The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-02

gains and losses and compare its results with
those of the preceding twelvemonth. Such con-
sideration as it becomes the thrifty merchant to
give TO his business, it is incumbent the citizen
to devote to the concerns of the State. How in
tmately the public veal and private prosperity
connected, we need not pause to inquire, for
every man recognizes the fact that long continued
misgovernment inevitably brings about the ruin of
trade and the decentralization of the people In
country like ours, where the citizens are response
BILE for the condition of their political affairs it is
eminently proper for them to balance from time
time the relative advantages and defects of
their institutions. We do otnow propose to start
the question to whether our theory of represen-
tative government has overshot the mark and
missed some of the practical ends it aimed at, or
is only progressing towards grander and more
perfect development, but simply TO ask how far we,
of Baltimore, have profited politically since the
advent of the past year. AT that time it was very
generally admitted that vast proportion of the
people had been Observation-Disclosures the municipal
authorities had been shamefully derect-that the
majority of the magistrates incompetent or
rupt, and that the Criminal Court was useless and
disgracefu tribunal The columns of the press will
show that for months anterior to the date we speak
of numberless crimes had been openly perpetrated,
and notorious outlaws had the freedom of our streets
Bnt trade somehow kept alive, and men heard,
with apparent Indifference of the wrongs that had
Only touched their neighbors. As month after
month went by, outrage after outrage gave addi-
tional force TO the protestations of those whose
voices had been lifted in behalf of Justice and the
nounced the "deplorable condition" of the city.
But what are the results? A few men, not more
guilty than many who yet walk among and
threaten us, were hanged though no one can say
this community has been the safer for that futile
sacrifice. Murder has done its work as delber-
atey as before; elections such as never disgraced
Mexico have since been held; lawlessness has ac-
quired more assured impunity for its deeds; the
authorities have more iagrantly condemned even a
show of duty, and have more UNANIMOUSLY
exposed their completely with the vilest and worst
of rufians and the Court which should have pun
ished the wrongdoers, has taken no notice of in
dictments that Wondering in its archives and
Drawing whatever of decent opinion has ventured
to express ITSELF has found lower and still lower
levels into which to sink. The selfsame officials
who held Office year ago, are yet in power, and
the same outlaws who committed atrocities then,
perpetrate them now. They have all become
doubly dishonored and doubly dangerous within
that period, and public sentiment, which is al
most unanimous in its condemnation of them, has
still some scruples about avowing it too plainly
Disguise it as we may, the facts are ndisputable,
that trade has been affected, and that property in
nf tba eli hoe
ated, for the instances are within our own knowI-
edge that go to prove it. Worse than all, many
men are afraid to speak the truth or to prefer their
complaints, so little confidence have they in the
protection the laws promise them, and whole
people almost despairs of the redress it is entitled
to demand and have. How far we have ad-
vanced towards the happiness which liberal
institutions were established to promote, or
have improved the condition of our affairs
within twelvemonth, we leave our read
ers to determine. To them, however, it is per-
missable for us, on this occasion, to say word
personal to ourselves. We would briefly glance
at our own position which has been so necessarily
misrepresentcd. The views we put forth to-day
are but those we insisted on last January, amid
III" rawlings nf many aAuA"o"~io0. II"~irs
fully and frequently reflected on them, we are
satisfied that we have not erred in earnestly
advocating them. We believe we have neither
exaggerated the evils surrounding us, nor done
one jot of injustice to any public functonary, even
when we have spoken most harshy and we have
therefore no retractions TO make, and, on this
score nothing TO regret. We will not concede
the struggle for reform in Baltimore TO be in any
sense party issue. A purer administration of the
municipal government, and more vigorous en-
forcement of the laws absolutely necessary, in
our Judgment, to save US from impending anarchy
Towards these objects, then, efforts shall be
independently directed in the future, and with the
same singleness of purpose that has guided US in
the past. Ii we need anything more than our own
convictions of right to satisfy us with the line of
conduct we have heretofore pursued, we should find
our justification in the present state of the public
mind. 1t is evident TO the most casual observer
that the opinions of thousands Of our citizens have
undergone thorough change, and many of those
who most bitterly and constantly assaed our
motives and conclusions, have been latterly
re-iterating statements in broad and explicit
language. If after this, we could have any doubts
about the propriety of course, the encourage
ment and support we have received would dissi-
pate them Our thanks are due to those who have
cordially approved it, and we here tender them,
with the hope that the close of the current year
may call for a renewal of these Acknowledgements,
and find us in the possession of the reward
we value most-the regard of honorable men.