The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-11-06
THE BALTIMORE TROUBLES.

The trial Of the Police Commissioners
before Gov Swami was ended on Thurs
day last. 1t was generally supposed after
all the testimony was gwen and before
the Governor announccd his decision,
that he would not dare to remove the
Commissioners in the face of the tcsti.
mony adjuccd. But personal consijcra-
tions prevailed. lie decided to remove
them, and in announcing his decision
showed the most intense bitterness.
lie said the registry list of 1866 should
have been used, and that the judges Of
election have no right to go behind the
registry law and that the police commits
sioncrs and judges Of election were most
partisan; in their character anil were
guilty of gross official misconduct. lie
said he would call upon the United States
government 10 uphold his authority if it
should be necessary. When the decision
became known there was great excite
mcnt in the streets, some bitterly de-
nouncing Gov. SWANS action and others
approving it; but quiet prevailed, except
large crowds were gathered at the corners
of streets and newspaper offices discussing
the matter. United States troops were
in the city to prevent disturbance.
The old commissioners claimed that
the Governor had no jurisdiction in the
case and referred in support of that claim
to a clause in the new constitution, which
is as follows:
"ARr 2. SECTION 1.-THE Governor may
suspend" &c "anl may remove for incompe-
tency or misconduct all civil officers who receive
Ell appointments from the Executive for term
not exceeding two years"
as the commissioners were elected by
the Legislature and not appointed by tie
Governor, therefore he has no power to
remove them. On that ground they dc.
termined to resist by all lawful means,
but to avoid a conflict with Fe leral
troops. Leading Republicans believe
that the scheme of the President is TO
have a collision while the United States
troops are in baltimore as a prctext for
assembling troops in Washington before
Congress meets. AT radical mass meet
ing Friday evening declaration was
adopted, addressed to the country, in re-
gard to the existing trouble. The follow
ing extract will show its spirit:
We cannot refrain from expressing our
indignation at the action OF Gov. Swami
in his attempted removal of the police
commissioners. We believe that act to
be violation Of the Constitution and
laws of the State, and an assumption OF
authority which he has no legal right to
exerci.e.
And we declare TO the people of the
United States, what is abundanily shown
by the manner of conducting the invesii-
CATION; by the fact that the Governor
is known candidate for the Office of
United States Senator, and was himself
virtually party TO the case; by the
language Of his decision and by the polit-
ical character Of those whom he has mp
pointed to succeed the present commis-
sioners; that the object sought was not
justice, but to promote political and per-
-sonal ends by the transfer OF the power
of the State TO faction composed chiefly
Of those who were sympathizers and abet-
tors of the late'rebellion.
Whatever may be Gov. SWANS legal
right in removing the Commissioners,
there can be no doubt but that he is in
auencod TO this action by the most un-