Hayne Klinck Nominated to Day Police

Today begins a series of articles about my great-great uncle, Hayne Klinck. Born in Laurens, SC in 1835 to John Graham Klinck and Sarah Henderson Irby, Hayne appears to have been the straight arrow of the boys in his family. He married Margaret Robertson in 1856 in Memphis, TN; two years later, their only child, Emma, was born. Today’s article, and most that will follow in the coming weeks, focus on Hayne’s law enforcement career. In this 1860 recounting of a city council meeting, Hayne is nominated to the Day Police. Most interesting from an historical perspective, however, is the council chatter that precedes Hayne’s nomination: "Ald. Martin concurred with the last speaker; he believed it would be wrong to put upon the mayor the responsibility of making all the police nominations. Ald. Merrill believed if President Buchanan could appoint the hundred thousand office holders in the employment of the United States, Mayor Baugh could certainly appoint fifty-six policemen. Ald. Hughes remarked that Mayor Baugh could not cut heads off without notice, as President Buchanan does." Was Hughes referencing John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry (For more information.)? Or was this just general "Buchanan is a terrible, terrible President" chatter? Either way, I love that it was reported.

Memphis Daily Appeal, 13July1860

Civil War Era MPD