Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-09
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 9, 1894
Governor O'Ferrall's Letter.

Governor O'Ferrall's Letter.
In the month OF February last the
waters Of Virginia near the boundary-line
between this State and Maryland were
frequently infested with Maryland oyster
men. who persisted in dredging our oyster
rocks. in defiance OF our laws. and against
the repeated warnings OF our officers.
Once. at least they resisted. with FIRE
arms. the attempt made by our police
schooner Tangier TO drive them from their
work. Then our police-steamer, Chesa-
peake, came upon the scene. and attempt
ed the capture Of some Of the beiligerent
piratlcal craft The intruders fed rr.nS
upon the Chesapeake as they sailed away.
The Chesapeake followed firing ana beng
fired upon. In the chase. Thus The pursuit
continued for some time. and until the
attention Of the commander Of the Chesa-
peake was called. by one Of his officers. 70
the fact that he had crossed the line
aud was out Of Virginia and in Maryland
The pursuit was now at once dlscOn-
tinued. Two Of the vessels from Maryland
which had been engaged in unlawinl
dredging in our waters, were however
found 10 be aground, and these were
captured, and carried TO Accomac, where
by order of the court, they were declared
TO be forfeited.
A demand having been received from
The Maryland authorities for the resutu-
ton Of the vessels. the General Assembly
Of Virginia. being then In session ap-
10 act with "A
similar committee Of the Maryland Leg
islature which was subsequently consul
tuted TO Investigate the question OF iact'
Furthermore. Governor OFerrall was en-
powered TO carry out the recommendation
Of the Virginia committee.
At that time Governor O'Ferrall and the
General Assembly. and the press OF this
Etate were under the imUr' ssion that The
two vessels were captured within the
limits Of virginia, ami they much doubted
n il was true that the Chesapeake ever
crossed the bounIary-line between the TWO
States.
The committees acted separately, anc at
rresent we have only 10 do with the pro-
ceedings Of ours.
After due inquiry. our committee iouh"
that the depredations Of MaryianderS upon
nur natural-oyster-beds had been frequent
eagrant. and long-continuCd; that these
drodrers had disregardad our laws. anu
when they felt strong enough t. DO So
had defed our police-boats; that they ma"
fred upon and overpowered the ponce
schooner Tangier before the steamer
Chesapeake came W, and that under SUI"
exciting circumstances. and WITH such
proyocation, the Chesapeake undertook u
ror,pel the Maryland fleet 10 respect our
laws. and began the engagement III qu'9-
ton.
our committee, at the head OF whom
,,as the Hon. r. H. CardweH, Speaker oil
HE House Of Delegates, ana meinoet-e''0'
NJ the Virginia Supreme Court OF Ap-
neals. found ample authority IN books on
International law for pursuit across state
I,es of criminals under such circuhl-
,,,,ces as those which prevailed VINE"
tie Chesapeake undertook the capture
of those piratical craft. Upon 'nese
authorities they could have successfully
defended the action of the commander
af the Chesapeake; bat, in view OF the
friendship which has existed between VIZ
,inia and Maryland for nearly three cen
t.ri,s and Of the undoubted fact that
TIE commander Of the Chesapeake o'u
nat Intentionally cross the me- o"'
,rosssd IL before he was aware OF H.
our committee reported ali Oh he
,,cts tn th. Governor. with the recon-
,,eodation that lie would offer to sur
,.,der IN the Governor of Maryland the
vessels in question.
This duty Governor O'FerIah mas no"
periormed. But he felt bound to say
90 Governor Brown that now that Mary
land has been informed Of the existence
=, those tiratical bands. who have th"r
Iotrs IN that state. and who thence de
,.,ra rron our property and carry II
Bway. often by force Of arms, we mann
tain our right Of pufsuit across the Inc
Vi-rinia's position in this matter OF
,urevlt. as set forth by Governor oFei
,su &c slstained BY the Legislative Com
,,.i,tee and our Accomplishment al oil
Sbom. with Governor O'Ferrah' mace an
exhaustive and laborious examination OF
authorities found In the Libraries al WASH
trg,on all Of which concur that
g. yell settled. for instance that
nrarvlana knowing Of the existence OF
these piratlcal bands. viii not put s'0p
Go their depredations upon virginia VIZ
ginia may do 50.
Uoweyer there need be 10 further COM
,lcations between the two States on TINS
score II Maryland viii pass reciprocity
act as proposed by Virginia at the last
sesslon Of our General Assembly. Then
the authorities Of each State would have
the right 10 pursue criminals for dis
tance Of ten miles within the limits o.
the other State. Thus Maryland couid
pursue fugltiyes ten miles into Virginia.
v,rginla could pursue fugitives ten miles
within the limits OF Maryland.
This was the proposition made by Nir-
ginla 10 Maryland last spring. but Mary
land did not accept II. II is not yet too
late for her TO take concurrent legislative
action and IL she does 50 there VIII be
no more trouble from those depredators
who have made the boundary-hne the
basis OF their operations and their harbor
Of refuge when the Virginia officers OF
the law menaced them.
Governor O'Ferralrs letter 10 Governor
Brown necessarily embraces history OF
the whole case. 1T makes our position a
matter OF record. Every statement In
II is supported by evidence taken before
the investigating committee.
Our Governors EXPRESSIONS OF regret
at the unintentional trespass Of the Ches-
speake upon Maryland territory and at
the seizure u the two vessels are jtsr
what the occasion called for. lie ad-
dresses Governor Brown with the great
est respect. ard speaks OF Maryland al
ways IN terms Of good VIII Virginia's