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speak. The absurdity of their animadversion is beneath criticism,
and ludicrous in the extreme. Nevertheless, in pursuing my pur-
pose, I shall quietly dispose of the several errors, which seem to
have furnished the principal material, equally of the argument and
the abuse, levelled most gratuitously at the service I deemed it
proper to interpose for the maintainance of peace in the city of
Baltimore, and the protection of her citizens in the exercise of their
rights.

At the municipal election in Baltimore, held in October, 1856,
an organized force was made apparent at the polls, which in its
direct influence was immediately felt, by naturalized citizens.
This class of voters was to a considerable extent excluded from
the exercise of suffrage; many of them beaten, and others overawed
and deterred by violence from visiting the polls. Such were the
representations made to me, asserted by a portion of the press of
that city, and measurably conceded by all.

In the course of the day, bloody and destructive riots took
place, and the subsequent record comprehended a list of killed
and wounded truly appalling. The city was temporarily outlaw-
ed by its own fury, and it is beyond all question with me, that
could the Executive authority have commanded military power at
the moment of the emergency, it would have been my duty then
to have interposed, and overwhelmed a lawless demonstration
clearly defiant of the municipal police. As the time approached
for the Presidential election in November, 1856, apprehension gen-
erally prevailed, that a recurrence of similar scenes was inevitable.
Political sentiment and party animosity were alike demonstrative
and violent, and peaceable and orderly citizens, and especially
naturalized citizens were utterly hopeless of those decencies and
proprieties essential to the freedom of suffrage. In short the large
body of citizens composing the Democratic parly within the city
of Baltimore saw the day of election approach, under the assur-
ance that they would not be suffered to record their votes, and on
the other hand, would be exposed so the consequences of the most
reckless frauds. I repeat these assertions as they were made to
me; and in view of the returns of most of the wards of the city, I
have no hesitation in thus officially laying them before you.

On the eve of the Presidential election I proceeded to Baltimore,
and sought an interview with the Mayor of the city, in the vain
hope of such a co-operation of influences, and moral and material
power, as would ensure the peace of the city, prevent bloodshed,
and secure to every citizen without respect to party, the exercise
of his political rights. My overtures were repulsed with cold civili-
ty. I was thrown upon my personal and official responsibility,
before an important and respectable community, for the initiative
in a measure which the exigency of the time demanded, and the
Executive of the city was indisposed to adopt. The day of elec-
tion was then too near at hand, for me to mature under my official