Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-08-04
Virginia VIII Restore the Boats Cap
tured in Tangier Sound.


RICHMOND. VA, July 20.-The
special committees of Maryland and
Virginia have made and exchanged
their separate reports on the seizure
of the Maryland oyster schooners w.
E. Price and G. w. Stevenson by the
Virginia oyster police steamer last
February in Tangier sound. The
decision is in favor of the release OF
the captured boats, because they
were taken in Maryland waters.
This was the claim of Maryland, but
it was denied by Virginia. After
several conferences and the taking
Of voluminous testimony ii was
agreed that the legislative commit
tees should make and exchange re
ports, which would then be sent to
the Governors of Maryland and Nir-
ginia. The Virginia report was ready
for presentation to Governor Fer
rail- June 30 but it was not until
Tuesday that Mr.. r. Fl. Cardwell,
chairman OF the Virginia committee,
received notice that Maryland was
ready to make the exchange. Thurs
day Mr.. Cardwcll met Mr.. Charles
Il. Carter, OF the Maryland commit
tee, in Washington, and the eX-
change agreement was carried out.
The Virginia report sets forth that
repeated depredations had been
made upon the Virginia oyster beds
bv the two schooners captured, and
declares that, while the evidence as
to the exact locality of the prizes
when captured IS conflicting, the
location was in Virginia waters. 1t
is admitted, however, that the pur-
suit was continued into Maryland
territory. This brought the Vir-
ginia committee to the consideration
of the question whether the officers
OF the Chesapeake, charged with the
protection OF Virginia waters
against marauders and under the
conditions that existed were lustl-
fed in making the capture in Mary
land waters. The Virginia report
says:
lit is to be hoped that the con-
troversy growing out OF the capture
of the two vessels III question may
lead 10 the enactment OF Sucn laws
by the State of Maryland as will put
an end TO such troubles in the future
Al the last session OF the Legislature
of Virginia an act was passed touhd
on pages 800 and 956. acts OF Assem-
bly,, 1893 "a, giving to Maryland the
right to pursue offenders against her
laws a distance OF ten miles III II
ginia waters for capture upon me
condition only that Maryland should
enact u similar law giving TO Virginia
reciprocal rights, bur the LegisIa-
ture of Maryland failed or refused
so pass such al act, which fact Is to
be regretted, as the enactment OF
such n law by Maryland would have
given assurance that these incurslons
| by the citizens Of Maryland into VIZ
ginia territory would cease.
We cannot but believe, however,
| notwithstanding the failure OF the
Legislature Of Maryland to pass the
act referred to, now that these con
tinual invasions OF Virginia teri!
tory by Maryland's offending eltl-
zens has been brought fully TO Their
attention, that her authorities VIII
henceforth heartily cooperate with
the authorities OF Virginia III sup
pressing these wrongs.
The interests Of the two States
are so closely connected and their re-
| lations heretofore have been so cor
dial and friendly that such con-
| troversv as now exists over the cap
ture Of these vessels is TO he deplored
but it is apparent that I'M
less these wrongs are suppress
ed Virginia will become justi-
| fed in pursuing offenders, especially
| in a continuous pursuit, for their
capture into Maryland's territory
and since it has been judiciaily de.
termined by the Supreme Court OF
the United States. on April 3 last,
in the eases OF Robert L. Wharton
and Severn Nelson, Marylanders,
convicted in the county court OF Ac.
comac in April, 1898, for unlawful
dredging in Pocomoke sound, that
Virginia has exclusive right Of fish
| ing and clustering in those waters,
there can be no sort OF justification
or excuse for these depredations by
the citizens of Maryland being re-
peated.
And it may DO noted here also
that William Marsh, another citizen
of Maryland, was, just one year prior
to the conviction of Wharton and
Nelson, convicted in the same court
for like ofTense upon Ruriey's,
Rock, in Tangier sound, while 1t has
never even been claimed that the
citizens of Maryland have coequal
rights with the citizens OF Virginia
in the waters of Tangier sound,
south of the dividing line, and the
Supreme Court of the United States,
in the cases Of Wharton and Nelson,
fully recognized that the dividing
line was defined and marked by the
award of Black and Jenkins, Janua-
~, 1877. >,
If we were dealing with the indi.
viduals who have so recklessly and
persistently violated our laws, the
line OF duty would be plain, but we
are dealing with sovereignty OF SIG
ter State; hence your committee, IN
the conduct of this investigation and
the consideration Of the evidence,
together with the circumstances and
conditions surrounding the capture
Of the vessels III question, which has
been careful and complete, have not
been unmindful Of the cordial and
friendly relations which have here
toiore existed between the TWO
States, the continuance Of which IS
greatly to be desired, especially as
the interests of the two States are so
closely and intimately connected,
and as the evidence as to the exact
locality of the capture of these yes
sells is conflicting, and this being the
- L. ~ hiah ~
arisen, and in view of the fact that
the officers of the Chesapeake,
though Internationally, invaded
Maryiand's territory, firing upon her
citizens and relying upon the full CO.
operation of the authorities OF mary,
land with our own officers to prevent
snch troubles in the future, we rec
ommend that your excellency, by au-
thority conferred upon you by the
resolution above. tender the captur,
ed vessels, the William E. Price and
G. w. Stevenson, to the Governor OF
+bo State of MARYLAND. in Difference