New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-28
MESSAGE OF GOV. HICKS OF MARYLAND.


has induced me TO exercise the constitutions preroga-
tive vested in the Governor, to summon the Legfia-
ture in special session. in the hope that your wisdom
may enable you to devise prompt and effective means
TO restore peace and safety 10 our State. shall detail
briefly the startling events which have induced me 10
Summon you together, aud which have 60 suddenly
placed us in the state Of anarchy, confusion and dan
ger, from which sincerely trust you may be able 10
exricate us. Believing to lie the design OF the Ad
minstration to pass over soil troops for the de-
fence of the City of Washington, and fearing that
the passage Of such rOops would excite our people and
nroyoke collision labored earnestly 10 induce the
President TO forcgo his purpose waited upon him N
person, and urged the importance OF my reqnesi..
subsequently communicated with him aud bis Cabinet
by special dispatches, enreating an abandonment ol
bis designs To all my requests eouid gei va. ano
reply that Washington was threatened with attack;
tba, the Government had resolved TO defend iti ta'
there was no other way Of obtaining troops 'han oy
passinR them over the soil of Maryland, ana thIt
The military necessity Of the rendered II impossible
for be to abandon is planf much ss de-
sired 10 avoid the dangers of collision My corfespo-
dence with the authorities at Washington Is here WIN
Submitted. The consequences are known 10 you. vi
Friday last detachment OF troops from MasSachuseUs
reached Baltimore and was attacked by an rrespon-
fibe mob and several persons on both SIDES were Kill
ed The Mayor and Police Board gave to tie Aassa-
chusetts soldiers all the protection they could ~1id
acting with the uimOe proNptIets auu DIdNcIy I'ut
they were poweress restrain the mob Being in Bal
tirnore at the ts co0perated with the Mayor 10 tie
fullest extent of my power IN bis eBorts Inc military
of tie city were ordered out ~ assist IN the preserva
lion of the peace. The railroad companies were re-
qnested by he Mayor and myseft transport no more
troops to Baltimore City, and they promptly acceded
to our request. Hearing OF the attack upon
the roldiers the War Department issued orders
that no more troops would pass through Baltimore
City provided they were allowed to pass outside its
limit Subsequently detachment OF troops We're as
certaned TO be encamped at or near Cockeysvile In
Baltimore County. On being informed OF this, the
War Department ordered them back. Before leaving
Baltimore Col. Huger who was ia command of the
United States Arsenal at Pikesye, informed me that
he had resigned his commission Being advised of the
probability that the mob might attempt the desrue-
lion of this property, and thereby complcate our dn
culties with the authorities at Washington, ordered
COL Petherbridge 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,
detachment Of troops, under command OF Brigader-
General Benjamin +. Butler, had reached Annapolis
in steamer and had taken possession OF the Practice
ship Constitution, which during that day they sue
ceeded in getting outside of the harbor of Annapolis
where she now lies After getting the ship oil, the
steamer lay outside the harbor, and was joined by
another steamer having on board the Seventh kegi-
ment from New-York city. Bngadier-General Butler
addressed me, asking for permission to land his
forces. 1t will be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted, that 1 refused my eonrent.
The Mayor Of AnDaPos aG .pJo1 nd BG, a 0VSs
their troope. Subsequently other large bodies
Of troops reached here In transports, and Were
landed / was notified that the troops were to be
marched 10 Washington. They desired 70 80 wi.nouI
10 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 forwarded to Bfga-
r.. d.. fha tsaf and QaQ hp
herewith submitted. On Wednesday morning the two
deacents landed took up the line Of march for Wash
inpton The people Of Annapolis through greatly exas
perae acting under council Of the most prudent c-
IONS refrained from mole.ng obstructng the pas
sage of troops through the city. Seriously impressed
with the condition OF affairs and anxious to AVOID
repetition Of events similar TO those which had trans
pired in Baltimore, deemed it my duty TO make an
other appeal at Washington. Accordingly sent
special messenger, with dispatch to the Adminstra-
tion, advising that more troops be sent through
Mary land that the troops at Annapolis be sent else
where, and urging that truce be offered with view
of peaceful settlement Of existng difficulties by me
diation. / suggested that Lord Lyons, the British
Minister, be requested 10 act as mediator between
the contending parties The result OF the
mission will be seen from the correspondence
herewith submitted. These events have satisfied
me that ths War Department 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
il is impossible for me to go more into detail. Ihe
documents accompanying this message place before
YOU all the Information possessed by me. l shall
promptly communicate such other Information as may
reach me- Notwithstanding the fact that most learn
ed and intelligent citizens admit the right OF the Govern.
men TO transport s troops across our COLL 1t Is evident
that portion ofthe people OF Maryland are opposed to
the exercise Of the right have done all in my power
TO protect the citizens of Maryland and to pre-
rences win be repeated fear unless prompt action
be taken by you. II is my duty to advise you OF
my convictions of the proper course to be pursued
by Maryland In the emergency that If upon u.s. IL Is
Of no consequence now 10 discuss the causes which
have induced troubles. Let us look to our distress
ing present and to potentOus 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 10 the asd before us,
and therefore should the aDmosties and chickering's OF
the past be forgotten and all strike bands in the bold
cause of restoring peace to our State and 10 our
country I honestly and most earnestly entertain
the conviction that the only safety Of Mary land lies
In preeerving neutral position between brethren
Of the North and Of the South. We have violated no
liqht of either section. We have been loyal TO the
Union. The unhappy contest between the TWO sections
has not been commenced enc0uragedby uB, although
we have suffered from il in part. The Impending war
has not come by any act or amy wish OF ours. We
have done oil we could to avert it, We have hopedthat
MARYLAND and other Border Slave States by their con-
seryatye portion and love for tie unlon might have
acted as mediaors between the extremes OF both Sec
tions and thus have prevented the terrible evils Of
prolonged civil war. Entertaining these views,
I cannot counsel Maryland to take sides against
the General Government until it shall commit ontrages
on ms which would Justify us in resisting its authority
As consequence can give no ether counsel ihan that
and thns preserve our coil from being polluted
with The blood of brethren. Thus if war must be be-
tween the North and South, we may force the con-
tending parties to transfer the field of battle from our
coil 20 that our lives and property may 1e secure:
seems to me that independently Of all other Consider
aons our geographical position forces ust this, unless
we are willing to zee State the theater OF long ond