The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-10

Two years ago a number of citizens, writing
under despotsm such as has seldom set its foot
upon the neck of civilized people, associated
themselves together, without distinction of party
for the purpose of emancipating themselves and
the community from the yoke Of that intoerable
bondage. They faced, at a moment when it was
dangerous to do so, the armed ruflians of the
AFFILIATED clubs, and looking beyond the mere
necessities of the occasion which called them TO
action, they pledged themselves TO each other to
unite lin guaranteeing the purity of the ballot
box ana the freedom of access thereto, and in
promoting and securing the election of competent
honest and faithful men without distinction of
'party, TO the various Offices of municipal, Judi
"cial and executive trust in Baltimore" Neither
dishearened by the apathy of those who, admit
ting the magnitude of the evils that encompassed
us, still did nothing 10 avert them nor dismayed
by the treachery of the municipal authorities or
the hostility of the outlaws with whom the latter
were IN league, the reormers struggled manfully
forward in the path of duty. SANDERS assailed
them from every quarter; threats of the most
Infamous and unequivocal character were hurled
at them through the press and from the hastings,
and murderous weapons were brandished in their
faces by hired cut-throa is they sought peaceful
access to the polls. If ever on earth people
was justified in rising in rebellion against the
powers that be, we assert, with full conscious
ness of the serious import of the words we USE
that the citizens of Baltimore would have been
free from blame, if they had year ago arrayed
themselves in open instruction against the author
tiles who then sat in the City Hall, and turned
loose against them them the banded bulles of the
town. But, with the Reformers, patience and pat
riotism went hand in hand. IF they sought re-
dress for their own grievances, they had less at
heart the welfare of Baltimore. Her prosperity
and good name were, above all things, dear to
them, and, goaded they were by the innumera-
BILE wrongs inflicted on them, they preferred to
bear these, while there was still hope of redeem
ing the city from msrule through the instrument
tality of the constitution and the laws They had
no desire TO see blood flow in our streets, even
though it should be shed in resistance TO oppres-
sion, Acknowledgement and disgrace. They, there
FORE labored steadily to attain their ends through
means as peaceful as they were fair and honorable
They satisfied, by indispuable evidence their fell
low-citizens and the people of the State that
anarchy had usurped the place of order in
Baltimore. They demonstrated the legality Of
their objects, and convinced men of the purity Of
their motives. After an arduous struggle they
have almost succeeded in securing the results they
originally aimed at. The half of their appointed
task is done. Their guarantee that ssthe purity Of
'the baot-box and the freedom of access thereof
should be vindicated and restored, Is to-day re.
deemed. The other part of that honorable pledge
they ask the people now to help them to fulfill.
They challenge all classes creeds and parties to look
mon their work thus far, and say whether it is
good. They ask candid men everywhere to compare
the past with the present condition of Baltimore,
fast year the coops were full, the armories were
stocked, the ballot-boxes were stuffed, our rights
were trodden under foot, and constitutional gov
eminent existed in name only. Now we have
adequate protection for person and property, oul
privileges are respected, and peace and order ar