The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-24
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, JANUARY "a 1861

We gather from The Sun of yesterday morning.
that it is preparing itself 10 be dissatisfied with
the reformed administration Of the City Govern
ment. 1t has discovered at length, and now an
nounces, that Mr.. Brown, although elected by an
overwhelming majority of the popular vote, with
q ballot box rs pure and accessible to every legal
voter as it could possibly be made was not "alto-
'gether the free choice of the people" 1t is often
difficult 10. catch the meaning of our contemporary
when it simply intends a narration of facts; but
when it attempts philosophical disquisition, the
case becomes quite hopeless. Under what circum-
stances the choice of the people can be free, when
it was not free under such as are admitted by
The Sun TO have existed at the last municipal
election, we cannot possibly imagine, We sup
pose that our contemporary aims 10 convey the
idea that man cannot be chosen freely by the
people unless he is chosen twice-in the first in
stance by primary meetings, represented in a con-
vention, and afterwards at the polls. In other
words, it endeavors TO raise distinction between
selection and election of representatives. To point
out The absurdity of this idea, a constitutional
question: is we trust, needless. Election is
the sole duty devoved upon citizens, and all the
machinery TO enable them fairly and freely to
perform it has been provided by law. Sc
lection, which, in The Suns estimate, is one of
the elements of perfect freedom of choice, is a
function usurped by wire-pullers and ofice-seekers
in primary meetings and conventions OBJ
ject, or at all events, effect, being simply, under
color of allowing a free choice to everybody
to bind everybody 10 foregone conclu-
sion. Who has not perceived that under a
show of paying respect to the popular WILL the
Convention system of nominating always has
been and always will be, the surest means of sup.
pressing it. 1t could be shown by an induction
of facts, too plain to be questioned, that all the
abuses and excuses practiced by the clubs were
the direct results, carried to their extreme limits
of the Convention system.
With regard to the individuals selected by the
nominating committee of the Reform organization
last fall, we cheerfully admit that they had no
claim to support beyond their own characters That
their selection as candidates was much purer and
wiser than if it had been effected in the ordinary
way, we do not doubt, and that it was justas free
and binding, is equally certain. Any other set of
men had as good right to present candidates, or
any other candidates as good an one to present
themselves, and the people had perfect right to
vote for none of them. The Sun might have
learned by this time that the great evil in our
politics is the miserable and corrupt practice on
forestalling the free choice of the people, by some
pretence of concentrating popular support on
proper candidates. So sedulously have voters
been trained into the idea that it is
the duty Of somebody TO provide candidates for
them, to save all trouble of making a choice for
themselves, that it is now very difficult for them
TO walk without leading strings. 1t was more in
Difference to this state Of the public mind that the
Reformers chose to put forward ticket, than from
any idea of right duty on their part to perform
such q service, That they did it judiciously and
conscientiousy, is not directly denied by the Sum-
That the selection would have been better, or the
election more free, had the ordinary agencies been
employed, we altogether deny. On the contrary,
it was the absolute failure and total corruption of
those agencies which rendered q new mode desira-
bic. And it may be observed here, that, if some
method of fixing upon candidates be absolutely ne
cessary, the less it assumes TO express the popular
will by voluntary resort to pretence of suffrage
the better. A nomination will then come, and
understood as mere recommendation, depend
ing on nothing but lis own intrinsic fitness 1t
will be canvassed and scrutnized in that point of
view only, and be accepted on its own merits if
at all, and not on the ground of confirming at the
polls some imaginary or simulated previous out
giving Of popular will.
The San however, does not quite despair. 1t
presents its views to its readers not in anticipation
of faithlessness" tits evidently alarmed, however.
1t has become aware that the Mayor has written a
Message, and that some of the matters therein con-
tanned invite strict attention from the people of
Baltimore. 1t even proposes OCCASIONALLY to aid
ITS patrons in coming TO correct conclusions in
matters of right and wrong in Municipal affairs.
1t gives hint of the approach of danger and the
avenue through which it may be expected, as fol-
lows:
at is quite within the range of probability that the
subtle influences of designing parties may msead the
judgment and pervert the action of who cherish only
flexible purpose to do what is right this is the case
they will assuredly do what wrong Ductty in rela
uGn 70 alstnct issue Of right and wrong, is already
with the wrong. And the man who proves plant and
capable of the wrong will find himself at once engaged in
making excuses to himself for excusng the wrong We
could present some notable instances this public life
with their results which inevitably involve the parties
in the most awless transactions void and reckless of
all excuse long is believed there is no respon-
siby."
We humbly trust the Municipal government,
being thus duly and awfully warned, will see to
it in time, that it prove neither "fexible"
"pliant," nor "ductile;" otherwise we fear our
neighbors will feel themselves justified in writing
again.