The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-17


Letters to be addressed "ro Tug DAILY EXCHANGE
Baltimore, MARYLAND "
Under the general head of 'blessngs, which
''bountifuI Providence has permitted us to enjoy,
''and which at no former period have been more
''narked or encouraging we suppose Mr.
SWAMI means to include his own restoration to
health and usefnlness-the complete protection
afforded 10 persons and property everywhere
throughout the city, during the past year and the
opportunity vouchsafed for the free and unre-
stricted exercise Of the right of suffrage at the
November Election. We say, we presume that
by the comprehensive and appropriate language
have quoted, Mr.. SWAMI must be understood
to refer to these subjects of gratulation-for,
otherwise, we shall be at loss to find any allu-
sion TO them in his Message. Albeit, his own
claims to the admiration of posterity and the
sympathy and gratitude Of this communicable
efficiency of his police and the general peace
and good order of this city, Compared with
''oher large towns on the Atlantic sea-board,n
have heretofore been the staple and the burden of
Mr.. SwANN's annual communications to the pub
lie, the present one passes by, absolutely without
notice, each and all of these topics. Whether it
is, that having exhausted the vocabulary of self
praise, nothing remains TO be said; or, that hay
ing silenced all cavaliers, nothing more needs to
be said-we cannot say. Whatever the explana-
ton may be- the fact is as we have stated.
The Message constitutes a pamphlet of twenty
six pages. On the twenty-thrd page-right-
hand side-near the bottom-we find the only
reference it contains to the state of our municipal
Police. 1t occurs incidentally, rather-apropos
of "the reforms in our municipal government,
(Which have been, of late, so loudly called for by
"a large class of our citizens ''In connection
with these" says His Honor, ''it is no more
ethan just to myself that should refer to a COM
''munication made by me to your honorable body
''as far back as the 18th of November, 1883"
What would he ono more than" strict "iuStice" to
Mr.. SWAMI, we do not at this present writing,
propose to consider. The portion of his last year
Message, which he quotes, is that in which he la
bored to show the causes (Which have heretofore
disturbed the successful working of our munich
pal system" These were-and arc-according
to His Honor, 'the presence of low drinking
''houses" over which ''the city authorities have
''no adequat" control 1.-THE carrying of con-
''cealed weapons, which, in the absence of law,
''has become a habit with men of all parties''-
and ''the defective organization of our criminal
System in the prompt application of suitable
punishment in cases of arrest, coupled
'with the total absence of power in the ex-
'ecntve arm 10 deal with notorious disturbers
''of the public peace" 'The chief and leading
defect however" continues His Honor, ''under
(Which we labor, is the utter inefiiciency of our
terminal system, and the absence of all power in
"the Mayor to supply the omissions which both the
CONSTITUTION and the laws have failed to meet"
This the reader will find in the Message printed
in italics and capitals, which sufficiently serve to
mark the several degrees of admiration with which
His Honor regards these evidences of his own past
wisdom. lis gratifying 10 learn that these being his
sentiments it will afford Mr. SWAMI PLEASURE at all
'tmes TO give his support to any judicious measure
measure of reform calculated to punish crime and
'1awlessness, and that the Mayor of Baltimore
cordially endorses the recommendation 70 the
Legislature contained in the message of the Gov
ernor of the State. 1t is even more consoatory
however, to know that wear not dependent upon
the pleasure" of Mr.. SWAMI, for the necessary
relief which we hope to obtain, from the evils
that the remedy likely to be applied by the Legis-
lature will consist not in adding, as he proposes,
to the power of the Mayor, but in taking away
from him portion of that which he now possess
es, and which Mr.. SWAMI has so grossly abused.
Neither the 'presence Of low drinking houses"
nor the carrying concealed weapons ;" affords
any explanation, directly remotely, of the whole
sale dsfranchsement ofvoters the day of the last
election-of the expulsion of the negro caullers
from the ship-yards-or of the habitua, systemat-
ic and almost universal abdication by the police,
of their authority and duties. The only other
remedy suggested by Mr. SWAMI for existing
evils, namely, grant of additional power to ''the
Executive arm to deal with notorious disturbers
"of the public peace" is utterly in conflict with
the spirit Of our Institutions and indeed, of every
free government, which imperativey demands the
separation of The Judicial and Executive funrtious
To unite the two in one person-tile power to con-
Wet and punish, with the power to arrest
would be to place the liberty of every
citizen at the disposal of the Mayor. 1t
would only require the addition oflegslative powers
to constitute despotism as perfect in theory, as
it would he apt to prove formidable and
OpPNN-~A'N
Mr.. SWAMI to attempt to throw upon the "Consti-
tuition" or 'the laws" the blame of short
comings Which are exclusively his own. 1t is idle
for him to seek by such apologies to coverup the
enormity OF ouirages, which he has not even the
manliness and the courage to name Through the
entire length of the Message we look in vain for
one syllable Of alusion however slight or remote,
TO the unparalleled crime of which this community
was The victim on Eection-Dav. JOHN BRowN-
Street Rallways-the Fire Department. Nc
DoNoGH Beqaest-a new City Ha-the Swami
Lake-the House of Refuge-the new Jail-,he
Almshouse-the Marine Hospital, and the Back
Basin are each severally alluded to, and made the
subject of comment more or less extended With
the exception of the vague and ptiful generalities
we have quoted, and which, themselves, are a
quotation from former messages" Of His Honor,
we have not one word in reference to those things
about which this community is most exercised and
interested. JOHN BROwN's foray into Virginia is
characterized as can invasion of the homes and
'hresdes of people united TO us by ties of social
'and commercial brotherhood, by Il band of ruff
''fans" The invasion of many ''homes and fire.
''sdes" in this city and of the civil and political
rights of thousands of citizens, by ''bands of
''rnffians,' thonsand-fold more desperate and
abandoned than those whom BRowN led to slaugh-
ter and IA scattold in Yirgnia-is nowhere referred
to. Mr.. SWAIN turns his back upon this people,
as people are beginning to turn their backs upon
him. Unable to face the consequences of his own
misconduct, he prefers to he silent about the occa
sions on which the hollowness of his profession,
aud the worthlessness of his pledges were most
couclusively aud effectualy tested
The death of DR.. Rich II. Thomas which was
announced yesterday, will be cause of deep and
lasting regret to his warm and humorous friends
elsewhere, as well as in this city. He was ma
tive OF Anne Arundel county, and came to Balti-
more about the year 1928, from which time until