, 1866-11-01
THE BALTIMORE POLICE
COMMISSIONERS.

ST. DENIS.
THE BALTIMORE POLICE
COMMISSIONERS.
Thomas G. SNann Six Years Ago.
i Contrast-The Governors Purpose
The Commissioners AIno~t Certain to
be Tzcn,oved-Why they Appear ut the
Investigation - Pen Picture of the
Goyernor-Thc Charges and the Evil
dcnce+ DC.
From Our Own eorrcspandent.l
ANNAPOLIS, Nd October q, 1876.
LII 1859 Thomas G. Swsnn was Mayor Of
Baltimore. As Mayor he had control Of the
police and the s!ation-housca. Ii his hands
the police became such all engine Of violence
that the Statc Legislature disarmcd him By
creating Police Board, which Was put In
charge Of the entire force. When the tuem-
bcrs OF the Board presented their credentials
to Mayor Swami he told them that he didn't
recognize their authority as he believed tho
law, in virtue Of which they We're appointed,
unconstitutional. They made no tis.nrb-
auce, but got out writ Of n.aada.sux and
contested tho case in "a legal aud orderly
way. They took the matter into the courts.
The decision was in their favor, and tho
Mayor appealed 10 the upper court. The
decision was again in their favor; the Mayor
powed to that decision, and since that time
the police have been under control OF Board
o: Commissioners.
In 1856 Thomas G. Swami is Governor of
M1ry1ard. Tie direcs descendants of that
/ Boavd Of six years ago are now supreme
over the police Of Ina1timcre. The Governor
nuu}d like 10 transfer thai supremacy to his
own hand for o short time. Certain Of his
political friends bring charges against the
Commissioners. They demand immediate
aelion, and he at first undertake: to give it
10 them. They demand the t:ncapitatfon Of
thct two gentlemen ut peaceably If
we cau, iorcib1y if wo must.' The Governor
f-Hscs TOR a few dnys When be appears
again he is rs blood thirsty IS tho bloolicst
OF Ills followers could desire lie and his
coaGjutors don't intend that more than four
days shall be consumed with the great case :;
and they mean that the new Commissioners
shall cutter upon thefr dEties as soon US they
arc appointed. The Who'll. party, from Goy-
ernor down, snecrs at the Mea of going into
the courts with the matter: aud when the
take it there If the Gcye7ncr order their re-
u1oEa!, the Executive threatens that such
proceeding will not he allowed.
The contrast between that cyent and this
event is very suggestive. should think it
would occnr to Thomas G. Swami and if il
did occur, am sure even he could not con-
slider it with satisfaction. These Commits
sioncrs are entirely willing to have their Of.
fat tce5
the plea Of non-jurisdicr!on il they can hare
assurance that the case will be allowed to
take lis regular course in the proper courts.
This assurance is not onl, Withheld, but the
Governor declares that Le will not allow
Lis action to be reviewed tv any tribunal bnt
the Legislature. to which he Il required by
luw 10 make his report.
That the Commissioners are to he removed
can no longer doubt. I WIS slow to believe
that the Executive would become the willing
tool Of the ex-rcbel element of Baltimore
slo'r TO believe that he could carry out d
programme 20 clearly in his own Interest,
But the thing Is scttled-was settled before
| the t-ial began yesterday morning. There
are many who think him the tempted
| eyent1 have only strengthened ,ce in the fear
cxpi sssed week ugo, viz: that he is the
| tcmptcr. Since the agitation first began he
/ has ncdc three visits to Washington for con.
] sultation with the President I was assured
! in this city three days ayo By one in the con.
| fidencc OF the Secretary Of the Treasury, TINT
| 1t was well understood By the wlc1e Cabinet
that the 7cmoyul would be effected BY the
Middtc of next week. It matters 7cry little
that the charges are frivolous-tle "otlicial
misconduct of tho Board In the eyes Of The
Governor and his friends, lies in the fact that
Its members arc good Republican untonists
aud are interpreting the constitution ami
laws Of the State in the interests of loyalty
There was some surprise apparent In til;
taees of most Of the persons in the Exccsltiv,
Chamber yesterday morning when the couu
sci Of the Commissioners made their appear
auce, because il was generally urdcrsto oot
that the Beard, having deniel the Cover
nor's 'sjurisdic.ion, would take no further notice
of the Investigation. Developments sine,
Monday, when the case opened, conyincct
them, however, thlt their removal WAS
thing OF course aud they therefore drtcrm
iucl to iaaks.eyery proper effort to show tn
country the slimsy character Of the ground
OH which action Is brought against them
II thought the Governor would bring thea
to terns,' said Conservative" who spok
to nc as We stood in the chamber; "the,
can't sase themselves, though, now
they'd come and owned up at first the
might have got some mercy, bui: the Gos
ernor don't stand no fooling."
, Governor Swami doesn't look like ma
to expose himself to personal danger-l,
, Aao the plump, apple blossom colore
/ cheeks Of 4 good liver, aud the eye of on
who loves life f,r the houors and pleasure
it may bring. Not that lie Is scnsationa,is
but that Ie is graceful, sclErosscsscd re,
tleman, who nresides elegantly at State dill
ners, always knows what he is about, newt
G fnrgcts bis pritnary duty to that ambition
D politician Thomas G.. Swami, an6 Is genera
. II able to serve himself excellantly throug
!. = the actions Of others. The present happier
, to be a case in which he must advance
r the Gont-there is nothing In his face
cause doubt that he will fear to take Il
responsibility. After seeing him, and c
pccially.after hearing his few words Of ye
tetlay morning before any witnesses we
called cannot share the opinion Of tho
who believe him too titn;d to carry out Il
work upon which he has entered. If he d
l. sists or changes it WILL be from motives
personal or political axpcdicncy, and r
- from any considerations Of danger.
=, The leading charge seems to be that uesr
all the judges aud clerks Of the late chart
election, and they will remain in office t
after the coming general election, unless Il
y Commissioners are changcd,-that all II
le Judges aud clerks Of election arc Of Il
&c "Ralical" party. I believe nobody deai
L. this, but 1t happens that most Of them we
Y In office last year and conducted the sc
~ | a1nnticn hx which tha f.s,ra-1nr ,roe cha.