The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-03
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1861.

enclose these victims Of what by courtesy, is still
called the Government of the United States, and
there they now await such deliverance as the
caprice ola despotic power or the returning reason
OF their countrymen may award them. Thus has
been contaminated an act Of tyranny more afro
clous than has ever before been contemplated or
suggested in any section Of the land where Amer
lean laws exist or American men hold sway; and
one which is destined to bring undyinp reproacb
upon the American people, and to link with cter-
nal iniamy the names of the tratorous fanatics
who have authorized or countenanced it, or have
lent themselves as the instruments to execute it.
But before some newer, and, if possible, more I'M
paralleled outrage diverts the attention of the
public from the case Of the Police Commissioners
we would ask every citizen to give it again dis
passionate consideration that he NAV the
more thoroughly comprehend the enor-
NIFTY OF the wrong done 10 the suf-
ferers and the fearful character of the despo,ism
10 when that community is subject, in whose
midst the Government could venture to perpetrate
such crime. 1t will be recollected that at the
time when Marshal KANE was, without warrant
or process of law, seized by the Federal troops in
this city, the Police Commissioners were also mott
ned that their functions were at an end In the
proclamation issued by General BANKS, on the
nth OF June, he announced that he had super
seeded the "ofiicial authority of Marshal KANE
and that Of the Commissioners of Police" and
had appointed "Provost Marshall to execute
the laws, "with the aid and assistance of the
subordinate officers of the Police Department. -
Against TINS forclbe attempt, on the part of a mil
itary ohcer, TO Wrest from their hands the powers
which had been confided to them by the State O f
Maryland, the Commissioners, as in duty bound
protested and they refused Ito transfer the con-
"trol Of any portion of the police force' to Gen.
BANKS or his subordinaes, both because they had
no right so 10 do, and because they could never
consent that the officers who were appointed to
protect US, should be sent by Gen. BANKS agents
to invade our homes, to confscate our propertv.
and to seize our persons, in gross and wantou
violation of the planest rights of the elf.
zen, and of the fundamental laws of the
State. They, therefore, simply recorded their
solemn protest against the usurpations of the
Federal Government and relieved the police force
from active service, until further orders. Had
they done less than this they would have failed to
do their duty as citizens or to discharge their oh
legations rs public officers. But for daring 70 re.
sst, even thus far, the arbitrary proceedings O.
Mr.. LTNcoLN's Pro-consul for Maryland, they were
on the night of the first Of July dragged from
their houses by the troops who had surrounded
them, and hurried to Fort McIIenry No charge
whatsoever had been brought against them. when
they were thus, without warning and w;,bor,
warrant, seized by the Federal soldiery. After
ha tl,,s
put forth another proclamation, in which he
stated, as the ground of his action, the refusal Of
the Commissioners TO obey his DEGREES. or 10 re-
cognize his myrmidons; and moreover allered Inv
way OF further justification, that the Commission
ers continued to hold the police force snbiect 70
their orders, "for some purpose not known Tire
government" Such are the accusations, and the
only accusations, that have been preferred against
the Commissioners; and so frivolous are they that
it is manifest no man would have made or acted
on them who was not ready 10 be the adviser or
the tool OF any despcable yrant or Of any faction
whatsoever. Noother charges have, from that day
TO this been publicly preferred against the gentle.
men who have been thus arbitrarily imprisoned,
although the most strenuous efforts of the most
interruptions knaves among us have been exerted
to discover some legal cause Of complaint against
them. These outraged citizens have been mean
while close prisoners in Fort McHenry, where a
few of the subordinate officers have shown them
courtesy and kindness, but where they have, in
the main, been treated like convicted felons.
They were, with three or four other individuals.
confined in quarters which were insufficient for
the decent accommodation of half their number.
and from the time they entered the fortress until
the day they left it they were never asked whether
they required food or bedding; nor did they re-
celve from the superior officers of the Department
or garrison any other consideration than VULGAR
and brutal jailors are wont to extend to crim-
nails. They awaited patiently the action of
the Grand Jury, supposing that it would put into
some tangible shape the ISLANDERS which we're in
circulation against them, and that then, at least
they would obtain their liberty or q hearing. But
the Grand Jury adjourned without accusing them,
thus silently confessing that it could find no soil
tary ground on which TO impeach them But the
Commissioners have not been content TO await
such Investigations as it might suit the govern
ment to institute, and they have boldly challenged
1t TO afford them the opportunity to refute the ma
lgnant libels of their mendacious enemies. They
ing nearing, and Congress has refused to notice
IT, A resolution has been introduced in the
House OF Representatives, requesting the President
10 communicate to that body the 'sreasons and
'eVldence" for the arrest and detention of the
commissioners, and he has refused to afford the
desired information on the ground that he Judges
IL incompatible with the public interest, to do
So he has falsely put forward this wretched
pretext In order to avoid admitting that each and
every one of these individuals is imprisoned with
out color or form OF law and in the absence of any
charge against them. But the tyranny of the
miserable faction, which calls itself the govern
ment, did not stop even there While the Com
mlSsioners were making unavailing efforts to pro-
cure from Congress the redress which the mil;tarr
power would not permit the Courts IN grant
'nem, they were hurried on board of a steamer
anu transported to government fortress in a
Nor'nern State An indicted felon cannot be
'aAen Tor trial to another district; but the Ad-
hihistrauon has dared in its yndictye desire n
repress all opposition to its measures to trsnsnor,
10 ana lmprison in another State men AGAINST
""oN IL '''u suoS'antia'e no charge. All the OBJ
hoAious persons whom Grand Jury, of Mr.. Lin.
COIN own selection, could be induced to ndct
nave been held to be dealt with here by the gov
eminent, and every individual against whom Mr..
Lincoln agents have found it impossible to prefer
any well founded charge has been removed
ELSEWHERE to be dealt with. regardless
OF the forms or the substantial requirements of the
law. u tue
we nave here passed briefly and fairly in |
reVie" the proceedings of the government in con.
necuon win the suppression of the police force
anu tne arrest OF the Police Commissioners of
D"i'iinore' The annals of the nation cannot chow
an instance il which the constitutions, r;ch,, ~
Alnes'can citizens have been so wau,onlv violo,od
NE iecorus Oh every State from the ST Jowre,oo
~ ,ne "uii vi nieAico may be searched, and they
VIII furnish no case in which the laws boro r.,
10 deliberately set at defiance by the ro,re,o,,a
ives and rulers of the people. And vef t,,a
men who vindicate or tolerate these acts Of ,s,r
'ation and oppression are singing hosannas 10 tho
nag OF the free" and are loud in their lauda-
IONS OF the "most benefcent Government on
EARTH" and the Congress which is sitting in the
,auonal Capitol, turning deaf ear to the COM
n's vi 'ne outraged people of Maryland, affects
ba CoAO.. ing 10 maintain the laws and TO uphold
.:.:0,"-' And all these acts of the Adj
49,, fa'ion nave been done, be IT remembered
,,o r..a. "neh The latter is asserting that 5
No vast majority of the people of ,b;o ST. t
&c ioya 10 the Federal Goyernmon. l
he United States Cont ona ,P-"hen v