The Portland daily press., 1866-10-25

nsts and it is obvious that mistakes, if mad,
LUIS! nnrs! nave been errors bearing equally on All
tsnSe5' and could not have been desired or in
'oT%eu Tl' by any one
Inc rest of the pna,,,on;I .,,.... >,
ia5 5G:ohess and irreleyanee the yv;sdoyn - ~
misconSuhg Ihg 70 officers CHARGED with ofieioI
of the ooa,,.s traI by Jury under the direction
the indSes 81 n1 judicial tribunals. II assaiis
o. tne highest law officer az ths Sn .ne 9pinlon
~ ~ on tne requisition of the oovsrnss, 1ssvs ".
tne mode OF disposing Of the 6allot. 20 . ~ 70
condsmHn HosS nS s,s az ~ asks your Exceliency 70
eouueHn US Ior the action Of the iDdoas n 80
sails US for not removing judees SnIs ~ as
to entertain the views Of the eiectior Sas.,n
9ested by the memorialists or bv carta,,, ss.k sek
nent counsel, and for not compelling the iudans
cause of complaint that they suspect that we
intend in the future to retain these Judges. or
to do something else which we have not done
but NAV, might, or can. or will possibly do
Since the police force has been under the pres
ent board 1t has sustained reputation euual
TO that OF any police force in the country. The
public has not heard complaints againstit The
courts are not aware of the unfitness of which
thIs memorial speaks. We are left to hear Of
it ior the first time on an appeal for our remov-
III at the heel OF an election, and on the eve of
another In this city, on the border of the war,
Win people divided on each side of its bloody
issue, peace, order and quiet have reigned for
iour years. throughout the rebellion the gov
ernment has always relied on this now assailed
Iorce ana felt sure that the path to the capital
Iil mas peen saie IN IT'S hands. AT the late cleo
lon the-orders to the marshal of the police
were To summon for special officers 4OO good
discreet men. The extra men were all selected
The peace and quiet of the late election dis
proves the sweeping charge against them and
anna ail the affidavits which have been fled
none but the most isolated and individual com
plants against few out of the 632 actually
appointed have been made, and uutil this me-
mcrlal TO complaints were heard by the board
Oh tne conduct OF any officer or special officer
our Exceliency, it is because we have up
hcld tiie law that We are now assailed, not be-
cause we have broken it, 1t is for official fid-
ehty during three years of war in which WE
have held office that this political attack il
made by those who in the very executive
chamber proudly proclaim that the v are "Sonth-
ern sympathizersh We believe tiat Won bave
had abundant opportunity to know that this
board has done its duty. From respect to vonr
ofiiclal position, and from decent regard for
the OPINION OF mankind, we make this distinct
anu uetailea denial OF all those charges. We do
not recognize any obligation ON US to make
any denial. We cannot recognize your right
20 try us. We cannot give up the authority
directly vested in and imposed on us. unless
upon the Judgment of the judicial tribunals
OF the state we are required to do So If there
Is any enquiry to be made we suggest to YOU
that the proper course TO pursue may be to re-
fer these charges to the law officers of the State
for prosecution, and before any such en-
quiry we are prepared to defend ourselves. We
respectfully submit that the matter YOU pro-
pose to take up ON Monday next is not a matter
of executive cogrizanee, and while we EXPECT
with confidence that you will relieve the appre-
hension of this community by refusing to en-
tertain this novel jurisdiction, and declining 10
advance the objects of those who have appear.
ed before you, and who would rejoice to see
you produce conflict in tne city but to pro-
mote whose purpose we believe you will not be
made an instrument, we shall continue to dis
charge our duty as members of the Board OF
Police fearlessly, and we expect to receive the
support and approval Of all loyal and law abid-
ing citizens. We remain, respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
NICHOLAS l.. WooD,
SAMUEL HINDEs.