of its naturazed citizens where
they may 60 in every part of the world even in the
land Of their BIRTH but the United States is wholly in.
capable of protecting those citizens from wrong and
outrage in the city of Baltimore If American of op
posing politics desire to vote, he fares it is true
little better than the foreigner He may be knocked
down. but perhaps nothing happens TO him than
be hustled and pulled stuck with avis from behind
Some, for the sake OF appearances, permitted to
vote without difficulty opposition If there is any
rious resistance it at overwhelmed by the
pistols of the clubs and then the result proclaimed as
great victory; it is indeed victory of wrong over the
right of rufianism law of deSposm over liberty
barbarsm over civilization The theory of our gov
ernment is universal suffrage and vote by ballot but in
practice it is aspgrowing to be government of unver-
sal suffering and vote by bullet Take significant
fact illustration For all the outrages and crimes
perpeated at the polls at the last election there
never been punishment inflicted, even prosecr-
IOn In yOnuer penltentlary prisoners
cerated land properly sol for slight crimes against pro
perty for thes to the amount of few dollars in value
perhaps committed under the pressure want and empa
ton, but for all this wholesale and hghhanded robbery
of the dearest rights of eemen-for all these
against the person election days-there has been no
punishment, or attempt to punish.
have dwelt the evils of our elections because they
lie at the foundation of political system. When
abuses tolerated there they permeae the whole body
potc as poison in the human veins crcuaes through
the whole system and we have found it sorrow
The general lawlessnes and want of order which char
acerize city need not dilae upon 1t is sufficient
to refer to what all are acquainted withnether
nor property is safe. Our government has wholly failed
to accomplish the ends for which all governments were
created.
The character of city suffers Wherever Baltimore
is spoken Of the story of its shame is told. Strangers
fear to stop in the place. and men of business avoid it
There is no doubt, eXaggeratOn in the which
go abroad and this is inevitable for rumor always en-
arges as it spreads Without doubt the trade of the city
has suffered to large extent and will suffer more un
less a speedy and efficient remedy is applied.
Now what is the remedy? that is the next question.
We are here not merely to depOre but to
dress them We know rights and we must be pre-
pared to maintain them refer to the past only for the
sake of thu future. The evil which has of late grown
into such monstrous proportions commenced long ago
long before the origin OF the present dominant
party No particular party set of men is entirely
blame; we are all to blame. Every decent man in the
community is in fault who entirely aside and lets
public affairs take OF themselves. We fail to do
duty when we let party considerations minge with that
with which party has nothing to do. What is it to
whether the constable councilman of my ward is Demo
crat Whig, or American, provided he is capable and
honest. We leave the whole business of politics and cleo
mons - mere parlzans and pothouse politicians and
then mplan put their own creatures and
tools into office The remedy is to be found in this
ment, and is expressed in the resolutions which have
been read. Good men will he nominated-the best that
can be ound-honestly and fairly, without distinction
party
Then they be elected? say yes if the people are
permitted to vote and that they and shall be Re
member that the disorganizerS and ru(ans few in
number the leaders perfectly well known familiar
the police as the police to each other With the spirit
now in this community, it is easy for the mayor of
the city to maintain order and fairness the approaching
elections as it is for him to maintain order in his
Office Will he do so? am confident that he will. His
character as man and officer at stake All the
guards and precautions which he has heretofore taken
have been utter faures-this knows as well as we do
With every disgrace heaped on city. large share
fallS on him. Something must be done. He knows that
and cannot fail to cooperate with the who compose
this meeting.
Let be understood that the proper measures will he
taken and firmly enforced, and that simple knowledge
will que all this outlawry the shades of night y
before the rays Of the morning The ruans of the
clubs will skuk into their holes corners and
honest men will have their rights again
Gentlemen, have seen worse mob than that of the
clubs queed by the uprising of The people in their
majesty In 1885, during the Bank of Maryland riots
ferocous mob in this square attacked the house of pro-
mnen citizen tore down the marble portco broke open
the doors and burnt the furniture in the streets with wells
and eXecraons Elsewhere the city similar outrags
were perpctrated The veryfoundaons society seemed
be upturned The government sent from Wash
ngton prevent the robbery the public money which
placed for safe keeping in the deposit banks public
meeting like this with no distinction of party was called
at the EXchaDge-merely a voluntary assemblage Old
Gen. Smith, man of S5 years of age sent for and
from that instant the mob quelled. Not hand was
raised and the very rufans who the side the
mob Immediately came over to the side of law and order
and were found in the ranks of the volunteers who
armed by thousands to maintain the peace of the city.
And the same result will follow now Let the Mayorap-
point capable and honest judges of election
the confidence of their fellow citizens Let strong special
police of be appointed for every ward armed
be, and prepared to their Let il be understood
that the police of the city to do their whole duty
polls, clearing them when necessary and aiding the
maj rho fba
lence to he arrested and imprisoned competent bail
is furnished false votes challenged ard rejected Then
citizens of Baltimore, the end will be accomplished the
reign of terror and the clubs will be 1t better men
are presented than those which this meeting shall
nate let them be elected But the people of the city will
be aided by men of their own choice the character of Bal
timore will be relieved from the disgrace which now op
presses it. and we shall have vindcated rig is
freemen and American citizens
The President then introduced JAS Hodges ESQ.,,
of the firm of Hodges Brothers, Hanover street.
Mr.. Hodges said:
Business and fello,c- citizens of Baltimore The
position which now occupy sought The highly
respectable Committee who acted prominently in get
ting up this meeting have thought it necessary that some
should represent the mercantile community on this
stand and he had been chosen Itwas his seeking
but believing the necessities of the times reoured that no
should fail to discharge any duty which the welfare
of the city demands, he present in response that
call
But year ago, great financial crisis swept
over the country 1t had visited Baltimore but proper
actonhad been taken and the financial interests Of the
city saved from ruin The merchants the better
for that crisis and to-day they are stronger and better
able to conduct business than they before event
But another crisis had upon the city 1t was fear
and CONSERVATION caused by outrage and violence
crisis which required the energies ofa good men,
and which must be met by wise and efficient measures
The resolutions which have just been read if faithfully
and earnestly carried out would remedy the evils under
which the city is suffering If you carry out those
resolves, relief would He would ask
the people hear the sufIeripgs which they have
heretofore borne, much longer. [Cries of mo- no II
Can they continue to submit to such outrages have
been committed. [Noi Noll He said Mo- also and the
great which before him assurance that men
intend at every hazard to exercise their inaienabe
rights The the existence of the outrageS was
they had originated it now the Pandora box from
which issue all evils. 1t the system nominating
and electing men to Office which produced the violence
and outrage. A false nomination not only makes the
person nominated party to the fraud but binds him by
interest to the parties who rerperaed ourages by
which he secures power Men were found to counenance
and connve at the acts the rowdy element the city, 1t
asmmateria how great outlaw rowdy man might
be, he found countenance from from whom different
action was expected by the community These coun-
tenanced and favored them TO use them. And so
long this state of affairs existed so long as roydes
sustained and used Just long might the people
Baltimore expect to be outraged and injured Outiawry
the legitimate fpt of such action was useless
10 expect anything else. And if this grand and glorious
movement which they inaugurating to-day did not
succeed the abuses which have been suffered will be as
nothing compared to those which will ollowthcy will
become hydra headed But if it succeeds new era will
commence in the city. Men will be placed in office who
will be above corruption and beyond the power design
ing men. Men whose character and ability will enable
them to discharge their duties honestly and fearlessly
but who will not accept of place under the present order
of things Another great benefit which this movement
will accomplish it will destroy the dangerous prncple of
rotation in Office which is daily creeping into tile admins
traton of municipal affairs 1t will also give confidence
to and sustain those in office. He meant the police off
who willing to do their duty 1t would give
them strength and insure the faithful discharge of their
duty. And now, feowcitizens, you have nothing to