The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-13
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1859

If the Legislature undertakes, as we presume 1t
WILL to pass such laws as may be necessary to in
sure the integrity and efficiency of the police de-
partment in Baltimore it must adopt at least two
features of the New York system. Unless
the appointments are made, in some measure, per-
manent, and the control of the force Is given
to those who can gain neither place nor proht by
ahus;rq the mowers entrusted to them, the time
snont in Ieois1atinp on this subject will be hope
,ass,v wasted. There will, of course, be much
discussion about the rights of the corporation and
the privileges of the people, though the authority
If the Legislature is so clear that it will scarcely
permit itself to be led in pursuit Of mere abstrac
tons away from the palpable fact with which it is
its duty to deal. The citizens of Baltimore want
security for their lives, property and franchises
They have not only failed to receive it from those
who can and should guarantee it to them, but
they have suffered the additional humiliation of
seeing the body which they enrolled and paid to
defend them, used as the instrument of their OPP
preston. They are entitled to good government,
and if, by a radical change in the police organza-
ton, they cannot procure it, they must needs look
to radical change in the institutions of the city
or the State. They desire first to try the simpler
remedy. Experience has shown us the worthless
ness of a police corps whose members hold but
temporary commissions. The struggle of four or
five hundred applicants, at the incoming of every
administration, to obtain or keep them, democrat
ICES the men, and elfectualIy prevents the intro
duction among them of a uniform and thorough
discipline The places which they owe solely to
partisan recommendations they may lose the mo-
ment they are suspected of being lukewarm in
their party's cause. Dependent for a precarious
livelihood upon the caprice of the MAYOR, it fol-
lows that when be becomes INSCRIPTIONS they will
not hesitate to secure his favor by promoting the
success of his schemes Having everything to
gain from his good will, and knowing, as they do,
that the responsibility for their neglect of duty,
their positive Offences rests with him and his ad-
visers, only few of the frmest and most upright
officers will venture to contravene his known wishes.
Where the superiorS court or accept the aid
of scoundresm, it is not to be hoped that the
subordinates will refuse to abet violence and
Yillainy. But it is only half way measure to
appoint policemen for term Of years, and still
leave them, in all other respects, TO the direction
of any one man like those who now rule us. Mr..
of public rights and popular opinion MAYOR is
capable in these days, and since his health
so fortunately for him, is said to have
failed him, we have had glimpses of the
deeper degradation to which his probable success
sors would descend. With all the newly invented
machinery for packing primary meetings and con-
trolling conventions in the hands ofpoticians with
whom decent and industrious citizens cannot and
will not enter into competition, we may reasonably
expect, until some fundamental change is made in
our municipal system that our affairs will fall into
worse hands than heretofore-if that be possible
In all the densey populated portions of our coun-
try, the class of dSorderly vicious, idle and igno-
rant people is gathering strength as it increases in
numbers. Preferring the turbulent excitement of
politics to the steady pursuit of toilsome avoca-
tons, and desiring rather the bread which may
be cheaply furnished by the common treasury,
than that which the sweat of their own brows can
bring them, they care little about the competency
or integrity of the demagogues in whose behalf
they labor. Claiming to exercise as much influence
as those who lead more honorable and useful lives.
and restrained by none of the considerations which
prevent the latter from resorting to fraud or force
10 alJaln tnelr OOecSj the power OF tlS class is tar
beyond its apparent political strength. He only
who panders to its passions is apt to receive its
support. The demagogues, TO whom the access to
office is made SO easy, not fit TO be entrusted
with the authority which is now concentrated in
the person of the MAYOR. He may perfect his
reacherous plans without danger of detection, and
direct without fear Of exposure the nrigues set on
foot for his own advantage But where he must
take counsel with other officers about the mea-
sures TO be adopted for the preservation of the
peace or the prevention of anticipated wrongs, he
will scarcely have the hardihood to propose to his
colleagues the miserable subteruges to which, fleft
to himself, he would resort to accomplish his ends.
1t is the Municipal Government which has wrong
ed and almost ruined us, and with it the work of
reformation should begin. A permanent police
force would have every inducement to consider the
discharge of its duty the only matter about which
it need concern itself, and when its operations
shall be directed by the joint action of several off
Gals, the public will feel that they are at least
check upon each other, and that it is not being
used as the tool of one mans hate or ambition.