On Sunday the 1st of November, for the first time, a detailed
exhibit was made to me of the special and extraordinary arrange-
ments matured by the Mayor for the maintainance of the peace
and the protection of the citizens in the exercise of their rights at
the approaching election. The submission of these arrangements
for my consideration then, which were withheld from me on my
first arrival in the city, was the result of some consultations brought
about through the intervention of several gentlemen, representing
the respective views of the Mayor and myself. This plan was in
terms plausible; it had the appearance of sincerity of purpose,
and, I doubt not, was offered, in good faith. I must confess,
however, that had the proceedings I had commenced been
sustained with all the vigor the occasion required, I could not
have withheld the conciliatory step, I deemed it proper to take,
in view of the arrangements submitted for my consideration by
the Mayor, and especially as each of the gentlemen with whom I
was in consultation seemed to be entirely confident of the suffi-
ciency of the arrangements which had been now adopted. Under
this impression I was urged to withdraw my Proclamation and to
rescind all military orders. 1 positively refused under any circum-
stances to comply with any proposition which included such a
stipulation. First, because it had the appearance, at least, of a sur-
render of my constitutional authority at a time when violent oppo-
sition to the laws was openly threatened; and secondly, because
I knew not what exigency might arise on the day of election
But in deference to the opinions of gentlemen in whom I then
had, and still have, great confidence, who were citizens of Balti-
more, and who knew more of the local condition of affairs
than myself, I consented to an announcement, that in view
of the sufficiency of the arrangements just made, "I did not con-
template the use of the military force which I had ordered to be
enrolled and organized," on the day of election.

In this state of public affairs the day of election approached.
A form of suffrage was observed under circumstances defiant of
the execution or the laws. Riot in its vociferous and most formi-
dable aspect did not occur, but I was made the recipient of almost
ceaseless complaints of outrage, violence, and organized ruffianism
at the polls, whereby multitudes of citizens, native and naturaliz-
ed, were deterred from voting. I was powerless for their protec-
tion. The opportunity was past in which as a lawful and en-
rolled force they could have exhibited a moral as well as material
power, against their assailants. They were at the mercy of a
mob, and without protection from the civil power.

Abundant evidence from respectable citizens in all parts of
the city could be obtained to prove a state of society verging
upon the fiercest anarchy; outrages almost incredible, in a civil-
ized community; and the ubiquity of an organization which

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