Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-03

tho i*th day or FEBRUARY last idi -
number ~ citizens OF the state OF Mary
lard. IN defiance Of our laos ana rlghts'
were engaged IN the waters OF virginia IN
tha Tangier Sound in dredging and carry
Tx away oysters. that they kept up thclr
illegal operations day ana nlgut, thh'
when they were ordered 70 stop by the
commander Of the oystcr-pOliCe schooner
Ttucicr they opened fire on him ana ms
crew ana forced him TO retire and leave
them o. continue their violations OF ule
laws Of Virginia and the rights OF heI
citizens That on the night OF the Sdli
lfth OF February last the virginia oyster
police steamer Chesapeake. acting unucr
orders from me as Governor ana com
iuandtr I'm chief, reached the waters OF
SAID sound and found these NONRESIDENT
rodgers at work. that as soon rs thfy
discovered the steamer they hrtd upon
lar. that thercuppn the steamer tctuln"'i
tho FIRE from her riiic-gun, WheT upon me
dredging fleet rttrcatcd. some OF the
vessels firing as they rctreatct. put L" =
Of them with hundreds Of bushels OF
oysters on board taken from virginia
waters. were captured by the police stcAiu-
er within the boundary line Of virginia,
ANA they and theif crews are now IN me
custody OF the officers Of the law OF &C
Comac county. their captains escaped uh-
der the cover OF darkness IN yaWls or
small boats
nm further Informed that since the
jYth day Of February. taking advantage
81 the absence Of the police-Steainer
tht-npeake more dredging has be n d9ne
ia sand sound by residents Of Maryland.
THE MARYLAND CLAIM.
In view Of the fact that the joint reso-
iu'i0u of the General Ass mhlN or NARY
land charges that the conflict between
fh. Ch.e4peake and the dredging NcSSt IS
l.etu Ina MARYLAND waters about one mile
from the boundary Zine. aud continued
Until said steamer was ~iihn Mar ldhI
territory al least four or hve mics. anu
that tha two vessels captured were taken
a.
trprrr 10 make this statement anu u"
fly that from information gwen me ny
Captain ". r. Hudglns, COMMANDER Oh
To-. steamer ChcsapcakC. an honoIdhlc'
upright. aud efficient officer, virginia
territory Was invaded and virginia laws
and rights alone were violated. -
but iuasmuch as The charge IS mace ny
~. state of Maryland in her sovereign
capacity that her territory was ihNhncd
Is a.. said steamer Chesapeake ana YES
sells belonging 10 her citizens capluIeH III
hor own waters. however uhihNiuI ~
have been the acts Of these vessels Which
lend 90 their capture, We must treat htr
charges with the respect that ~ dnc htr
"a "a sovereign sister state. ana phtt'u-
l8rlv as u state with whom virginia
relations have been SO cordial ana VII
giuia's interests SO closely Countctrl ~
Is true that the Joint resolution 10 Whlcn
/ have referred IS. in my opinion Idthti
strong in its language; 1t demands mint
diatc and appropriate redress anu IIsti-
frfIuu' uUnu * pdrtc Stdtcm'htes hut
10 harm can result from this. a. virginia
Will in "a calm and dignii.cd manner III
N,stgatc the facts, ana then act rs neI
sense Of night and Justice may dlctttt.
she has important interests To protect IN
The Tangier Sound. The oysier-Iock upon
which the late depredations were on
Iuitted is immensely valuable II proper
Ir1tcction Is guaranteed 1t embraces
ilout 300 acres Of prime oyster Eiounu ,
every foot of ~ Is In virginia waters nv
boundary line between the states - PC
"a
ierosis are the maintenance OF her laws
and the preservation of her honor.
JOINT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.
would re4pectfully recommend the APP
Ioiutmeut of committee or hNr-lN'
from me senate and three from the house
of Dclegatcs-to act sepaiatrH q, I'm
Jointly with "A Ike committee 70 pr ~
f..futed bv the General Assembly OF the
Stat- of Maryland. TO investigate ana A.
certain the facts in connection WIN 'hV
said conflict between the steamer 49,
u,.ts, and the dredging vessels, WIN the
mower 10 send for persons ana 10 enforce
lie attendance OF witnesses anu SUI"
other POWERS az your honorable bOdI'9
may deem necessary and proper. A..
Tu considering the question OF I'HIlu-
tlon il nieht bc wen. in the event the
charges made In the Joint re,pI u'luh are
sustained. to consider whether IL u tlH'"-
Ill and just To make Icattuuuh 10 IA
l.nI for the seizure Of the vessels OF hrr
,itiveDe In her waters when such reSulu-
ION viii inure to the benefit Of the owners
~ thu vessels, unless Virginia % rem.
huretl for the large quantity OF oAS'tiS
which these vessels Illegally TOOK ana car
rcd away from her waters.
PURSUE THE N1OIATORS.
In nv special message ON the oyster
trouble in the THnHicr Sound. when /
had the honor to send To your honorable
bodies on the 1uth day OF February lhH''
] expressed the hope that some ARRANGE
ala a 10 l.
Iatlrs OF the law in the Poc0moke anu
Tangler sounds could be pursued from
enc state into the other
T,v reference 60 the joint resolution l
fnl that the General Assembly Of Mary
Land declares therein that II ~ not ad-
NDftc" tn such An arrangement PROVIDED
Tire state Of Virginia Is wliihS 10 90
fll and complete justice IN rcs@II 10 an
the matters In dispute between inc Two
States IA reference 10 the use oi the
waters along the southern npuh4alH
lines of that state. Ihdt NitglNHt VIII
4, what she believes TO be "full and COM
gletc justice" in regard 10 any matter li
which her sister State IS int rested reel
stre but she might not be willing To
g. all that her sister state mgat cohs'deT
"Nu aud complete justice.
Tor instance. II. In the opinion Of Mary
all "fuu and complete justice requires
Virginia 20 conccde 10 Maryland the rlght
20 use the waters In Iocomoke SOUND IN
i.furu Tor tn. right 10 Virginia 10 pursue
tlItfors OF her law into the waters OF
tr,.iand Virpinia would hardly. in my
Irion. I've willing 70 make the concession.
would be paying too dearly LOT we
" lrge, and would most Hkrly pIbsi u
FL. upon her oyster fleet 10 demand her
trhfs against nonresident dredSers upon
,I,. moral influence OF the law-abiding
atizcns of Maryland
ENACT CONCURRENT LAWS.
.1t seems 10 me-" the Governor con-
elaics. that peace ana es IoS I ,nn rr 9n
teryation OF the law. and the suppression
81 violence and the aVoidance OF biocu-
in,d apart from any other question,
,h5uld prOmpt the enactment OF measures
.t.,, ne mart OF both States allowing the
3nrsuit Of offenders from one State INTO
- would respectfully recommend that
virginia take the Ieaq IA ,iis .'y 'r rait'
tiug the lawful authorities OF Maryland
10 pursue the offenders into virginia
Woins in said sounds. or elsewhere pro-
Nidipg Ike right Is gwen 10 virginia III
Maryland waters. ...,.....,-
iIESOIIjTIONs FOR A COMMITTEE.
In the House the message and accom-
usn,tng documents were read by Clerk
bigger. but I'm the Senate both documents
were laid upon the table and ordered 70
be printed AZ soon as the reading was
concluded In the House the following joint
resolutions were introduced In that body
and passed, and upon being communicated
% the Senate were promptly agreed 10.
Resolved Cthe Senate concurring), Ihat
4 committee OF five consisting or TWO
members from the Senate and three mem
GERS from the House OF Delegates, De APP
pointed, who may act separately or con
Jointly with a like committee 20 ue np-
pointed by the General Assembly or the
State OF Maryland. 10 whom snali be re-
TERED the message OF the Governor OF tne
Commonwealth this day communicated 70
the General Assembly OF virginia ue
lOlnt resolution Of the General Assembly
81 Maryland with reference 10 the con,
licl between the steamer Chesapeake ana
he dredging vessels mentioned IN sa ,a
message. together with a copy OF me saiu
Joint resolution. whose duty u shall oe 70
investigate and ascertain the facts "
Committee TO have power 10 81 aurin y,
he recess Of the General Assembly, anu "
Tend for persons and to enforce tue nv
enhance OF Witnesses. and such otnsr
,owers as may be necessary 70 shapsss
he said committee 10 make fiil anu
complete investigation OF the subject re-
isrred 10 them,
Th.t the said committee. upon the