Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-03

against tho commissioners, by appoin
ing to Office judges Of election, specia
policemen and clerks exclusively from
their own party, and in man!
instances incompetent OF the pre-
cincts the most disreputable characters
and denying appointments to any othe
class of our citizens, by delegating to thu
marshal and officers under him the powe
to appoint special policemen withou
themselves inquiring into the qualilica
| ton or moral standing Of said officers
thus attempting to throw the response
bility of the bad appointments, which
they were ready to accept upon then
subordnates by suffering the judge o
election to throw aside the boxes for re
jected ballots, and giving them no advice
as to their obligation under the law t6
use them, and refusing to remove then
from office for so manifest a violation o.
duty.
The Governor concludes as follows;
The Governor of the State of Mary
land cannot shrink from his duty to the
people. The threats of armed combina-
tons at home, of invasions from other
States to overthrow our laws, could
hardly be expected to deter him for a
single moment from the unflinching ex-
ercise of all the functions with which he
has been clothed. The people of the
State of Maryland have been registered
by Union men, not the less so because
conservative in their sentiment, and
these voters duly passed upon by the
proper officers after full examination
into their qualifications, the constitu-
tional oath administered to one and all,
their names entered upon the officialregis-
try as legal voters, and they are adJudged
to be so BY our highest tribunals. They
ask at the hands of the executive that
they may not be excluded by the power
full partisan combination under the con-
troll of the police commissioners. Not
powerful in numbers, but because OF the
authority which they have heretofore ex-
ercised under their commissions from the
State, claiming that there is no loyalty
but in the extreme Radical party, and
turning deaf ear to the demands of any
other class of our citizens. In the dis
charge of my official duties in this case /
can know no party. must see that the
authority of the State is maintained in
the interest of the whole people If the
laws are Objectionable, the legislature
which made them, and not the govern
ment, is responsible. He is the executive
and not the law making power. He
would bring disgrace upon the State it he
should do injustice to the humblest citi-
zen. The appeals to the returned veterans
by weak and thoughtless men to
raise the standard of rebellion against
the constituted authorities of the
State cannot fail to meet the con-
demnation which it deserves. Among
all order loving citizens OF what
ever political party, they would be doing,
for if they needed such advice, which /
am sure they will not, just what they
have been fighting TO rebuke in the re:
bellious States. The first shot fred upon
the American flag, in the hands of the
recognized authorities of this State, be-
sides subjecting them to the severest pen
allies of the law, would cause the laurels
won in the struggle of the past tc fade
and wither in their hands. They
will not permit their lives TO be lured
from their path of duty as law-abiding
citizens by impulsive and reckless lead
ers, when they have the courts always
open to their grievances. While to them
speak in the language Of friendly ad-
monition and sincerest regard, | cannot
characterize with too much ind ignation
the intrusion into Maryland to interfere in
her domestic affairs Of well.known revo-
lutionist and agitator from an adjoining
State, who, repudiated already by the
leading journals of the party with whom
he is cooperating for the wicked attempt
to excite bloodshed and provoke another
civil war, has already retired from the
field Of his reasonable Vaccinations to
secure himself from the contempt which
his conduct has everywhere provoked
He must not forget that the strong arm
of the law is impending over him, and
the State of Maryland will know how to
protect herself, at the proper time,
against all such disturbers of the peace
and safety OF the people.
Impressed as | am with the utter de-
moralization of the police force as it now
stands, ] shall do what | can to restore
it to its proper relations with the State
and the law upon which it is founded. 1
have no desire to appeal to the General
Government for aid to enable me to exc
cute the laws aud to protect our citizens
against threatened riot and bloodshed,
unless compelled to take this step by the
further resistance of the police commits
sioners and their followers to the laws of
the State. If that contingency should
arise, the responsibility will rest on those
who provoke it.
/ stand upon the Constitution and laws
of the State, and there / will continue to
stand until the trust imposed upon me by
the people of the State Of Maryland shall
be delivered back into their hands, in
spite of all threats Of personal violence
and the clustering efforts Of intimidation
which have already disguised discreet
and thinking men throughout the conn
try. ] can only say for myself, that the
remnant Of life now half spent would
be purchased at too dear cost in the
high position which occupy as Cover
nor Of the State of Maryland, by the dis
honor of my State and degradation Of her
people.
[Signed1 THos. SWAMI,
Governor Of Maryland
nnrwrt