BALTIMORE. 



59 



more or Maryland. I desire to support the public 

 authorities iu all appropriate duties; in preserving 

 peace, protecting property aud the rights of persons, 

 in obeying and upholding every municipal regulation 

 and public statute consistent with the Constitution 

 and laws of the United States and of Maryland. 



But unlawful combinations of men, organized for re- 

 sistance to such laws, that provide hidden deposits of 

 arms and ammunition, encourage contraband traffic 

 with men at war with the Government, and, while en- 

 joying its protection and privileges, stealthily wait op- 

 portunity to combine their means and force with those 

 in rebellion against its authority, are not among the 

 recognized or legal rights of any class of men, and 

 cannot be permitted under any form of government 

 whatever. 



Such combinations are well known to exist in this 

 department. The mass of citizens of Baltimore and of 

 Maryland, loyal to the Constitution and the Union, are 

 neither parties to, nor responsible for them. But the 

 Chief of Police is not only believed to be cognizant of 

 these facts, but, in contravention of his duty, and in 

 violation of law, he is, by direction or indirection, 

 both witness and protector to the transactions and the 

 parties engaged therein. Under such circumstances 

 the Government cannot regard him otherwise than as 

 the head of an armed force hostile to its authority and 

 acting in concert with its avowed enemies. 



This arrest was made for the reason stated 

 in the proclamation: "Under such circum- 

 stances the Government cannot regard him 

 otherwise than as the head of an armed force 

 hostile to its authority, and acting in concert 

 with its avowed enemies." If the opinion of 

 the Government was correct, the arrest was 

 douhtless justly made. But how shall the 

 opinion of the Government be decided to he 

 correct ? By the Government itself who makes 

 the arrest, or by an impartial tribunal ? These 

 questions excited much discussion at the time, 

 but the public acquiesced in the proceedings of 

 the Government, not only in this instance, but 

 in many others. 



The captains of the different police stations 

 were directed to report themselves to the Pro- 

 vost Marshal, and, upon obeying the summons, 

 they were notified that they and their officers 

 would be continued in service, while the strict- 

 est injunction was imposed upon them to arrest 

 every one who might attempt to disturb the 

 peace. 



The functions of the Board of Police were 

 suspended as soon as Colonel Kenly entered 

 upon his duties as Provost Marshal. 



In the mean time, however, a meeting was 

 held by the Police Commissioners and the Mayor 

 consisting of Chas. Howard. \Vm. H. Gatchell, 

 Charles D. Hinks, John W. Davis, and George 

 T7m. Brown, Esqs. who, after agreeing upon 

 a protest against the suspension of theii^unc- 

 tions, adopted the following resolution : 



Resolted; That whilst the Board, yielding to the 

 force of circumstances, will do nothing to increase the 

 present excitement, or obstruct the execution of such 

 measures as Major-General Banks may deem proper to 

 take on his own responsibility for the preservation of 

 the peace of the citv and of public order, they cannot, 

 consistently with their views of official duty, and of 

 the obligations of their oaths of office, recognize the 

 right of any of the officers and men of the police force, 

 as such, to'receive orders or directions from any other 

 authority than from this Board. 



The Commissioners further resolved that the 

 suspension of their own functions, suspended at 

 the same time the active operation of the police 

 law and relieved the officers and men from 

 duty ; and, in pursuance of this decision, they 

 issued a notice to the police captains of the 

 several stations announcing that they had deter- 

 mined upon the disbanding of the force, and 

 directing them to carry out the provisions of 

 that resolve. The men were accordingly sum- 

 moned to the station-houses and notified that 

 their services as police officers were suspended 

 for the present, though it was intimated that 

 their pay would continue, and that they were 

 to hold themselves in readiness to resume their 

 duties at a moment's notice. 



Notwithstanding a notice issued by Colonel 

 Kenly, that every man would be continued on 

 duty, the force was disbanded, and a temporary 

 police force of about four hundred men, imme- 

 diately enrolled and placed on duty. Munitions 

 of war in considerable quantities were found 

 secreted in the city. In some instances they 

 were the property of the city, in a few others 

 they belonged to citizens. 



On the 1st of July, the Commissioners of 

 Police were arrested. The reasons for this ar- 

 rest are thus stated by the commanding officer, 

 General Banks, who ordered it : 



In pursuance of orders issued from the Headquarters 

 of the Army at Washington for the preservation of the 

 public peace in this department, I nave arrested and 

 do now detain in custody of the United States the late 

 members of the Board of Police Messrs. Charles How- 

 ard, William H. Gatchell, Charles D. Hinks, and John 

 W. Davis. 



The incidents of the past week afforded full justifi- 

 cation for this order. The head-quarters under the 

 charge of the Board, when abandoned by the officers, 

 resembled in some respects a concealed arsenal. After 

 public recognition and protest against the " suspension 

 of their functions" they continued their sessions daily. 

 Upon a forced and unwarrantable construction of my 

 proclamation of the 2Sth ultimo, they declared that the 

 police law was suspended, and the police officers and 

 men put off duty for the present, intending to leave 

 the city without any police protection whatever. They 

 refused to recognize the officers or men necessarily 

 selected by the Provost Marshal for its protection, and 

 hold subject to their orders, now and hereafter, the old 

 police force, a large body of armed men, for some pur- 

 pose not known to the Government, and inconsistent 

 with its peace or security. 



On the 19th of July, General Dix was order- 

 ed to the command of the troops stationed at 

 Baltimore, and the city thenceforth remained 

 peaceful and tranquil. The troops have contin- 

 ued there throughout the year. The usual elec- 

 tion in October for city officers was very quietly 

 conducted. The vote was 9,587. This exceed- 

 ed the vote at the previous election for mem- 

 bers of the Legislature by 338. Except a few 

 scattering votes there was no opposition to the 

 Union candidates. The State election took 

 place in Xovember, in a quiet and peaceable 

 manner. In Baltimore a number of arrests 

 were made on the charge of disloyalty, which 

 prevented a full vote for the opposition ps 

 The total vote polled was 21,069, of which 

 Union candidates received 17,722. 



