The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-11
Important Action in the Maryland Legis-
lalurP.

In the Maryland House OF Delegates on the
9th inst, a report was made by Mr. Horsey
in relation to the occupation of Maryland
soil by the Southern forces The following
is an extract:
1.-The undersigned made as thorough an ex
ANNA ton of the condition OF things on the
Maryland mountain opposite Harpers Ferry
as the pressure OF circumstances. and the
almost inaccessible nature of the mount tain
and its approaches would admit OF. The
top of the mountain he found occupied
by four or five hundred Virginia troops,
who had cut down four or five hundred
acres of the small and Indifferent timber
which clothes the summit of the noun
tain, for the apparent purpose OF con-
structing huts for their temporary shelter,
| and about the same space of land had been
burnt over by accidental contact of the dried
| leaves with the camp fires, as your Commits
| soner supposed. That as soon us he had in
vestigated all the complaints, he returned TO
| Richmond and reached there on Wednesday,
| the 29tn ult., when the authorities were en-
| crossed with the pressing duties arising from
the reception of the President and Govern
ment of the Confederate States OF America;
| that on the evening of the 30th he had a short
| interview with Gov. Leteher, and brought to
| his notice the object of his mission, and the
| specific acts of aggression complained OF in
| the entrance upon our soil by the troops of
| Virginia.
| "Tne Governor was understood to say that
| he would apply to the commanding officer at
| Harper's Ferry for information on the subject,
| and would be prepared to reply more fully
when the report of that officer was received !;
but he begged me TO convey to your honorable
body the dis tinct and earnest assurance that
| if AT any time the military forces of Virginia
| should trespass upon and temporarily occupy
| the soil of Maryland, it could only be Jus uIed
! by the pressing exisencies or military neces-
| sity in defence and protection OF her own SOIL
| from, threa tened or actual invasion, and GER
tsinIy with no hostile intent towards the citi-
zens of the State of Maryland, aud that any
! and all damages to persons or property conse
ouent upon such alleged tres pass or occupa.
ton should be fully and literally compensated
| for"
We COPY the following from the proceeding:
| of the House on the 7th:
, Mr. Dennis, of Somerset, offered preamble
{ and resolutions, the former of which reciteo
| at length that Maryland is yet State IN thu
| Union, submit ttin2 peaceabiy to the Fedora
l Government; yet, nevertheless, the Presiden
g has raised and quartered large standing ar
t mics upon her territory; has occupied tai
D houses of her citizens without their consent
| and has made the military superior to ant
e above the civil power; has assumed 10 regu
: late the internal policy and government or tn
= State; has seized upon and appropriated GU
: | railroads and telegraphs; has seized an,
r searched our vessels; has forcibly entered
f houses: has deprived our people of their arms
g | has seized and ransported our citizens toothe
Y | States fer trial upon charges, or pretende
g | charges: has taken the private property OF on
| citizens; has caused pelceable travellers to b
: stopped, and their persons, trunks and paper
If | to be searched has arrested and caused to
d imprisoned, without any civil process what
ever, the persons of our citizens, and by tn
military power kept, and still keeps, them
, | confinement, against and In contempt OF d
| civil process.
> The resolutions protest against these act
= of the President gross usurpation and |
e utter violation of the Constitution. They dt
II clare that the right of secession is not a COZ
:, stitutional, but revolutionary right; th'
"a the Federal Government has no right, undt
- | the Constitut ton, to wage war against
>, | State; that prudence and policy demand a n
le | coCnition of the Southern Confederacy, al
~ denounce, with Indignation, the suspension
- the writ of habeas corpus in the Merryma
| case.
The resolutions were laid over, under til
rule.