Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-03
Gen. Banks proclamation.

! Yesterday published prOcidmdllOu VI Oens
| MASSACHUSETTS BANKS, appointing Col. HENLEY Pro-
vost Marshal of the city Of Baltimore. Immedi-
ately after the proclamation Of Gen. BANKS, the
Board Of Police Commissioners held q meeting, in
which the following preamble and resolutions were
adopted:
WHEREAs, The laws of the State of Maryland
gave the whole and exclusive control of the Police
force of the city to the Board OF Police organized
! and appointed by the General Assembly, and not
only are the said Board bound TO exercise the pow
ers vested in and TO discharge the duties imposed
upon them but all other persons positively pro-
hibited, under heavy penalties, from interfering
| with them in so doing; and,
| Whereas, There is power given to the Board
to transfer the control any portion of the Po
| lice force to any person or persons whomsoeYer,
other than the officers of police appointed by them,
in pursuance of the express provisions Of the law,
! and acting under their orders and
Whereas, By the orders of Maj. Gen. Banks ar
! officer Of the United States Army, commanding in
this city the Marshal of Police has been arrested
the Board of Police superseded, and an officer of
the army has been appointed Provost Marshal, and
directed to assume the command and control of the
! police force of the city therefore, be-
RESOLVED That this Board do solemnly protest
sgainst the orders and proceedings above referred
| to- of Major General Banks, as an arbitrary eXer
else of military power not warranted by any pro-
vision of the Constitution or laws OF the United
States of the State of Maryland but in derogaon
of all of them.
Resolved That whilst the Board yielding to the
force Of circumstances, will do nothing TO increase
the present excitement obstruct the execution of
such measures Maj. General Banks may deem
proper TO take, his own responsibility, for the
preservation of the peace of the CITY and of public
order, they cannot, consistently with their views
of official duty and of the obligations of their oaths
of Office recognize the right of any of the officers
men of the police force, as such, to receive orders
or directions from any other authority than this
Board
RESOLVED, That in the opinion of the Board the
forcble suspension of their functions suspends at
the same time the active operations of the police
law, and puts the officers and men off duty for the
present leaving them subject however to the rules
and regulations of the service, as to their personal
conduct and department, and TO the orders which
this Board may see fit hereafter to issue, when the
present illegal suspension of their functions shall
be removed. CHAs. HOWARD, President.
W. II. GATCHALL,
CHAs. D. Kinks,
JOIN W. DAVIS,
GEO. WV. Brown,
Mayor and ex-ofico members of the Board.
After this meeting Gen. BANKS issued another
proclamation to Col. KENLEY ordering him to or
ganize new police. Speaking of the organization
OF the new force the Baltimore Republican says:
1t appears that about eight o'clock several of the
regular officers, having donned the citizens dress,
appeared at the station house and quietly looked on
costed, however, by several of the new force, who
made some insulting remarks, when an alteration
ensued, and one of the regular force would, IN
dOubte1ly, have been severely beaten, had it not
been for the interference of Mr.. Caleb Douty, who
restored peace between them.
After brief consultation, the following parties
were named az Captains of the various districts:
I4astern District, Captain Thomas c. James, late
warden of the Jail; Middle District, Joseph Mitch
ell, late Captain under Swami, Southern District,
Lat L. U,.kl
ern District, John L. Bishop, late detective under
Swami The new appointees were authorized to
select one hundred men each to take charge of the
city for the night, and In short time the various
station houses were densely packed with anx-
ous crowd of expectants, nearly all of whom were
accepted, and having been supplied with ribbons |
and clubs took their departure throughout the city
without having been sworn 10 perform any duty, |
no orders to administer an oath having been re-
ceived.
The police and fire alarm telegraph was also ia |
ken possession of and new operators appointed. !
The Republican goes on to say:
During the early part of the evening rOwdyism |
reigned supreme, and number Of persons were |
knocked down without the slightest provocation on /
Baltimore street Later, however, no disturbance |
occurred, but several disorderly parties kept up a
continual hubbub by the beating of drums through
out the city
Dispatches to the New York Associated Press
Il a
this morning startling proceedings have been going
on here. DetacEments of artillery any infantry |
have been sent to various sections of the city, and
are now posted Monument Square, EXCHANGE /
Place, and in the Eigth Ward, Broadway, and other
places.
Before daylight all the members of the Board of |
Police Commissioners except the Mayor were ar
rested and sent to Fort McHenry. 1t is said that
plot has been discovered of intended outbreak.
Gen. Banks has just issued the following procla-
nation:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ANNAPOLIS,
Fort McHenry, July LIST, 1861.
In pursuance of orders issued from the head
quarters of the army at Washington for the pre-
servation of the public peace in this department
have arrested and do now detain in the custody of
the United States the late members of the Board of
Police. After the public recognition and protest
against the suspension of their functions they con-
tnued their sessions daily upon forced and IN
warrantable construction Of my proclamation of
the 18th ult They declared that the police law was
suspended apd the police officers and men put off
duty for the present, intending to leave the city
without any police or protection whatever.
They refused to recognize the officers and men
necessarily selected by the Provost Marshal for
its protection, and had subject to their orders
and hereafter the old police force, large body OF
armed men for some purpose not known to the
Government, and inconsistent with its peace and
security To anticipate any intentions OF order
on their part, have placed, temporarily portion
of the fierce under my command within the city. l
all desire intention end purpose to int T.
fere in any manner whatever with the ordinary
municipal affairs of the city of Baltimore.
Whenever a loyal citizen can be named who will
execute its police laws with impartiality and in
good faith the United States, the military force
will be withdrawn from the central parts of the
at once.
No soldiers will be permitted in the city except
under regulations satisfactorily to the Marshal
and if any so admitted violates the municipal law
they shall be punished by the civil tribunals.
NATHANIEL p. BA,.Es, Maj. Gen Com.
BALTIMORE July !, 2. M.-The military still re
main posted in the city and detachment is at the
Custom House to guard the specie there
1t is rumored that several prominent Secession
lists will be arrested. It is not true that the Mayor
was to be arrested.
Small quantities of muskets were found secreted
in the East Police Station House. The search for
arms still continues.