Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-02-24

Upon by bands of reckless and des-
perate men? Will she tamely sub
init to the incursions of those whom
she has expressly excluded? Will
she quietly submit to the defiance of
her laws and the invasion of her ter
ritory by lawless men with arms in
their hands ready to murder her law
officers if they dare resist them in
their schemes OF lawlessness and
plumber?
She takes care to enforce her laws
against wrong doors on her land,
will she not on her waters? She stops
not to enquire the cost ofsuppressing
mob III any of her cities, orquell-
ing disturbance in any of her rural
districts, will she withhold her strong
arm from her rivers, sounds and bays
il time of similar troubles.
Is the violation of her laws and the
commission of crime less reprehensi-
BILE in the Tangier and Pocomoke
sounds than in her capital city? Is
not one portion of her domain as sa
cred in her estimation as another,
and the peace and welfare of Tide
water as important as the peace and
welfare of the valley, or any other
section? Her past answers all these
questions.
As the Executive of Virginia, shar
ing her glory with all her sons and
proud of her fair name, and COM
manded by her to take care that
the laws be faithfully executed" |
feel deeply my helpless condition and
my inability for want of proper
means, the result of inadequate leg
islation, to obey her command, and
execute the high trust reposed in me-
listen daily to the accounts which
re lch me Of the violation of her laws
and the defiance of her lawful au-
thority with feelings of abject hui
initiation.
In conclusion | most respectfully
but earnestly recommend such im-
mediate action upon the part OF your
honorable bodies as will enable me
to guard effectively the waters OF
Tangier and Pocomoke sounds and
the property and rights of Virginia
therein, arrest violaters of her law
and sustain her dignity.
To this end l would respectfully
recommend the passage of an act
authorizing ard directing the con
struction or purchase of two steam
launches of modern and strong build.
light draft and rapid movement, aud
the equipping of each with two guns
of improved pattern and long range.
am not able to state definitely the
cost of the vessels and their arlna-
ments, but from the best information
| have it will not exceed $4,000.
which will be inconsiderable i'll com
parison with the purposes to be at
| tanned and the immepse benefits TO
be derived. With these two launches,
in my opinion, it will only be neces-
sary to maintain in the service one
schooner. OF course more vessels
would give more protection, and if in
your opinion the two schooners
should be retained it will meet with
my approval. have simply stated
the least number of vessels which
believe can be relied upon for effec-
tive work. What earnestly urge is
action and vigorous legislation. Let
us not daily with this question. 1t
is too important. Let US no longer
expect boy TO do mans work. 1T
is too serious matter.
would further recommend that
another bill be passed creating q
Commission of two, to be elected by
the General Assembly or appointed
by the Executive, as may be deemed
hest, to be known as the Oyster Com
mission and invest it with general
control. direction and management
of the oyster interest of the State.
This, think, is absolutely necessary
if we hope to make our oyster INDUS
try a source of revenue. to any con-
siderable extent | refer only to the
general features of the bill. shall
not discuss its details. The power OF
removal of the members of the Com,
mission should be vested in the Board
on the Chesapeake and it's Trlbuta
ries or the Executive for malfeasance,
inetIiciency or neglect of duty.
With implicit faith in the patriot
ism and wisdom of your honorable
bodies l shall nov submit these tt.ase-
hastily pre fcaS5s.s fiisws and sugges-
tions. But before concluding de-
sire to say that | would be nuch
pleased if there could be. sucn re
procitv between Maryland and Vlrc
ginia as will allow the law officers OF
o our State to pursue violators of the
law in the Tangier and Pocomoke
Sounds into the other and there
make arrests. The relations of the
two States have always been SO cor
dial and their interests 50 closely al,
lied that l indulge the hope that
some legislation to that end may at
no distant day be secured:
CHARLES T. O'FERRALL.