Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-11-08
THE MARYLAND TROUBLES.
A Plain Statement Of the Diff
cutty--GOv. Syvann's Partisan
Ceurse--YIfs Efforts 20 Restore
the ballot 10 Rebels.


The trouble in Baltimore is not of recent
origin. 1t beenn with the Rebellion, and
dates as lar back MS the Srring of 1861 when
the Rebels of Baltimore fired upon Massa-
cbusetts regiment marching to the defense
of Washington. A large number Of the peo.
pie of Maryland were Rebels, and Maryland
regiments fought in the ranks OF Lee and
Johnston Fortunately the geographical
position of the State placed it, from the first,
under the protection Of the Government,
and the courage Of its loyal people prevent.
ed it from being dragged into secession. AT.
ter the war, in seliprotection and simple
justice, the loyal men of Maryland amended
the State Constitution to prevent returned
Rebels from voting and by strict registry
law they have thus far succeeded in saving
the State from the rule Of its worst enc mics
Since Andrew johnson adopted the policy
of placing the whole South under the rule
oftte Rebel leaders, the men who sympa-
thizcd and aided the Rebellion in Maryland
have made bold effort TO regain the power
they had forfeited by treason, and Gov.
Swami, elected as Union man in 1864, has
done his bost to sustain it. Baltimore, the
headquarters Of all the Rebels north ef
Richmond was the point of attack. The
laws Of the State, strictly enforced by the
Police Commissioners, onal.ed only Union
men to vote, and at all lie recent elections
including that OF Gov. Swami, thousands OF
known Rebels we're disfianchisod So long
as The Police Commissioners remained in
olhce II was certain that the laws would be
honestly administered. and that the barriers
erecfei by the loyal community for its pro.
lection would not be broken down or evaded
by the men who sought to join Maryland to
the Confedcracy 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 rep'ace them with
men less devoted in their Unionism for
this purpose the charges were preferred
which have been investigated before the
Governor at Annapolis, and upon which he
has removed the Commissioners en
We have carefully examined the evidence
on the side of the Governor, and compared
it with that for the defense, and cannot see
how any respectable lawyer could conscen
tiously say that the charges had been prov
ed. The witnesses for the prosecution, Of
whom G6 were summoned. testified that only
Radical Judges of elections were appointed
in certain wards that in some cases there
were no boxes used to deposit REJECTED votes
to preserve them for future adjudication ;
that legal votes we're refused; that the po.
lice force was used to intimidate voters by
violence that Commissioner 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 it-has
been rebutted by the evidence for the de.
fense. 1t is true, no doubt that there were
abuses and Irregularities at the polls, foi
, these are inevitable in all large cities, but il
has not been shown that in single instance
the Commissioners were responsible. They
on the contrary, appear to have done all In
their power to secure full and fair and le
gal vote, without respect to party interests
, the good character of the Judges of Elec
, tions was fully proved, and their "Radical
ism" seems TO mean that they were Union
men and not Rebel sympathizers the bal.
lot boxes were proven to be those always in
use, and used in the election of Governor
Swami in 1864; in several cases the use oi
rejected boxes was proved when witnesses
for the prosecution had sworn they saw
none the respectabilty of the special po
lice was established the charge OF drum
, kenness against Commissioner Wood Tell tt
the ground, and is not even cited in the
Governors decision; while in many cases
the witnesses for the prosecution were prov
en- to be men of immoral character, gradu'
, ates of the prison. or candidates for its hon
ors. The credibility of the main points OF
the testimony in support of the charges is
destroyed by the Overwhelming evidence In
behalf Of the accused As an instance Oi
the manner in which the Commissioners
! conducted the election, We quote the IN
, s,ructions of Marshal Carmichael to the 20
lice force. The evidence shows that they
! were faithfully observed: ta,r
, POLICE DEPARTMENT. Orr n OF TlrE MAEsHAL.
! BAITtMoRE, Oct q, ls68.
CArrArN IN cu; You wi instruct your whole torce
and impress the enforcement rgd'y: o' the rules an,
rcgnln IN relation to the non -inter"rehcs WIN poi
tiles al the polls in the approaching election which WI
take place TO the 10Th Inst viii I've hrir I'm
pernye duty 10 suppress all mnnife o disorder
Keep the polls clear ana protect all and every cllLcl
IN having his legal vote recorded Arrest oil pnr'lr
attempting 10 mel riot, and Keep them ~ the Slao'
House uniil the polls closed You will require h,
whole force TO at the slauon-iions NJ ocloci
A You will place such force In ench preeii"t N
in your judgment will he sufficient 10 presrrve order
You will also direct n with squad OF men "a
go arouud the several precincts during the day Delnt
an orer 10 bring the result OF the election TO your sin
lion wher re- reporters will receive II Il Is expected
thu, NIL officers will do their duty faithfully Read sec
ton 81, page o. Of the General Regulations TO the ON
GERS, Give notice to all bar.rOoms. lager bier SALOON.
aud grogshops To close their places ot hu'ines o'
this evening aud keep them closed until o'cock oil
'Thns'oy morning. Have ms ordri s'le"y e"r''''
ny order Of the board of Police,
- .Tuos. IT, CARMIcHAEl, Marshal.
But all this evidence had no effect upon
the Governor. Ills manner OF conducting
the trial was extraordinary. After laying
great stress upon the fact that tho Commis
sioners refused to acknowledge his jurlsdlc-
ton and appear before him, when Commits
soner Hindcs did appear, he declined ,oex-
anime him or hear his statement AT the
outset of the trial he shade the astonishing
announcement that he intended to fnish 1t
by Wednesday, and that the moment be was
satisfied he should make his decision, even
without waiting 10 hear the whole OF the
evidence. THIS was drum head court
martial, and not trial. Mr. Lauobe,
counsel for the prosecution, Insisted that
the case should be closed without delay, us
Time pressed, and il the Commissioners
were removed, as they hoped aud deiiered
they pouid be, there icds much 10 De done.
J Many changes ioere 10 be made before meet
Tuesddy- The day Of election" lie had the
audacity TO urge this indecent haste IN be,
halt of "l4,OOO disen;ra.chlsed people OF
Baltimore though they were diseniran'
chsed by the Legislature Of Maryland Tor
disloyalty But Gov Swami needed no urg