Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-01
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TIE B II 8

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Message Of Gov. Hicks to the Maryland Legisla
| ,.,t.,y,|sI'.a ture.
FREDERICK, Nd, April 81 The message oi
Gov. Hicks to the State Legislature was sent Ia
that body to-day. II isas follows:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repressn
tdtfues: S0g du,a s1l lis 81,
The extraordinary condition of affairs in
4 Maryland has induced me to exercise the con-
Gatitutional prerogative vested in tho Governor to
tummon the Legislature in special session, In
he hope that your wisdom may enable you to
devise prompt and effective means to restore
l peace and safety to our State | shall detail
briefly the startling events which have induced
me to summon you together, and which have so
suddenly placed us in the state ofanarchy, con
| fusion, and danger, from which, sincerely
trust, you may be able to extricate US
4 Believing tito be the design OF the Admins
tration to pass over our soil troops for the defen
ce OF the city Of Washington, and fearing that
the passage Of sucn troops would excite our
people and provoke collision, labored earn
eatly to induce the President TO forego his pur.
pose. / waited upon him in person, and urged
the importance OF my request. subsequently,
Icommuncated with him and bis Cabinet by spe
lcial dispatches, entreating an abandonment Of
their designs, Toall my requests could get
but the reply that Washington was threatened
with attack; that the Government had resolved
10 defendit; 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 Gov
ernment to abandon It's plans, much as 1t de.
sired to avoid the dangers of collision My
correspondence with the authorities at Wash
lihgton is herewith submitted. The consequences
are known to you On Friday last, detach
ment of troops from Massachusetts reached
1 baltimore, and was attacked by an irresponsible
mob, and several persons on both sides were
killed. co., ~. H a.
The Mayor and Police Board gave to the Mas
sachusetts soldiers all the protection they could
afford, acting with the utmost promptness and
bravery, but they were powerless to restrain the
mob. Being in Baltimore at the time, co OPP
Grated with the Mayor to the fullest extent of
| my power in his efforts The military of the
city were ordered out to assist In the preserva-
tipn of the peace. The railroad companies were
4 requested by the Mayor and myself to transport
Eno more troops to Baltimore city, and they
promptly acceded to our request. Hearing ol
the attack upon the soldiers, the War Depart
ment issued orders that no more troops should
pass through Baltimore city, provided they were
allowed to pass outside of its limits. Subse-
alently, a detachment of troops was ascertain
ed to be encamped at or near Cockeysville, in
| Baltimore county. r
4 1ia On being informed Of this, the War Depart
mept ordered them back. Before leaving Bal
fillmore, Col. .Huger, who was in command Of
4 the United States Arsenal at Pikesville, inform
\ sd me that he had resigned his commission. Be.
ing sdvisedof the probability that the mob might
attempt the destruction OF this property, and
thereby complicate our difficulties with the au-
4 thorities at Washington, ordered Col. Pether.
tbridge to proceed with sufficient force, and
4 occupy the premises in the name of the United
\ States Government, Of which proceeding i'm
Immediately notified the War Department On Sun.
day morning last discovered that deta chment
/ OF troops, under command of Brigadier General
| BE. Butler, had reached Annapolis in a steamer,
and had taken possession of the practice ship
fConstitution, which, during that day, they suc-
ceeded In getting outside the harbor of Annapo
| lie, where she now lies. After getting the ship
of, the steamer lay outside the harbor, and was
soon Joined by another steamer having on board
the Seventh Regiment from New York city.
| Brig Gen. Butter addressed me, asking for
permission to land bis forces IL will be seen
1refused my consent. The Mayor of Annapo
Ilis also protested, but both steamers soon after
wards landed, and put off the troops. Subse-
tqnently large bodies of troops reached here in
Transports, and were landed. was notified
that the troops were to be marched to Washing
ton. They desired to 60 without obstruction
from our people, but they had orders to 60 to
1 Washington, and were determined to obey those
orders. In furtherance of their designs, they
took military possession of the Annapolis and
Elk Ridge Railroad; In regard to which act
Efarwarded to Brig. Gen. Butler the protest, and
received the supply herewith submitted,
On Wednesday morning the two detachments
| ffst landed took up their line Of march for
Washington. The people of Annapolis, though
greatly exasperated, acting under the counsel Of
the most prudent citizens, refrained from mo-
Heating Or obstructing the passage Of the troops
throughthe city. Seriously impressed with the
condition of affairs, and anxious to avoid a rep
letiti0n OF events similar to those which had
bGanspired in Baltimore, deemed il my duty
TO make another appeal at Washington.
| y Accordingly, l sent special messenger to
| w Washington, with q despatch to the Admins
tration, advising that no more troops be sent
through Maryland, that the troops at Annapo-
lis be sent elsewhere, and urging that truce
be offered with a view of a peaceful settlement
of existing difficulties by mediation. / eug-
gested that Lord Lyons, the British minister, be
requested to act as mediator between the con
tendiDgparties. The result of the mission will
be seen by the correspondence herewith sub
mitted. These events have satisfied me that
the War Department has concluded to make
LAnnapols the point for landing troops, and has
resolved to open and maintain communication
between this place and Washington. In the
[bfief lime allowed, tits impossible for me to
1 60 more into details. The documents accom-
panying this message place before you all the
Information possessed by me. shall probably
toommunicate euch other information as may
reach me. Notwithstanding the fact that our
most learned and intelligent citizens admit the
right Of the Government to transport its troops
across our soil, 1t is evident that portion of the
people Of Maryland are opposed to the exercise
lof the right. / have done all in my power to
protect the citizens Of Maryland, and to preserve
/ the peace within our borders. Lawless occur
rences, will be repeated, fear, unless prompt
action be taken by you. 1t is my duty to advise
4 you Of my own convictions Of the proper course
90 be pursued by Maryland in the emergen.
4 cy which Is upon US. Il is Of no consequence
now to discuss the causes which have induced
our troubles. Let US look to our distressing
present and to our portentous future.
The fate of Maryland, and perhaps of her
lslster border slave States, will undoubtedly be
anrioualy affected hv tha actinn of vour honn.o