New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-27
THE. MARYLAND TROUBLE.
TIE roLCE COMMISSIONERS TO BIZ REhoyED-TssR
COUNSEL APPEAR BEFORE TIE GoyEssoR-ThE
WITNESSES TO BE CONSTRAINED AND COUNTER
TESTIMONY TO BIZ OFFERED.


All doubt as to the course Intended 10 BIO pasned by
Gov. Swami, in regard 10 the Police Commissioned
Baltimore City, safely be said TO be removed Alter
tic remarks OF the Governor to-day UDOnsts consider
their displacement by Mr. Swami only mcster ~ time
he had interview with President johnson Thursday
night. aud evidently from Washington this
morning with bis plans for the reconstruction of Bati
more City, the defeat Of John L. Thomas aud Mr. Stewart
and the election OF Ny Policy" Legislature favorable
to making him United States Senator, fully matured IL
even said here to-day by gentleman from Washington
that member OF the Cabinet has declared that the Com
missoners must be removed before election day.
Az 10 O'Clock this morning Gov Swami announced
himself ready TO proceed with the case, when Mr.
Stockbridge presented the following TO his EXeeeney
10 ne Hon. THOMAS SWAMI Of Maryland
SIR On Monday last I'D inst the undersigned appeared
before you Counsel for " L. Woods and Samuel Hinaes,
Police Commissioners Baltimore City At that time pre-
secuted you and filed with you Of said Commits
soners to the allegations OF memorial which had oeen ad
before you and which yon proposed 20 investigate 70 ar az
answer said Commissioners sought 10 place themselves
IN their correct legal position by excepting
their right to al before regularly constitute Judicial tbi
n Spa of s memorial aDG remove them fro The h Office
conferred and reconed by the General nby OF tho State
only they should have been convicted Of Official misconduct
by those buals At the time they fat II due not more
themselves than the community whose confidence hey en-
loved and of whose place they the conservatives to show
10 yor Exceency the utter roundlessncss the allegations
made against them. They therefore gave true a. uh,
each and ali Of these allegations Your EIeeiency
was pleased to ldccide against their position 70 take
and to investigate the charges made in the memorial We
deemed duty to withdraw from the case and leave m
yonr hands We did and reported decision and our
acono clients They reason 70 change their for
position aud DO not withdraw their plea to jurisdiction
Nevertheless that plea has been overrue ana wong
ceeney has decided investigate the case they think due
justice due your Elceeney and due to their
may make shall be such as to set f9'th me
end that it shall surrounded and shielded by al those tests
which the experience Of ages has shown 30 be most eeacoas
fore requested Instructed and directed US
such aid may be able the proposed investigation 70
offer such suggestions such additional testimony counter
testimony the nature Of the and justice may TeOTe
TTcsg. s XfIxsSirk l. siEalEe r., Il srO. sDRISeR
| Mr. Sehley objected TO the reception OF tho above
paper styling extraordinary, saying that as tho Com
mssones had denied the Governors power 10 act IN tho
matter their counsel had right 10 be heard in the
He insisted that they should enter denial to the com
! plant. -
of nonurisdict0 Durng his remarks be said that when
the Governors Judgment pronounced, If that judg
ment should be against the Commissioners IL might be
beduty OF their counsel to inquire whether there
proeceon afforded themby any other tribunal AtaDother
point be maintained that the Governors decision would
be open appeal elsewhere and consequently the Com
mssOncs not bound 10 take their plea from tho
record at this time. Several propositions for haFmoDizng
the opposing views OF the counsel were made by both
sides when on Mr Aexanders suggestion the paper read
by Mr. Sockbrdge was amended by the addition OF the
| folowing
For that purpose present and not oban,onng the
benefit of the plea Jurisdiction which we desire TO stand on
record to avail may be behalf Of clients We plead
not guilty 10 the charges advanced against US A.
At this stage OF the proceedings Gov. Swami made tho
following significant remarks:
will take occasion make another suggestion 10 tahinG up
this case The Governor desires be confined tho strict
rules Of the law do not propose be governed by the tech
nlcaies lsw in making this investigation only want 10
'ssS , Ssefs ss 'is directed az S S PSr
summoned bet the Executive OF hs sa's lhs sad
that have right to Try them and right TO- remove them en-,
the si Gaaiape Of the state 70 whom make my report
When fa action shall be taken in this case have been 50
particular in regard every step have takel and propose To
tnk that the counsel on the other side SHAH admit that
acting Vita imparaly that in the mt summons S1Sn
sent gentlemen object was TO have thoee Nouhs
before in order that might PROFOUND Questions 10
them q. well a witnesses that might be lead 20
attend hero IL was important the Executive that he boo
have those Commissioners before bin with Their poohs ana
te papers 10 order to satisfy himself what Instructions
had eeh given the Police organization and what acton tty
hal regard TO keeping them within the limits OF lns
here beofe me- They denied that had any authority
whatever to Try this cause looked aPon "a ea e E Ian
SSy s %Ifsa o ont Lev law s he police
open their eyes as 10 the heavy responsibility they Mere
assuming when they denied the power OF the excessive OF sh
State into their misconduct or malpractice IN once
If proven upon them therefore, as counsel las
stated when hs plea made TO the JURISDICTION OF the Tower
% NH bopas thst thew might come to sense Of their
cations to obey he OF the State and that they might have
and 70 satisfy me thst and these adaiis Gcccmpa
nya the entitled to my confidence that
order lSt Sey nt cone here and deea themselves they
had power to do II am glad the counsel have agreed
, @ aS e n 10 a snST& e. e. ca s So Ss s
c6srgss-nadc ss.ns, them and that every opportunity
ties OF law which do profess TO be governed here that
every o,ptrtun, should be afforded heu tj fair nyesgs
tol OF tie must however say ~ counsel here since
ey sg,eed taa point before going on with this sI
aniaat,A si sael require prompt decision IN hs case
through vita "a tae shortest praeesse period that ell
r-eeysa MISTER shall be thrown aside sad that the psom
nea ana ,aug points OF the shall lie stated and shall
be dsp.sei o. 81 te earliest practicable day therefore
inform here OF both sdSs aat mean 70 get through
witt this case iaier "Wednesday OF next veeh aud
visa understand that they have important denee
lst they must prepare that evidence and have
viii make t,e suggestion that as soon the Executive IL
satisfied b eviseac that presented that these Commssontrs
are innocent tl,: these Commissioners guilty
shall take cotton promptly shall feel justified doing
that sc,oa Is taken In the midst Q. proceedings which
are going on.
Mr.. s;ockbrdse dcaied that Cor. swans statemept
before him vas correct. In the first summons tho
language Of tae Governor was communicate herewith
copy Of the memorial and the arhdayIts in the case
will be oaea for inspection" la this there
indications that the Governor desired either their
books their personal presence The second notice was
that he would attend 60 the reception or testimony THIS
and If they thought proper TO do 80 they might
attend Ii did carry any than the other any IN
dca;ioa tbat tie Governor Desired the commissioners
slcUld 10 Perssasllv present.
Mr. Alexander also dlsciSnsd thai the COMMISSIONERS
designed to treat his Exceleucy with any sort Of dlsn-
spec Their counsel not understand that ne required
their sreseacs tie 5ad ony to ask thelr presence and
they wax ss hsTs IL you'd be inooayenient for both
to attend tas aay but oae would come down on
sstpraay ard tas other as sooa as hs should return
Tae exsui,stos sf witnesses was then commenced.
Aroa< bsse exaaaea for the prosecution
OF President Jsa1soas and Gov Swaln's ofice-bodes
Nothsg vas elected TO subsantate the allegation Of
ocis uniscssduct sga1st the Commissioner but IL
shown thst some OF judges OF election aud special po
cemea wsss not ofthe most irsproachsble character.
Fran ths Geyeruors language in reply Mr. Sebeys