Maryland free press., 1866-11-15
From lie Bhfi1.ore San.
popular Demonstration OF Ecspc of TO
Governor Swami.
SPEECH AT TIE EXCHANGE

h"ont ten o'clock yesterday morning Cover
nor swami had occasion to make his apucaranc,
On baltimore street, accompanied bv his priyat,
necFe'ary, Peter Learv, E'1., and at once attrac
teu tue favorable consideration of the large num-
"tts who were abroad. His Excelency wa, on
his way to the First Natinnal Bank in Gay st
Tut the frrore of the popuace became so o,re,,
''iat he was detained in his eudeayors To r..rh
""' INSTITUTION, OF which he is the President -
ou arriving at the corner OF Baltimore and North
S'ree'S, The crowd of his friends became so rrcai
'""' IL became almost impossible for the Cover
hor 10 proceed, and for time he found it con-
fehieht to take refuge in n doorway: but hi,
'F'ends urgna him down South street. amid hear.
CHEERS, each one taat could get near enough.
s''HN'hg him cordially hy the hand. AS ths
er""u moved slowly down South into Second
street the Governor was greeted by number Of
i"uies' who appeared to be quite as enthusiastic
W the men. On reaching the Second street en-
""n'e 10 tue post-oeiee, Governor Swami at
""'p'eu Ill escape from his friends by getting in
10 Inc rotunda of the Exchange building, hoping
" pass either into the custom-house or post-oc
nee nut the crowd was too great for him. and
Wy the time he reached shc roimnda that Iaroe
A"a''orum was densely packed with ncoo!e. en-.
oraci"g in the number many of the merchants
anu ouSiness men Of the city. Here the Gover-
"o' was completely caught and he might have
er'ea out, Save ME from my friends" In re-
tponse 10 the deafening cheers, ani spnorcn,,v
10 appease the crowd, the Governor msr,,,d
the stairway, and As soon AS the enthusiast.
'o"'u oe brought 10 something like ST.
ulal
as follows:
thc governor said that when he leil homo he
had no idea Of meeting SO large a esnc,urso ~,
ms hliow citizens. He WIS most d.e,ly ;n,rro.-
SEQ "i'h the compliment they had Paid him.
i.e congratulated the people upon tho result Of
.ne erection. 1t WAS Rtraggle, for the rights Of
"e people, AMI most nobly had they acted in
Tihdieating their rights under the cous,;tut;on
anu laws of the State. In his rem,v,, of .ha
ponce commissioners he had acted from an i'm
pu'Ao'e ~ sense OF duty to his frlo w-citizens.
i"efe was no violation of law, nor was tbo-c
any stretch OF authority on his part. lie said
"' h"a removed State officers over whom ths
III" han given him control. For the cIercis, n,
'h's power he was responsible only 10 the Ls,.;.-
lS'urc, and he was prepared to answer for vhs,
he hau done at the proper time II would be
"eh 'or tAe Legislature to say whethe. The broad
seal OF ths State of Maryland WAS to be tram.
pied upon with impunity.
The election had bssn CONDUCTED bv tbc,. NJ,
commissioners without interf.rs,cs nm ,to n.,,
OF those who diffsrci with them in pol;ticsI s.
tment. They had their own jud .,es and THAR
own polic". These judges sat as a ba,rJ of con-
"oi ana review; they ignored the principle con-
tended Tor h5 US, that the registration, A, cor
'hed to by the proper officers Indicated i, ,bo
law was finality, and could not be disturho1
'hey reviewed the work, and assumed to ,n,ka
o' Fg's'ry Tor themselves. Every vote polled
on Iuesdny WAS put upon the list as entitled to
the franchise by the judges of election sppointea
ny tho old police commissioners. lie bonef
therefore, that they would cease to bfamc hin,
for their defeat By charging that he had nroc,-
rcd registration of disoyal voters. If there WIS
any disqualified voter upon tho list, no one IL re-.
epohsble but the judges themselves. The ouie,
ol 'his election, the submission of the people to
the authorities of the city the absence Of all r;o,
and bloodshed at timo of soimuch excitement
Is feature to which, said the Governor. cannot
refer out with pride rs Marylander. You have
accomplished your purpose without even a., AT
tempt nt resistance to the terms which ,,,osf
men have insisted upon-oncrous and unautb,r-
lied as some of those term; were. Throurhop.
the whole Of this exciting controycrsr-. nor-
lro'ersy which has bee ONE national in its ur,-
Poruohs-tho position which have occupied rs
you know, has been most delicate and .rcsoons;.
ble. | could have prccipilted conflict at o,r
moment which would have brought ruin u,ou
your city, and sacrificed the lives of many of your
citizens was laboring in the interest of pclcc
desired to see the election pass of without the
introduction of the military into your streets TO
Interfere in your domestic differences. The re-.
salt has been accomplished without riot with
out bloodshed, and without the presence of
single bnyonet in any of the voting precincts of
the city. You have proved yourselves law-obi-
ding citizens and to you the credit is due for the
great moral triumph which you have achieved.
have done no more than my duty in the part
which | have taken in this contest. ] have stood
up as well as knew how, for the rights of NV
fellow -citizens | have violated no law. A
spirit of revolution was spreading itself over
this coudtry-our State was threatened with
invasion from without and by armed combi.
nations from within WIS prepared to main.
lain the dignity of the State at all hazards
II tainst any such unlawful combinations: and il
il source of ualninslcd satisfaction to me that
'!,r timely proclamation which fri; ii my duty
Ia issue in the carly stagca Of this excitement
carried with it warning which has not been
without its effect. This beautiful city has been
>.'rel the r.vages of what might have proycl a
bloody strife among her people.
However others may have regarded the suirt
lay which have been governed, and the calm
moderation with which have acted rs the Exec
ttive of the State, the result will show that
c have at no time lost sight of the rights
'r her citizens, have done my part in accom-
,'i,hing the primary object which it has been my
r4rpose to accomplish. The people are free
f, . in their constitutional privileges which they
lave right TO insist upon--Crcc to participate
IN government Of which they are the citizens