New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-02
THE MdRyLAyD TRoUgLEs.

Tho trouble in Baltimore is not OF recent origin.
II began with tho Rebellion and dates as far back e3
the Spring of 1861, when the Rebels Of Baltimore
fred upon Massachusetts regiment marching to the
defense of Washington. large number OF the
people of Maryland we're Rebels, and Maryland rcgi-
ments fought in the ranks Of Lee aud Johnston.
Fortunately the geographical position of the State
placed it. from the first under the protection Of tho
Government, and the courage Of its loyal people
prevented it from being dragged into secession. AZ
ter the wor in selfprotecton and simple justice the
loyal men Of Maryland amended the State Constitu-
ton to prevent returned Rebels from voting aud by
strict registry law they have thus far succeeded in
saving the State from the rule Of ito worst enemies
Since Andrew johnson adopted the policy Of placing
tho whole South under the rule of the Rebel leaders
the men who sympathized and aided the Rebel
lion in Maryland have made bold effort TO
regain the power they had forfeited by treason, aud
Gov. Swami elected asa Union man in 1854, has
done his best TO sustain il. Baltimore, the headqnar
tiers Of ell the Rebels north OF Richmond, the point
Of attack The laws Of the State strictly enforced by
the Police Commissioners, enabled only Union men
TO vote and at all the recent elections including thst
Of Gov Swami, thousands Of known Rebels were dis
franchised So long the Police Commissioners re-
NAMED in Office it was certain tina. the laws would DO
honestly administered and that the barriers erected by
the loyal community for its protection would not be
broken down or evaded by the men who sought to
Join Maryland to the Confederacy. This did not suit
Gov Swami, whose change Of politics compelled him
TO depend on Rebel votes for political advancement.
He determined TO remove the Commissioners and re-
place them with men less devoted in their Unionism;
for this purpose the charges were preferred which
have been investigated before the Governor OF An
napolis and upon which be has removed the Com
missioners.
We have carefully examined the evidence on the
side of the Governor and compared it with that for
the defense and cannot how any respectable lawyer
could conscentiously say that the charges had been
proved The witnesses for the prosecution, Of whom
&C. were summoned testified that only Radical Judges
of elections we're appointed in certain wsrds that in
some cases there were no boxes used 10 deposit
ected votes to preserve them for future adjudication;
that legal votes were refused that the police force was
used TO intimdste voters by violence; that Commis-
sioner Wood had been seen drunk in the streets-in
short that the recent election was Illegally and un-
Justly conducted. Every particle of this testimony
so far as the charges against the Commissioners are
sustained by -has been rebuttsd by the evidence for
the defense It is true, no doubt, that there were
abuses and irregularities at the polls, for these are
inevitable in all large cities but it has not been
shown that in q single instance the Commits.
soners we're responsible. They on the contrary,
appear 10 have done all in their power to
secure a full and fair and legal vote without
respect to party interests the good character of the
Judges of Elections was fully proved, aud their Rad
icalsm" seems 70 mean that they were Union men and
not Rebel sympsthzersj the ballot boxes were proven
70 be those always in USE and used in the election Of
Governor Swami in 1864; in several cases the use Of
rejected boxes was proved when witnesses for the
prosecution had sworn they saw nonei the respecta.
bity of the special police was estabshedi the charge
Of drunkenness against Commissioner Wood fell TO the
ground and is not even cited in the Governors de-
cison while in many the witnesses for the pros
ecution were proven to be Of immoral character,
graduates of the prison. candidates for It's honors
The credibiity Of the main points Of the testimony in
support of the charges is destroyed by the over.
whemine evidence in behalf ofthe accused, As On in
stance of the manner in which the Commissioners con-
Quoted the election, we quote tho instructions Of Mar
shall Carmichael TO the Police force. The evidence
shows that they we're faithfully observed;
Police DEPARTMENT. OFucE or THs MARsHAL
BALTIMORE, Oct Q, 1866.
CAPTAIN IYsciI Yon viii instruct your whole force and I'm
pros The gs o. tas Ilss asa s po. n a
approaching election which VIII take place he lotb
Inst yin Be ths aa 70 sra ~ s sns
every either la having his legal vote recorded Arrest all par
ties attempting lnOs riot ssa keep them q ae station