The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-29
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STATE OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

STATE OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ANNAPOLIS, April 25th, 1861. (
Gentlemen of the Eendte and House of DelegGtes:
The extraordinary condition of affairs in Mary
land has induced me to exercise the constitutional
prerogative vested in the Governor to summon the
Legislature in special session, in the hope that your
wisdom may enable you to devise prompt and eff
fective means to restore peace and safety to our
State.
/ shall detail briefly the startling events whica
which have so suddenly placed in the state of
a.archy, confusion and danger, from which l sin
cerely trust you may be able to extrcate us.
Believing it to be the design of the Administra-
tion to pass soil troops for the defence of
the city of Washington, and fearing that the pas
sage of such troops would excite our people and
provoke collision, | labored earnestly to induce
the President to foregO his purpose. | waited up
on him in person and urged the Importance of my
request. | subsequently communicated with him
and his Cabinet by special dispatches, entreat-
ing abandonment of their designs To
all my requests could get but the reply: "that
Washington threatened with attack-that
the government had resolved to defend
it-that there was no other way of OBJ
tanning troops than by passing them over the
soil OF Maryland-and that the military necessity
OF the case rendered it impossible for the Govern
ment to abandon its plans, much it desired to
avoid the dangers Of a collision" My correspou-
dence with the authorities at Washington is here
with submitted.
The consequences are known to you. On Friday
ldsL Il ueldCnUleHL Vi troops fOm MdSSdCuuSGLls
reached Baltimore, and was attacked by ire
sponsible mob and several persons both sides
were killed. The Mayor and Police Board gave to
the Massachusetts soldiers all the protection they
could aford acting with the utmost promptness
and bravery. But they powerless to restrain
the mob.
Being in Baltimore at the time, co-operated
with the Mayor to the fullest extent of my power,
in his efforts. The military of the city were order
ed out assist in the preservation of the peace
The railroad companies requested by the
Mayor and myself to transport no more troops
to Baltimore city. and they promptly acceded to
request.
Hearing of the attack upon the soldiers, the W ar
Department issued orders that no more troops
should pass through Baltimore city, provided they
were allowed to pass outside its limits. Subse-
quently detachment of troops was ascertained to
be encamped at or Eear Cockeysville, in Baltimore
county. On being informed of this the War De-
partment ordered them back.
Before leaving Baltimore Col. Huger, who was
in command of the U. S. Arsenal at Pikesvie, in
formed me that he had resigned his commission
Being advised of the probability that the mob
might attempt the destruction of this property
and thereby complicate difficulties with the au-
thorities at Washington, | ordered Col. Pether-
bridge to proceed, with sufficient force and occupy
the premises in the name of the United States
Government; OF which proceeding | Immediately
notified the War Department.
On Sunday morning last discovered that de-
tachment OF troops under command of Brigadier
ID Il
a steamer, and had taken possession of the prac-
tce-shp Constitution, which, during that day they
succeeded in getting outside the harbOr of Annapolis
where she now lies. After getting the ship of,
the steamer laid outside our harbor, and was soon
joined BY another steamer, having on board the
Seventh Regiment from New York CITY.
Brig. Gen. Butler addressed me, asking for per
mission to land his forces. 1t will be seen from the
correspondence herewith submitted that | refused
my consent. The Mayor of Annapolis also protest
ed. Bnt both steamers afterwards la ude1 a
the Naval Academy and put off the troops. Sub
sequently other large bodies of troops reached
here in transports and were landed | was notified
that the troops were to be marched to ashin gt0n
They desired to go without obstruction from our
people; but they had orders to go to Washington
and were determined to obey those orders. In
furtherauce of their designs they took military
possession of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Rail-
road; in regard to which act forwarded to Brig.
Gen. Butler the protest and received the reply
herewith submitted. On Wednesday morning the
two detachments first landed took up the line Of
march for Washington. The people of Annapolis,
though greatly exasperated acting under counsel
of the most prudent citizens, refrained from mo-
testing or obstructing the passage of the troops
through the city.
Seriously impressed with the condition of af-
fairs, and anxious to avoid repetition of events
similar to those which had transpired in Baltimore,
| deemed it my duty to make another appeal to the
authorities at Washington. Accordingly | sent a
special messenger to w ashington, with despatch
troops
be sent through Maryland; that the troops at An
napolis be sent elsewhere; and urging that truce
be offered, with view of peaceful settlement of
existing difficulties by mediation | suggested that
Lord Lyons, the British Minister, be requested to
act as mediator between the contending parties.
The result of the mission will be seen from the cor
respondence herewith submitted.
These events have satisfied me that the War De-
partment has concluded to make Annapolis the
point for landing troops, and has resolved to open
and maintain communication between this place
and Washington.
In the brief time allowed it is impossible for me
to go more into detail. The documents accou-
formation possessed by me. | shall promptly COM
muncate such other information as may reach me.
Notwithstanding the fact that our most learned
and intelligent citizens admit the right of the Gov.
eminent 50 transport its troops soil, il
Is evident that portion of the people of Mary land
are opposed to the exercise of the right. | have
done all in my power to protect the citizens OF
Maryland, and to preserve peace within bor-
ders Lawess occurrences will be repeated fear,
unless prompt action be taken by you.
1t is my duty to advise you of my own convic
tons of the proper course to be pursued by Mary.
land in the emergency which is upon us. 1t is Of
no consequence to discuss the causes which
have induced our troubles. Let us look to dis
tressing present and portent tOus future. The fate
of Maryland and perhaps of her sister Border
slave States will undoubtedly be seriously affected
by the action of your Honorable Body. Therefore
should every good citizen bend all his energies t.
the task before Us; and, therefore, should the ami
mosties and chickering's of the past be forgotton
all strike hands in the holy of restoring peace
to our beloved State and to our common coun
try. / honestly and most earnestly entertain tb'
conviction that the only safety of Maryland lies
preserving a neutral position between our brethreI
OF the North and of the South. We have violated