The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-09-24

repressed everywhere to the full extent of the
legal means at the disposal of the authorities;
and those legal means have been increased to
the full extent allowed by the democ, attic
constitution, since the Americans came into
power: and the lawess are less tolerated
more punished. and better repressed tn an
ever before; and this the police records and
the records of the Criminal Court will prove.
Are the elections less free or more control.
led by violence than heretofore or than else.
where! l maintain that they are not: and
the Legislature OF Maryland, at its last scs-
sion, by great majorties in both branches.
condemned as libel on this city the exaggera.
ted misrepresentat tons of the events of the
last State election, contained in Governor
Ligon's message!
The House ofReprcsentatves, with 20 dem.
ocratic majority, having all the evidence
before them, refused even to debate the claim
of MIR. Whyte to MIR. Harris's seat contested
on the sworn pretexts now invoked to sane
ton this movement.
Nay, the people Of Baltimore themselves
condemned it by their refusal to obey the
orders of Gov. Lyon, when he in vain at.
tempted to array six thousand men in arms
Ito redress grievances of which the victims
Were ignorant.
The Democrats had been accustomed to
control the polls by violence in great meas
ure: they failed to do so in 1854 and again
In 1855. and in 1856 and were beaten.
In 1857, the present firm police force was
organized, and they were assailed in arms bv
the Democrats In the fall of that year, but they
were routed. and that was the last open fight
in Baltimore. Nothing has occurred since
but individual collisions, followed by imme-
date arrest, and either punished or dischar-
ged, according as our democratic Constitution
provided.
The volunteer fire organization led to con.
tinnal collisions of armed men in the streets
the houses were frequently arsenals for
Democratic DULLES. They have all been sub.
stituted by the paid fire department-an
American measure and those scenes Of vio-
lence have ceased from among us.
The last two elections have passed offwith-
out single death or dangerous wounding {;
marked by prevailing quiet, subject to GER
tam local exceptions and the crowding inscp.
arabic from elections in our large cities
Frauds have doubtless been Communicates
heretofore; but not confined to one side nor
is there any reason to suppose that the gene.
raj result has been in any election changed
by them. 1t is shameful that they should
exist at all; but the democrats carefully ex-
cluded from the constitution every adequate
guarantee against them, and within its pro.
visions fear there is no possible mode of
redress.
The American party in the last Legislature
prepared and passed bill to take the sense
of the people, touching its alteration the
democrats there opposed the bill generally
on the vote Baltimore was for the revision :;
the country was against it and the demo-
Gratis generally were hostile to the change
Are we responsible for the defects Of the
existing laws and consttution-whch we
cannot change.
Why under these circumstances are we
assailed. and that by men heretofore our
friends?
IL is because certain newspapers calling
themselves neutral or Independent. but inspi.
red by an insane hatred ofthe American party,
and especially of the gentleman now Mayor,
have pursued the policy Of gross and perpet.
ual exaggeration of every illegal act or deadly
assault-not unfrequently inventlng the as-
gravating circumstances and always infam-
ing the public mind by bitter and insulting
comments, and the representation of the city
as unsafe for strangers. with the view of
frightening the mercantile class, 10y the fear
Of the loss Of business, into just the trap
into which they have now walked
The act OF our own merchants has struck
the most dangerous blow ever aimed at their
own prosperity
We trust they viii be wise before it is too
latc-and stop now.
We have hitherto reformed what was evil
to the extent Of our ability: why not trust
US further?
Have some bad nominations been made g.
There have been more good ones. Some bad
men who surreptitiously got nominations
have been discarded.
Are rowdies masters OF the American party?
Then, who nominated the present candidates
for Sheriff, or Judges of the Orphans Court
or Clerk or are they bad men?
Let us. then, hope tnat their erring breth-
rem W ill rctrace their steps, and give us the
aid of their conservative strength In our good
work.
If they remain where they are. that will
not arrest our progress. The great mass Of
the mercantile and mechanical classes are
with us-they are orr very body-and before
them the opposing array, democrats and all,
will inevitably 60 down.
Maryland is with the Opposition. and no
combination can delude or overawe her.