The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-01

familiarity with crime, more formidable now than
overland that the present corrupt and inefi-
Gent justices or councilmen may be superseded by
others who are more disreputabe still. Is it any
wonder that they who toll and are taxed, who
bear the burthens which the laws impose, and live
without the security they promise, should grow
impatient of long accumulated wrongs2 Are the
evils we have enumerated embodied in the princi-
pies or practices of any party? Does any party so
fear and oppose full and untrammelled express
sion of the popular will, that it will countenance
the intimidation thus resorted to- to repress
movement which looks to nothing more?
The partisan press, until within few weeks past,
has pertinaciously denied facts which our whole
population now unanimously admit 1t now gra-
ciously offers to concede to a subject city that
which it no longer can withhold. We are the
''masters of the paid bulies," it tells us, and it
volunteers to hold them in its leash, provided the
community will only hold its peace; but there is
no installing the intmation that the blood-hounds
may be loosed again in behalf of those who own.
hem if people dare to boast of, or assert its in
dependence. 1t says:
The American party to govern the city the
worst citizens"
Does it then intend ITO govern the city,
whether the ballot-box may respond in its favoror
no. and by any means, whether fair or foul =?
What, we ask again, does all this mean? We have
believed Town-Meetings to be legal-the privilege
of voting to be indisputable- right of sef-de-
encet be the astand hottest duty Save in the col
nmns of the party press, we have heard no propo-
sition preached for f'Vigilance Committees" or
organized usurpations." Urged by an honest
| desire to restore to our municipal government
something of its former purity and usefulness, and
prompted to set an example of good citizenship by
taking part in the labor and responsibility of ee-
waiting respectable and independent men to office,
a large number of citizens, whose interests are
wholly bound up with those of our city, have as
ISOLATED themselves together for this honorable pur-
pose. They invite the cooperation of decent and
law-abidng men, of all parties, and of all con-
ditons and vacations. They wish not only to
nominate their candidates. but having seen that in
the present state of things the police have scarcely
been able to preserve order at primary meetings
and conventions, they wish to consult how they
may best be enabled fairly to exercise the rights
which they inherit from their fathers. Who are
the men that question them so rudely and threaten
them so boldly? How long have they dwelt upon
the soil of Maryland that they dare to hold such lam
guage to her children? Where did they learn the
despotic creed that permits them to dictate so
nsolenty to those who are not less free than they
We confess we are at loss to know what can
prompt or justify this tone and temper towards
men on whom the ballot-box has long been closed:
who have been overiden by DULLES; who
have been deserted by those who hold authority
and direct the administration of justice and the
laws; but who never, in their darkest hour have
relinqushed their prerogatives or ceased to re-
member that good government is one of their Gin
| I!alienable rights