Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-06-15
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE IS 1890
THE "oYSTER WAR" IN ST. MARY'S.
INDIGNATION MEETING.

! THE "oYSTER WAR" IN ST. MARY'S.
INDIGNATION MEETING.
We stated the fact that company had
obtained warrants from the Land Office at
Annapolis, under recent act Of the Lee
gislature of Maryland relating to vacant
lands, for more than two hundred thous.
and acres OF land. under water, general
ly known as oyster beds, in St. Mary's
county. The people of that county, in
dignant at this attempted perversion of
what they claim as public property to
private uses, called u public meeting at
Leonardtown on the 3lst ult., to de-
nounce the whole affair. The Leonard
town Beacon brings us the proceedings
of the meeting, from which it appears
that the company referred to did not in
tend TO cOnfine their operations to ST.
Mary's county, as they had obtained
warrants for about ego 900 acres of the
oyster beds of the State in several coun-
ties on both the Western and Eastern
Shores. Col. Dent, who on behalf of
the citizens of 81. Mary's, visited the
Land Office, at Annapolis, made a report
to the meeting, from which we copy the
following:
On his arrival at Annapolis he pro-
ceeded to the Office of the Commissioner
Of the Land Office, and there learned
that John b. Long, Urlah Tippett, Geo,
Ill Morgan, Luke w. B. Hutchins and
Oscar Miles, had obtained from said Office
forty-c;ght special warrants, covering
600, 600 acres in the waters of the State
Of Maryland, viz: Within the waters of
st. Mary's csunty, 30, 900 acres-con-
sisting Of 10000 10 the Wicomico river,
20, 600 in St. Clements Bay, $4,000 in
Potomac river, 1000 in Brtton's bay,
20, 600 IN St. Georges river, 20 900 in
St. Mary's river, 10000 in Patuxent
river, and 80, 600 in the Chesapeake bay;
within Charles county, in Patuxent river,
20, 600 acres within Calvert county,
III Patuxent river, 20, 900 acres within
Anne Arundel county, $4,000 acres
and in the waters Of the Eastern Shore
Of Maryland, in the counties Of Worces-
ter, Somerset, Kent, Queen Anne's,
Dorchester, Talbot and Caroline, 325 900
acres; extracts from all of which war
rants, together with four other warrants
to individuals, obtained through one or
s more Of the parties named, are respect
= fully submitted as part of this report,
viz: One for Peter Morgan, for so acres
G in St. Clement's bay, beginning at the
5 division line of Dyniard and st. Wini-
: freds Freehold, anG running 100 yards
: ia the bay, and then for the distance Of
: 300 yards, in an oasterly direction, thence
t with line parallel to the division line oil
: Dyniard and st. Winifred's Freehold to
r the shore, aud thence with said shore to
! the beginning; one for John i. Long
] and Clement Mattngly, for 200 acres,
in north branch Of St. Patrick's creek
q one for A. Burch, for 200 acres, in Ca
: noe creek, and one for Oscar Miles, for
200 acres. beginning on the shore Of the
Wicomico river, at the northwest corner
} of said Oscar Miles land lying upon said
! river, and extending southwardly over
e the lands suitable for growing oysters, to
j the mouth Of Alayoway creek, and over
the mouth of said creek, and over the en-.
: tire bed thereof, and including White
Point Island and adjacent oyster and
/ she'll bars
The law under which the warrants
J we're issued, was reported in the State
! Senate at its last session, by Mr.. Miles,
and passed unanimously. 10 the House
Y there were but two votes against it. Il
8 repeats several sections of tho fifty third
e article of the code and substitutes others
y in lieu thereof, the principal effect Of
, which amendments seems to be to abolish
0 the payment of " caution money"
I During the meeting, Mr.. 9. j. Du-
; rant, member Of the late House OF
! Delegates, explained he would not have
e voted for the law if he had thought for q
d ment that any person would have availed
themselves Of the opportunity thus af-
: f0rded TO monopolze the wdterlands Of
d the Underwater counties
# Mr.. Luke w B IIutchins, one Of the
= party holding the warrants, appeared and
. defended the action Of himself and friends
It in the promises. lie was answered by
c Col. Dent, Gen. Morgan, Geo. Thomas.
Esq, and Colonel J T. Blackiston, af-
e ter which resolutions were adopted de-
c noUncing the law, as it "lays open the
! way to improper and uDwnrrantablc APP
0 propriations of public or unoccupied
G lands"
r The action Of Mcssrs. Miles and Nor
= gan, as members Of the Senate and House
r Of Delegates, respectively, in attempting
! to avail themselves of the provisions af Il
, law passed during their incumbency 10
Office, and by the direct agency of Mr..
: Miles, is especially condemned by the
; resolutions. The action Of the people Of
! Chuptico district, in employing the pro-
fessional services Of Mcssrs. Morgan.
r Harris aud Ford, is commended, aud
} these gentleman were authorized BY lhis
meeting should they deem it necessary.
to engage the services Of additional
counsel.
EG- Paul Pry cspying man who was
digging in large pit, and being disposed
to rally him, asked him what be was
digging. "a big hole" was the reply.
And what are you going to do with