Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-09-15

Suib ullO IcUilllSQ W II Siiil'I Nst'Sis
Immediately upon being informed
that he was in Maryland waters.
In the simple performance of his
duty and within the territory of Vir-
ginia, he had been fired upon by ma
rauders and his life and the lives of
his crew imperiled in the effort of
these marauders to drive him off, as
they had done the Tangier in two
instances just previous thereto, that
they might continue their thieving,
and yet his presence of mind did not
forsake him, and rs soon as he dis
covered that he had invaded the
territory of your State he withdrew
from the pursuit and retired to the
waters Of his own State.
Your EXcellency will find upon an
examination OF the report OF the COM
mittee an exhaustive discussion of
the right of one State to pursue and
arrest offenders in the territory of
another The conclusions of the
committee adopt rs my own after
careful consideration, and in the Ian
guage of the committee, cit would
seem clear that if the necessity exists
for Virginia to pursue the marauders
who have been persistent in their
depredations upon Virginia terri,
tory, Virginia would have the right
to pursue the offenders for capture
into Maryland waters"
But at the time of the conflict
aforesaid, it is the opinion of the
committee, in which l concur, that
the condition of affairs between the
States did net Justify Il pursuit into
the waters of your State, and re
calling with pleasure the intimate
relations which have existed be
tween Maryland and Virginia, thei,
friendship and blended interests,
desire now, as Governor of Virginia
10 convey to you, as Governor OF
Maryland. my regret that the waters
of your State were invaded by The
steamer Chesapeake on the said 19tf
day of February last, and to express
the hope that the cordial relation!
between the States may not i'll any
wise be effected thereby.
1t is, however, proper i'll this con
nection, in the interest of candor
and without duplicity, now that the
authorities of Maryland have hac
their attention called directly to Tie
constant and persistent depreciation:
and violations aforesaid, to state
that should it become necessary IL
the future, in order to protect the
property and territory of Virgin;
and bring TO punishment violators o
her laws, TO pursue such violator:
from Virginia waters into Maryland
waters, | shall claim and exercise
that right. The oyster grounds o
Virginia are too valuable and The
rights of her citizens therein too i'm
portant to submit longer to these
wrongs committed by reckless citl
zens of your State, who bear no por
ton of Virginia's burdens, pay moth
ing into her treasury, and have nj
claim upon her bounty.
Virginia has enacted wise and Ju
diciouS laws for the preservation an(
building up rof her great oyster in
dustry, and she prohibits non-resl
dents from catching oysters in he
waters, just as your State forbid
the citizens of one county from catch
ing oysters in the waters of anothe
county, and if Virginia's ground
can be properly guarded agalnss
piratical crafts and nonresident
dredgers, the time is not distan
when this industry will give employ
ment and support to thousands NOR
of her citizens and her revenues VII
be largely increased from that source
to the relief of land and other prop
erty.
The next question for considera
ton is the course for me to pursu
in reference to the captured vessels
the William E. Price and G. w
otsAyenson. Under the joint resolu
lion [. 6, March I'd, 1894 l am EN-
powered to take 7>-;!ch action as Lay
leem proper in the .roroI1ia.
Directly after the adoption of this
in order to avoid any COM
plications which might arise by an
of the Judgment of for
fixture of the County Court of Acco-
mac county, directed the Sheriff of
said county to suspend the sale of
said vessels, pending the investiga-
ton provided for in said resolution,
and until further orders, which di-
-ection was followed, and the vessels
are still in his custody.
The evidence as to the exact local
ity of the capture of the William L.
Price and G. w. Stevenson is con-
dieting, but in my opinion, accord
ing to the weight of the testimony,
they were captured in Maryland
waters, contrary to the information
which l received directly after the
Having conceded that the
pursuit into Maryland waters was
not justified by the existing condi-
ton OF affairs between the States, it
would follow that l must hold, with
the committee, that the capture Of
these vessels III Maryland waters
was improper and that they should
be turned over to you in obedience
to your request.
1t is true that the delivery of
these vessels to you will result in
their restoration to their owners
whose depredations upon the oyster
grounds of Virginia have been con-
slant and persistent for years, and
whose wantOn violation of her laws
caused their capture, but however
great may be Virginia's grievance
against these marauders, the com
nittee recommends the tender of
-he vessels to you and their recon-
accords with my view of
he matter. AS soon, therefore, as
hecr from you, | shall direct the
Sheriff of Accomac county to deliver
said vessels to such agent as you may
designate to receive them.
] hope that there may lie no fur
her trouble resulting from violation
Of the laws of Virginia in her waters
by the citizens of your State, and ] |
ely upon the hearty co operation of !
and officers in the future !
of Virginia's rights. l |
rust that the necessity may not
lrise for me to exercise the right of
pursuit aforesaid, and assure you
hat l shall stand ready at all times
% aid you in the preservation of the
lights of Maryland, and to condemn
III illegal invasions of her waters by
citizens of Virginia.
81,