The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-11

We published yesterday some extracts from the
evidence collected by the gentlemen who are con-
testing before the Legislature the validity of the
last election. As we have stated, the testimony
was taken in legal form before Magistrate, and the
witnesses were duly sworn and also cross-examined
by the Attorneys of the sitting members, who now
profess to represent this city at Annapolis. Al
though in the short period of two months inter-
vening between the election and the meeting of
the Legislature, it was impossible to prepare for
that body anything more than a meagre statement
of the outrages that were as widespread as the
city's limits, and which affected such multitude
of individuals, facts enough have been proven to
satisfy every impartial mind of the "deplorable
Condition of affairs here, and more than
enough has been developed to disgrace
rs. Not one-tenth of the shameful occur
rences Of the last election day have been in
vestigated but we commend to the earnest atten-
ton Of our readers the details that are now pub
lshed. Let them read these with such calmness
as shame and honest indignation will permit, and
consider the pregnant questions they suggest
Has this community attained the ends for which
governments instituted among men, and
''unalienable rights of 'liherty and the pursuit
'of happiness? Has it reached an era of civiliza-
on established the reign of law, and demonstrated
its capacity for selfgovernment? Let the burning
pages before make answer so these questions
Does any one suppose that scores of inoffensive
citizens could seized in the streets of ST. Peters,
burg by rufians, thrust into loathsome dens, kept
for days from any communication with their
families and friends, and afterwards turned
loose to seek their homes with the knowledge
that it would be worse than useless TO COM
plain of the robberies and beatngs to which
they had been subjected? Will any one venture
the assertion that lawless gangs in Paris, save in
the widest hour of revolution, could compel the
unwilling victims, whom they had dragged from
the very doors of the station houses, to violate in
open day, and in the presence of a hundred by
ISLANDERS, the fundamental laws of the Empire
Still we shout over constitutional freedom,
and grow hoarse in denunciations of such despots
as the French Emperor and the Auocrat of the Rus
sias, and full of commseration for the hapless
people who live under the anti-reformng admin
istration of the Pope. But Judge dispenses JUS
tice here who would not be tolerated in Rome-a
public prosecutor ignores indictments with an i'm
punity that prime minister would not hope for
in France-and powerful police force and His
Honor the Mayor, surrender this city to outlaws,
when it suits their purposes, with an effrontery
that would rouse the very serfdom of Russia. II
is time for serious thought and plain speaking.
Who Yields most political power, and has most
freedom of action, and feels most assurance OF
safety under our municipal regime-the knave and
the bully or the honorable and upright citizen =?
If the latter is al disadvantage should not duty
and patriotism prompt him to set right the une-
quail balance? We are dreaming Of no Utopia,
nor can we even hope for the day when crime and
vice shall cease to have their share of influence in
all societies. But we do insist that these ought
not for single hour to be the preponderating ele-
ments, and that we are entitled to have govern
ment strong and honest enough to hold them in
subsection, and this does not exist in Baltimore as
the developments of the last few years have indu-
bitably established