Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-10-23
THE BALTIMORE EXCITEMENT

THE BALTIMORE EXCITEMENT
Interview Of Governor Swami and the Pc .
lice Oommissleners-PFeela All on by the
Governor.
nor Swami, Of Maryland, for the PsIice Com
mHseioners o. Baltimore to appear and show
cause why they should not be removed for Of
nelal misconduct, as prayed by the memorial
from the people Of Baltimore, upon the testI-
mony As sworn to and presented for his con-
sideration TE-.T
Shortly after ten O'Clock the counsel for the
Henry sns a9sSiss,s sssa
Esqs, appeared In the Executive Cham ber, and
&c on after John II. b. Latrobe and VIM. Schley,
r. h.gs. o. counsel for the people, presented
proceed with the business which they had been
called upon to prosecute
GOV Swami said IA memorial has been
three hundred and ffty. nine citizens Of Rain,
more, complaining OF the action of the Police
commissioners in the late election which /
communicated on Thursday last to the Com
mlssioners OF Police, stating at the same time
that the afidavits would be open for their IN
speetion mp to to-day Monday. also noti-
ned the Chairman OF the committee OF citizens
OF the time when the examination would he
gin" He then read the following, which he
bad hastily prepared:
Before taking mp the case Of the Police Com
m1ssloners, assigned for to-day, would avail
myself of the occasion to remark that / have
seen IL stated IN some of the morning papers
tnat the Governor of the State had proposed
compromise with the Commi ssioners OF Po-
lice. 1t is due to me to say that / have made
no compromise, nor have / authorized any
one 10 40 so in my behalf Two of the most
respectable citizens Of Baltimore. Messrs
O'Donnell and Deford, called upon the Com.
mlssloners OF Police IN order to suggest to them
the propriety Of divesting the organization of
what may be considered its partizan character
by giving the other side one judge and one
clerk in each precinct. This they did upon
n In
ee.sary TO examine into the conduct Of State
officer shall do ii in the shape Of instr cIions
commanding them to obey the laws, il they
have violated them. / can make no compro-
mise of the laws Of the State, which am bound
TO see carried out in the interest Of every ciu-
zen.
so largely represented, both at home and
abroad, that efforts are being made TO connect
the Governor Of the State with Rebels and
Rebel eympathizsrs. i have been an uncon-
promising supporter Of the Union from the
commencement OF the war down TO the present
moment, and have suffered perhaps as much
as most Union men in the maintainance of my
principles. am in favor of a prompt recon
struction Of the States upon the basis of 10y
atty. 1 cannot recognize that any State is out
ofths Union, and am opposed 20 forcing ne
willing people in any State without their CON
sent. For this difference OF opinion am
denounced as Rebel sympathizer and q trai-
tor.
l deem it my duty simply to notice another
fact. Before this investigation has been en-
tered upon-before the testimony In the case
OF the Police Commissioners has been duly
considered, or any information authoritatively
gwen rs to what my judgment may be, mili-
larry organizations are being inauga in
the city Of Baltimore TO oppose the anticipated
action OF the Governor, and, regret to say,
that threats have been held out OF An in vasion
Of the State OF Maryland by parties living be-
yond our limits. The parties engaged in this
effort to excite the people OF Baltimore in the
interest OF resistance 70 the laws Of the State,
10 ust be aware that they take upon themsel yes
responsibility for which they will held TO a
strict accountability at the proper time.
L shall take up this case. gentlemen, II /
tire freedom from all political or partisan bias
ask only that the laws of this State shall be
respected. and this i am bound, as its chief
executive officer, TO insist upon.
Mr.. Schley rose and said that Mr.. Latrobe
ard himself were present on behalf OF the citi-
zens, their associate counsel, Hon. Reverdy
johnson, having been unable TO be present in
consequences OF prior engagement.
Mr.. Stirling. on the part OF the Polire Gem
missioners. said that Mr.. Stockbridge, MT Al
e1ander and himself appeared for the Com
missioners, who had declined to appear, but to
show every respect had deemed Il proper to
present their reasons for so doing, as the Gov
ernor had spoken Of matters outside OF the case
but TO that they had nething to say. With re-
gsrd TO the compromise spoken of, nothing OF
the sort had proceeded from the Commission
ers, or by their authority. He would read the
response Of the Commissioners to the notifica-
tioL from the Governor.
The document, which is very long, was then
read. The commissioners not only deny the
truth OF the charge made against them, but as
sert that the Governor il without Jurisdiction
I'VE respectfully submit that the matter you
propose to take up On Monday Asxt 10 not a
matter Of executive cognizance, and while we
expect with confidence that you will relieve
the apprehension of this community by re-
fusing 10 entertain this novel Jlrisdi ctioI, aad
decliHing 10 advance the objects Of those who
have appeared before you, and who would re-
Joice to sec you produce conflict in this city,
but to promote whose pui poses We believe ysu
will not be made aA instrument We shall con-
tinue to discharge our duty as members of the
Board of Police fearlessly, and we expect TO
and law abiding citizens. We remain, respect
fully, your ebedieat servants.
NICHOLAS L. Woop,
SAMUEL HIHDus-
Mr.. SchIey said it was a most extraordinary
paper, and he could hardly understand 1t. The
question was one of jurisdiction, and there it
should have stopped. That was the question
ernor had no jurisdiction, why send a long e.
say denying the charges And why not plead
not guiltyf He was sorry TO hear the phrase
in the closing sentences Of the paper-"if you
are disposed TO make O. ouble," &c.,-an insult
and threat to the Executive of the State.
They were there to assert his authority in
the case, which they could establish beyond a
doubt.
Mr.. Alexander said it was to be regretted
they had not called on the counsel on the other
side before they prepared the reply. He did
not propose the paper, but took the response
bility OF the whole of it, The Commissioners
were right to deny the right of the Executive
TO try them, and it was but Just in them to deny
the charges alleged against them. Something
had been said about trouble, but the counsel
had said nothing or the subject They had no
disposition TO excite the people of Baltimore
but II the gentleman had been in Baltimore for
the last two weeks he would have found his
clients trying 10 create an excitement, and il
trouble follows they must take the RESPONSE
bIlity.
Mr.. Latrobe said the subject was too grave
and solemn q one upon which TO handy epi-
then. The question was one Of Jurisdiction
and that was for the Governor TO decide. Ir
the Governor decided that he had jurisdiction
he must act. There was but one people, and
those who were traitors were traitors NO longer
He hoped that in the conduct of the case in
might be in a spirit OF concord. The first
question was whether the Governor had iuris
diction, and if he decided he had, II WonId
remain with the counsel on the opposite side to
say what part they wsuld take in it He as
serted that the jurisdiction was good, and n
only remained for the Governor now 10 saw
whether he would hear the argument AT once
DECISION OF GOVERNOR SWAMI.
Governor Swami said 1.-The Goyernor has
duly considered that question of Jurisdiction,
and he has arrived at the conclusion that IN As
within the power Of the Governor, under the