Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-06
The Removal of the Police Com.
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The Removal of the Police Com.
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The case of the Police Commissioners
has been decided by the Governor, after a
full and patieut hearing of witnesses for
and against the accused. No one who read
the testimony which was given upon the
first day ofthe trial could doubt the result
It. has been so prevailing practice
throughout the land to appoint aud remove
from office on account of political opinion,
that the prostitution of the appointing
power has come to be regarded"a as venial
otfense, and did the case of the Police Com
missioners stand upon the ordinary basis in
that respect, there mi ght be found many to
maintain them guitless in that partithlar.
But the constitution of the Board of Police
Commissioners OF Baltimore speculiar, auc
the law in that regard worthy o imitation
by every State ln,,the Union. Tue Law
makes it specific act Of misconduct for th,
Police Board to appoint or remove any ont
from political considerations, and seals that
requirement by eX cling from every mem
ber OF the board specific oath that he will
in no case and under no pretert appoint or
remote dny person upder them on account Of his
political opinions, or far dHy other consideration
than his Fitness or m,fineSs for his place"
Without going beyond the patent facts in
the first days testimony, it was apparent
that the Police Commissioners were guilty
of the precise acts of official misconduct
against which the whole policy of their pc
cnliar appointment and duties were aimed.
The Governor could not, then, have escaped
the decision he has given without wiilfully
shutting his eyes TO the law of the State.
We do not in this connection, deem itneces-
sary1tO advert TO the other charges which
were inquired of daring the investigation.
The testimony has been fully spread before
the public. While thtre is possibility
that differences of opinion may be- enter
tanned as tn the completeness of the evil
dence to bring. home to the knowledge of
the Police Commissioners some of the acts
of gross misconduct which were fastened
upon their subordinates, there can be none
upon the primary charge; and the especial
provision of the law we have mentioned,
when made known to. the general public,
must bear out fully theactiOn of the EXecu
tive, ,,.5 n. ...., - ......r. s.-y --.. ....-,
The decision of the appointed tribunal
has been given; it will, in due time, be-
certified to the only body which has thd
power to5review his official act On--tht
General Assembly of the State, Ii that
body, the grand inquest Of the State shall.
upon examination, lind there'wasa any error
of fact or OF law in the Judgment, they can
correct the error and apply the proper
remedy. In the meantime, what is the
duty of every good citizen? The response
which has been given by, the gen raj voice
in the mianIier in which the decision has
been received is the most satisfactory
answer. The people abide by the law, aud
cheerful ready aGquiescenee Tor the, time,
in the decision of the chief magistrate Of
the State, is the result. The people recOg-
nize as living fact that public functions
are distributed among. three departments,
the legislative, the judicial and the eXecu-i
tiIe; ;,lhlt each one of these is required to
inquire and to decide in mattersover which
the law has given it control, and that the
decision OF each one. in its proper orbit, is
entitled to the same respect and the same
implicit obedience as-the decision of either
OF the Others. lTC sr.s Nc e-u'F gaS'E'
/ There have been some mischievogs at
temptS to pervert the public Judgment in
this matter, aud under the specious profess
sion of submission TO law, to coupsel men
that they rejustifieds upon the mere sug-
gestion ofa doubt of power, in resisting an
executive Judgment unless it has the fur
ther sanction of judicial decision. For
for the peace of society, for the
good order and fair fame of our city, these
ance from the great, body of our citizens,
but che typeNAlstincts of Americans have
rejectetl'the poisonous Thought, and, faith
full to the requirements of law and order,
they maintain theirallegiancetol reeinsti-
tntions by obedience, to constituted au-t
thority. There will be, there can be, no col
lision of force connected'with the assI1fnp-
tlon of office by the new appointees, un-
less it is Wantonly begun. by men bent up
ron obstructihg the course Of the law.
Z Whoever may be- the successors of the
Observation-Disclosures may sag that all that
the people of Baltimore, will ask at their
hands is that Justice. be done, and the law
have its free course. for all, without fear,
favor of affection. Even if.the9 question OF
power between theHaHdbheir predecessors
in office were Mt all doubtful, what,mntives
or what.eAcuse could any citizen haYea in
taking part in or encouraging resistance to
their authority? Itw0uld be the madness
of folly as well as of eflmsto make the ex-
lercise of office by new commissioners, or
any suberdinates whom they may appoint
the preteYt for reSorting. to violence. We
think there Is good cause to congratulate
at the spirit which has already
displayed itself among lthesmass lCofD the,
Let the-peaee OF Baltimore
remain unbroEen and her prosperity will
not be atiected,by the vain nbabblingsiOf,in-
ternal or external enemies, -, ...,,..-,.-.,, .
The Governor, in his decision, reViewsat =
length both the facts and theIla& bearingG
on the case, in-aii its branches, in man
heT which constitJltesslit apeRy able andl
convincing paper. okseomprises really all
SO, a succinct history and graphic picture
'Of onr nolil ical and social condition. dpa1-