The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-02

Those who have read the proceedings of the last
ten days in the City Council, must have been
tempted to inquire whether, under all crcumstan-
ces, in "a multitude of councillors there is safety
We presume there are few men who would not dur
ing the period referred to, have more willingly ex-
posed themselves to the chances ofan assault in any
bar-room where drunken rowdies most do congre-
gate than have taken part in the deliberations of
the enlightened body which supposed to represent
US. What Mr.. BEALE pronounced "a lie'-whom
Mr. WooD called "a liar'' and scowardly assas-
'sin' and what member Mr.. JENKINS asserted to
be ''deeply dyed in dishonesty" we do not pro-
pose to specify. How many times the words false
hood" " cowardice," and ''scoundrel :" were
banded to and fro we will not for decency's sake
enumerate. The public has read the report in the
local columns of the daily press, and the characters
which some of these gentlemen proclaim to be so
dear to them and TO their families, will not, we
fancy, shine the brighter for the colors in which
they are portrayed in these imperishable records.
IF they do not appear in these proceedings in a
very estimabe point ofview, as regards their man.
ners, neither has their conduct tended to remove
from the minds of the people the belief that they
are 10 CeIsuTe gTtlVer ana more serious
grounds. 1t is not by frantic outbursts of pas
sion, nor fierce recriminaton, nor turgid declama-
ton, that those who are suspected of corrupt and
dishonest acts can establish their innocence They
may vehemently claim to be immaculate, and stand
forth in the whitest raiment and Indignantly refuse
to be questioned further. but if men think the
leprous faint is on them, they must consent
to ordeal that shall remove all doubt, or submit
to be Stunned forever. The report of the Com
mittee appointed to investigate certain matters
growing out of the City Passenger Railway grant,
intimates that fraud and corruption attended the
ordinance fin its ncipiency and progress through
''the Councils" The journal of that Committee
is said to show more clearly the nature of the
fraud practised and to implicate several members
of the City Council. That they have been bribed
Is more than insnuated by those taking part in
the debates, and it is needless 10 say that the con-
viction of the truth of the allegation is fast taking
hold of the community. Notwithstanding this, a
persistent and determined effort has been made to
prevent the publication of the report and accom-
panying journal. After they were ordered to be
printed, those who opposed, Or perhaps, dreaded
their effect, strenuousy endeavored to have the
order reconsidered and the report re-committed.
Failing in this, they finally forced to consent
to the reading of the Objectionable document in the
Council chamber. On Wednesday and Thursday
evenings it was accordingly read by the Clerk, and
heviolent and disgraceful scenes to which the sub
ject gave rise lastweek again repeated. We do
not now propose to weigh the evidence which has
been ELECTED, nor to state the grounds for be-
lief in the guilt innocence of any member. There
is time enough for that. IF any man has betrayed
his trust, or unworthily used his position to fur
Their his own base and dishonorable purposes,
though he may procrastinate the in vestigation or
delay the final Judgment, he cannot escape the in
delible stigma with which the public will Milf
mately brand him. Nothing can prevent the com.
munity from both forming and expressing its
opinion about those connected in any way with
the passage of the Railway ordinance and nothing
can, by any possibility, render such opinion
other than damaging to the parties, but frank and
honest answers by them to the heterogeneous pro-
pounded, and Submission to the full and free ex-
position which the people unanimously demand.