The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-19
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1861

with brief abstract of the lengthy report of the
Joint Committee on Police and Jail, presented, the
day before in the First Branch Of the City Coun
Gill; BIZ Mr.. PHELPS The entire report appeared
in the Sun of Saturday, occupying nearly the
whole first page of that journal. The pressure
upon our own columns has prevented us from
sooner giving TO the subject the attention which it
invites.
If there was any one especial thing with which
this community could be regarded as wholly and
perfectly satisfied, we had supposed that thing to
be the existing police system. If there was any
legislation, which all conservative and right
minded people among US would rebel against tin
kering, we had believed that the police and cleo
ton laws of the last General Assembly constiu-
ted, emphatically, that legislation. Whatever
doubts might have existed or been gotten up in
regard to their constitutonality, had been dissi-
pated by the unanimous Judgment of the proper
tribunals Whatever questions had been raised
in regard TO their efficiency, as working system,
had been settled by their perfect and admirable
operation at the fall elections. Every suspicion,
as to the good faith and mpartiality Of their exc.
cution, had been put to shame by patent and pub
lie demonstration. But for their triumphant and
recognized popularity and efficacy, it Is not too
much to say, that the respectable gentlemen by
whom the report referred to is signed would never
have occupied their present position Indeed we may
safely venture to assert with all respect that they
could never have approached being nominated or
elected, if it had been limited that they intended
to occupy themselves in the Council, with imagi-
ming difficulties and suggesting changes, in regard
to a series of measures, prepared perhaps more
carefully and ably, and welcomed more cordially,
than any legislation ever adopted in Maryland.
We do not of course mean to say, that because
the laws in question were so considered and pre-
pared, they are beyond the pale of suggestion or
the improvements of experience. But we insist,
that as they were deliberately matured by the best
professional and practical ability among US, after
the gravest and most anxious consideration of all
their details, and have been found in practice 10
answer their every purpose to the perfect and uni
versal qualification of our people, and with the
appreciation Of our whole press, whether friends
or foes, it is little short of wantonness, which can
hardly be explained, for the gentlemen of the
Council Committee to seek to get up specula-
tive dissatisfaction with them, and throw our Sc
of remodeling and amendment. Surely there
ought to be an end Of such things, at some time
or other and the very fact that the regulation of
the City Police was constitntionallv withdrawn
by the Legislature, from all control of the Coun-
ellis, ought to have admonished the Committee,
that the subject was in no sense within their pro-
vince, and that they were not elected with any
view to the possibility of their acting upon it.
If they had but remembered the intolerable
oppression of the system which the present one
supplanted; the toll and sacrifices by which alone
it could be overhrown the patient and persever-
ing dedication of time and laoor TO the
public cause, which was barely able to
consummate the adoption of the present organiza-
ton by the Legislature; the enemies whom its es-
Enlistment provoked, and the suppressed hatred,
which will be ready, at anv time, to join in its
destruction; we think they would have hesitated
before they ventured to lay hands upon it, for any
purpose. We forbear to do more than hint-what
we think is obvious to every one outside of the
Commttee-that Iith but a reasonable amount
of difidence, they might have distrused their
ability to deal with difficulties, which the Reform
Committee had been unable to manage. They
might fairly have supposed that what they were
able to see had been seen, quite clearly, by the
trainers of the laws, and that the defects which
they imagined they had discovered, were perhaps
capable of being vindcated even although they
were not able to perceive exactly how. While,
therefore, we desire to treat the gentlemen them
selves and their motives, with all respect we feel
bound, nevertheless, to say, that a more gratui.
tous piece Of supererogaton could not have with
drawn Mr.. PHELPS and his Committee from their
Legitimate and sufficient duties. Such we believe
to be the unqualified sentiment of the judcious por
ton of the community, and we rely on the Coun-
ellis to represent and respect it. We should lose
all confidence in the prevalence of good sense and
prudence among US, if Reform Council, elected
under the circumstances which attended the choice
Of the present body, could be induced by the mere
itch and mania of legislation, TO set our police sys-
tenn once more afoat-nobody complaining !;
nobody asking change; everybody content and cv-
erybody surprised.
We design these observations to apply particu-
larly to the proposed notifications of the election
and police laws Of the last session. There are
other suggestions in the report which come fairly
within the province of the Committee, and are not
without force. We shall probably consider the
whole subject hereafter, with referen &c to some Of
its details.