Year: 1859

Uf lHE htFUhm CENTRAL COMMITTEE.


Citizens of Baltimore:


We, the members fthe Central Reform Commit


tee, respectfully submit to you our second report


and address


Notwithstanding charges to the contrary, which


nave been industriously circulated, we have taken


no part whatever, and shall take none, in refer


ence 10 the approaching Congressional election or


that ot Comptroller Of the State, but have confined


ourselves exclusively to the performance of our ap-


pointed duties, which consist only in nominating
and by honorable means promoting the election of
candidates with a view to the Reform Of the Citv
! Government.


The selection of these candidates has been made
with great care and deliberation, and the names
presented are those of gentlemen of character and
standing from all parts of the city, of various occu
pations and from every political party. better
| ticket has probably never been offered for vour
sutfrages, and its success alone will the great
measures of Reform which you have 50 deeply at
heart, and will redeem your city from the disgrace
which now oppresses it. So far as faithful per-
formance of their duties will avail, you may rely
on the efficient cooperation of all the candidates.


if they should be elected, in the re-estabshment of
law and order, the encouragement of trade and the
promotion of the prosperity of the city None of
them will sanction by their votes or influence the
lottery system, which is tolerated in violation
OF the Constitution, and which, if possible will be
fastened ON you through the efforts of unprincipled
men who are interested in this most wicked and
pernicious description of gambling, nor will thev
give support to any other measures which NAV tend
to demoralize the community.


The recent election was marked by scenes of
fraud and violence in many of the wards In two
where the clubs failed to elect their candidate
they destroyed the ballot boxes. The promises Of
protection to voters promulgated bv the Mavor
proved delusive. While some of the Judges Of
Election, upon whom so much depends did their
whole duty, others content with very par
tlal performance of it, and were DELINQUENT in
every respect. One of the Judges of the Fifth
ward has been presented by the Grand jury for
malteasance in Office. The power of the judges TO
make commitments is undoubted, and in the single
instance in which it was exercised the effect in re-
storing order was striking and instantaneous


Many of the police failed to do their duty Not
a few, in some of the wards, appeared to sympa-
thize with and encourage the ruliians who were
engaged in obstructing voters and driving them
from the polls but there were Others who bv tbnir
courage, impartiality and general good conduct
have earned the respect and confidence of all good
citizens.


When a wrong-doer OF one of the clubs was ar
rested, no matter how bad his character or how
violent his conduct, he was Immediately released.
but if friend of the Reform movement attempted
only to defend himself from violence, he was at
ouCe arrested anu imprisoned. and his release
not effected without delay and difficulty


The Sheriff declined to adopt measures to pre-
serve peace at the last election, the ground main
iy that the necessary arrangements had, in good
faith, been made by the Mayor. As these arrange
ments proved entirely Intellectual. it became our
duty to apply for the second time to the Sheriff.
lie now admits that he msled and disappoipt-
ed, but he insists that he cannot interfere to main
tam order without danger of collision with the
other authorities of the city, who question his now
er and resist its exercise. To such length has
this opposition been carried, that the deputy pros
ecutlng attorney has given notice to the Sheriff. as
he informs us, that the warden Of the ia and the
officers OF the station houses have been instructed
not to receive any prisoners who may be commit
ted by any deputies whom the Sheriifmav appoint
with view OF preserving peace at the approach
ing election The reason assigned is that as the
Jail and station houses the property of the CITY
1t would be rendered liable to actions for false i'm
prisonment if such prisoners were there received
The Sheriff has also been warned by the same Off
Ger that he will be subjected to legal Iings
for any arrests so made.


And the power OF the Sheriff himself TO commit
offenders is also questioned This power is derived
from the common law of England, has existed un-
questioned for centuries, and is settled as TO this
State by the decision Of the highest authority in
the land-the Supreme Court Of the United States
Butthe Prosecuting Attorney has made the extra
ordinary discovery that there is an Act of Assem-
bly, in existence which By Implication seems to take
away this power. This Act makes the city liable
IN some cases for failure to suppress a riot and
the Prosecuting Attorney contends that il ''see1as
TO confer an exclusive authority the cit officers"
from whom he excludes the citg Sheriff. The Act
is general in its provisions and while it embraces
all the counties as well as Incorporated towns and
cities OF the State, says not word about either
Mayor or Sheriff. An argument preposterous
needs serious refutation but the opinon has an
swered the purpose for which it was given.


The acting Mayor is plainly determined TO as
sumo the entire responsibility Of preserving peace
at the approaching election. He possesses ample
powers for the purpose if he chooses to exert them
but the provisions which be designs to make have
not been disclosed, and it is his declared intention
not to prOmulge them.


1t very certain that energetic measures are ne
cessary. The brutal threats of the clubs emblaz-
oned on their transparencies, which at the meeting
of ofThursday night adorned the stand Of the speakers
without check or rebuke from them, have given
ample notice to the city authorities which cannot
be disregarded without gross delinquency on thei:
part.


Under these circumstances, fcllow-citizens, Won
must rely on yourselves You have the mower in
your own hands if YOU choose to exert it. The re-
suit of the last election in which vGur efforts were
partially successful, notwithstanding that YOU were
lulled into false security by the promises of the
Mayor, should inspire you with confidence and de-
termination. An overwhelming majority Of the
people desire to reform the shameful abuses which
inject our city government and are prepared to do
so by their votes at the next election. viii YOU
permit yourselves to be driven from the polls by
banded ruians, and deirauded By false votes depos
tied in the ballot boxes? viii YOU allow the ofi-
cas OF the city, who are your servants, to become
in fact your masters2


We hope and trust that you will not and We
therefore earnestly exhort you to assert your
rights as freemen. Let the workiurman on the
day of election, lay aside his TOOLS the student his
books, and the merchant his ledger Close your
warehouses, your offices, and your shops Let
this be done effectuallv and universally Conse-
crate the whole day to your country. Attend in
force at the polls and there remain throughout the
entire day. Let every man vote according to the
best dictates of his conscience and Judgment and
let him assist every other citizen to exercise freely
the sacred privilege. This position is not on
ly right of itself, but is perfectly peaceful and law
ful. Those only who oppose it are disturbers of
peace and violatOrs of law


With such efforts, the great and good work of
Reform will be accomplished, and YOU will achieve
through the ballot,bo the nObest and most impor-
tant victory which has been in Baltimore since
the days of the Revolution.


In conclusion call on YOU, felow-citizens to
assemble in TOwn-Meeting in Monument Square,
on Monday afternoon, the SlSt inst, at o'clock.


Come out in your strength-everv American cit
izen, whether native adopted men of every
and order be absent. Assemble by thousands and
whelmng strength. You will not only manifest
the noble patriotism and profound enthusiasm which
animates you, but you will impart your own spirit
to others; and hesitate not to believe it, you will
nobly consummate, you have bravely begun the
great reforms which are Indispensable not merely
to our own respectability as community, but to
the preservation of the social fabric itself.


VIZ. WOODwARD. Chairman.


WILLIAM DEAN, j. HAEsoN THOMAS,


Thomas J. COCHRAN, CHARLES j. BAKER.


EDw w. ROBINSON, A. C. RoBrNsON