Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-12-02
Attention, virgininns.

Attention., virginians.
Final hearing of the case OF Mary
land VS.. Virginia as to Tangier and
! Pocomoke Sounds.
To EDITOR OF ENTRRPRIsE-I wish
through your columns, to call atten-
ton OF the people interested in the
oyster industry, whether directly OF
indirectly, to the Importance of the
cases that will be argued before the
| United States Supreme Court on the
9Th of next January. I do not be-
lieve that our people fully appre-
ciate this matter These cases decide
finally and conclusively whether or
not Maryland has equal rights with
Virginia in the waters of Pocomoke
and Tangier Sound; and the Honor
able Attorney General of Maryland.
in his argument of these cases before
the United States Circuit Court in
the city Of Richmond last summer.
even went so far as to claim that.
under the Compact OF 1855, Mary
land had equal rights with Virginia
anywhere in the Chesapeake bay.
These cases were decided by the Cir
cult Court, Judges Golf and Hughes
presiding. in favor of Virginia; but
the scales may be turned in the Su-
preme Court. and then our victory ia
the Circuit Court would go for moth
ing. Icould not help being struck,
when these cases were argued in
Richmond, at the difference in the
interest shown by the two States.
Each State was represented by its
Attorney General, but Virginia went
no further. I went on and argued
the cases with Mr.. Scott upon his in
vitation, but at my own expense.
Maryland on the other hand had,
through its legislature, appropriated
a considerable sum of money, and
there was also raised O considerable
amount by interested citizens Of
Maryland to employ counsel to assist
the Attorney General and as result.
Maryland was represented by Gener
al Bradley T. johnson and Hon.
Thos. S. Hodson in addition to its
own Attorney General. And / I'M
derstand now that the Marylanders
are not leaving q stone unturned in
their efforts to have these cases pre-
sented to the court in as strong
light as possible; and what are our
people doing? 1t will not do to trust
solely to the efforts of our Attorney
General-we all recognize his ability
and faithfulness, but I doubt very
much whether he is able to spare the
time from his many other public
duties that is necessary to properly
investigate this subject; and no one
that has not looked into the matter
can appreciate the vast amount Of
research necessary to proper pre-
sentation of these cases. Maryland
has an able Acknowledgement, and
she thought it necessary to employ
additional counsel, and likewise did
those citizens of the State that are
interested in the oyster business. If
these cases are decided against .Vir-
ginia, within five days after the de-
cision is rendered, and indeed I e1-
pect within twenty-four hours, POGO
moke and Tangier Sounds will be
filed with Maryland dredge boats.
and what will become of the people
that are dependent upon the oysters
in these waters for 1iving2 And
| not only are the oystermen interest
ed, but everyone with whom an
oysterman spends his money. the
merchant from whom he buys his
supplies, the farmer from whom he
buys corn and other provisions, the
physician that practises in his fam
lily SC.
Now, Mr.. Editor. the only thing in
my opinion to be done is to raise a
sum of money sufficient to employ
the ablest counsel that can be OBJ
tanned and to do this without delay,
for it would be money thrown away
to employ counsel, and not give him
sufficient time to properly prepare
the cases, and there is only little
more than month before the cases
will be argued. would suggest that
a meeting be held at Parksley, on
Monday, the 4th. at O'Clock. and
that all people interested in this
matter be present, and every oyster
section DO represented, to take some
steps in this matter. There was a
meeting held there short while ago
to consider what additional laws
were necessary to be passed to pro-
tect the oyster industry. If these
cases are decided against Virginia,
you will have no need then to con-
slider the question of protection, for
you won't have any oysters to pro-
tect-Maryland will have relieved
you of further trouble about that
matter.
Yours very respectfully,
J.H. FLETCHER, il.
aeefing of Eastern Shore Game Asso.
citation.