The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-02

The descent of the police upon n notorious
gambling house on Friday night affords an addi-
tional proof of the energy and impartiality with
which the Marshal and his officers have deter
mined to enforce the laws. Summary as the pro-
ceedings were, the code not only Jusnnes .nein'
but renders it absolutely incumbent on Tue on'e.''
TO take similar steps in all cases OF lhe sol' in
e6th section of Art. 80 of the new coue OF ruoiic
lave reads as follows: "All constabes and police
.otcer, are required TO visd all places where they
tsbal hare reason 10 suspect gaming tables are kept
s'and TO have all persons prosecuted offending
"aeanst the laws prohibiting gambling" The
words we have italicsed set forth so clearly the
duty of The police authorities OF the city, that
there can be no dispute about the mannerin which
they are bound TO perform it and as they have
DELAYED their vistatons thus long, and have been
engaged in the meantime in procuring information
about the various gambling houses In the CITY,
they will doubtless be able to show, if their acllon
should be questioned in this or similar instances,
that they had good treason TO suspect gaming
tttables' were kept upon the premises visited.
There are. we are aware, some foolish individuals
who think that the police may execute the laws
or overlook their infracion at their discretion;
and there is still another class of persons equally
wise, who habitually speak of the stringent en-
forcement of certain statutes and ordinances as
being impoitic on the part of the Commissioners
and Marshal. If such people were capable of re
Fiction it would'be unnecessary 10 point out the
absurdity of these notions. 1t is not pretended,
of course, that laws may not be unwise, vexatious
and even hnrtful and it is for the especial purpose
of rectiying grievances of this nature that Legis-
latures, local or general, are so frequently con-
vened. In the case in point, some may doubt
whether the provisions of the new code for the
suppression of gambling houses will not be pro-
ductive of much evil good Seeing that the
entire suppression of gaming is scarcely to he
hoped for, it may be contended some, that it
were better that those who will at all hazards
indulge in this propensity, should not be COM
PEELED to seek their opportunities in haunts more
secret and secure where the keepers of farotables
will find shelter, and where their ingenuity will
enable them to devise the means of pursuing their
demoralizing employment, and of concentrating
more surely, without fear of interruption or OBJ
servation, the ruin of their victims. These con-
siderations involve one of those problems con-
corning the regulation of society which may not
vet have been satisfactorily solved. But what
ever differences may exist about the policy or
efficacy of the law itself there can be none among
intelligent people about the duty of the police in
regard to its enforcement. The Marshal and his
officers deserve and will Individually receive the
thanks of every citizen, for the straightforward
manner in which they have carried out, not only
on this but all other occasions, the provisions of
the statute book, and they will asslredly be sus-
tanned by the community in any and every proper
effort to compel all men to adhere strictly and
literally to the enactments of the Legislature and
City Council. If these are onerous to the people,
or are unjust in their operation, in individual
cases it is the fault of the legislators who made
them, or perhaps of those who chose the leg
slators. 1t would therefore, be far more
becoming as well as more sensible, if they who
have complaints TO make would more carefully
consider who are responsible for the existence of
oppressive ordinances instead of endeavoring to
excite odium against the police whenever, in
obedience to the mandates of our local legislature
they remove boxes from the sidewalks or pre-
vent old women from cooking in the market
houses