Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-09


| Virginia waters. and bidding defiance 20
| her authority In the most desperate man
| ner. on the nth and 18th days Of February
| last. respectively. for their pursuit re-
| CARELESS Of state lines. was very strong.
| and i am sure you will concedc that the
| commander OF the Chesapeake exerciseo
1 great prudence and displayed n most COM
| mendable spirit when he abandoned the
pursuit and returned to Virginia waters.
| Immediately upon being Informed that ne
was In Maryland waters. in the simple
performance OF his duty. and withih .ne
| territory OF Virginia, he had been hiso
upon by marauders. and his lie ana 'ne
lives Of his crew imperilled In the enor, vi
these marauders TO drive him on, as 'hey
had done the Tangier In two instances
| Just previous thereto. that they might
continue their thieving. and yet MS pres
ence OF mind did not forsake him, ana as
soon as he discovered that he had ihVaoeo
| the territory OF your state. ne witnuIew
| from the pursuit. and retired TO the
waters of his own State.
THE RIGHT OF PURSUIT.
Your Excellency will find. upon an ex'
animation OF the report or 'he eo"In','
tee. an exhaustive discussion oil the iisn'
| OF one State TO pursue and arrest oiiehu-
ere In the territory OF another. Inc con-
| illusions OF the committee l adopt as
my own after careful consideration ano
| I'm the language Of the committee, IL
would seem clear that " tne necessity
exists for Virginia TO pursue the marau-
ders who have been persistent In their
depredations upon Virginia territory. Nir-
ginia would have the right to pursue the
| offenders for capture into Maryland
waters"
But. at the time OF the conflict afore-
said. II Is the opinion OF the committee,
In which / concur. that the condition OF
affairs between the States did not justify
a pursuit into waters OF your state. ana
recalling with pleasure the intimate reia-
tons which have existed between Mary
land and Virginia, their friendship and
blended interests, 1 desire now. as Gov
ernor Of Virginia, to convey to you. az
Governor of Maryland. my regret that
the waters of your State were invaded
by the steamer Chesapeake on the ssid |
18th day OF February last. and to ex-
press the hope that the cordial relations
between the States may not in any wise
be affected thereby.
WILL HEREAFTER EXERCISE 1T.
II IS, however, proper In this connection
in tho interest OF candor, and without
duplicity, now that the authorities OF
Maryland have had their attention called |
dcpredations and violations aforesaid. 10
state that should IL become necessary |
in the future, in order to protect the
property and territory OF Virginia ana
bring TO punishment violators of her laws
60 pursue such viOlatOrs from virginia
waters into Maryland waters, l shaI
clam and exercise that right the oyster
grounds of Virginia are too valuable ana
the rights Of her citizens therein TOO
wrongs committed by reckless citizens OF |
your State who bear no portion OF Viz
ginia's burdens. pay nothing into her
Treasury. and have no claim upon her
bounty Virginia has enacted wise ana
1udlcious laws for the preservation anu
building W of her great Oyster INDUSTRY |
and she prohibits non'residents from
catching oysters in her waters. just as |
your State fOrbids the citizens OF one
county from catching oysters IN me
waters OF another county, ana IL VIZ
cinia's grounds can be properly guarded
against pratical craft and nonresident |
dredgers. the time is not distant when |
this Industry will give employment and
support thousands more of her citizens. |
ana her revenues will be largely Increased
from that source TO the relief OF land
and other property.
THE CAPTURED SCHOONERS.
The next question for consideration IS
the course for me to pursue in reference
10 the captured vessels-the William i.
Price and G. w. Stevenson. Under the
Joint resolution of March 2. 1891, am en-
powered TO take such action as L may
deem proper in the premises.
Directly after the adoption Of this reso-
luton, in order 10 avoid any complications
which might arise by an enforcement OF
the Judgment of forfeiture of the county
Court of Accomac county. l directed the |
Sheriff of said county to SUSPEND the |
sale of said vessels. pending the inVestga-
ton provided for in said resolution, ana,
until further orders-whch direction was
followed-and the vessels are still in MS
custody.
The evidence as 70 the exact locality |
Of the capture Of the William L. Price
md c. ". Stevenson is conflicting. but, in
nv opinion, according TO the weight OF
the testimony they were captured in
MARYLAND waters. contrary to the infor-
nation which | received directly after the
conflict. Having conceded that the pursuit
into Maryland waters was not Justlhed py
the existing condition OF afalrs between
the States, ii would follow that must
hold. with the committee that the capture
of these vessels in Maryland waters was
improper. and that they should be turned
over 10 Won in obedience to your request.
II is true that the delivery of these yes
cells 70 YOU will result in their restoration
70 their owners, whose depredanons upon
the oyster-grounGs Of Virginia have peen
constant and persistent Tor years. ana
,ybosa wanton violation Of her laws |
ca,,eed their capture: but, however great |
may be Virginla's grievance against these
marauders. the committee recommends the
tender OF the vessels TO you, ana their
recommendation accOrds with my view or |
the matter. AS soon. therefore, as l near
from YOU. I shall direct the Sherln OF &C
comac county to deliver said vessels TO |
such agent as you may designate TO re-
ceIVe them.
COOPERATION EXPECTED.
7 hone that there may be no further |
trouble resulting from violation OF the |
laws OF Virginia. in her waters by the |
citizens Of your State, and l rely upon
the hearty cooperation or yourself ana
vour officers In the future protection of |
Tirrinia's rights. I trust that the ne |
cegsity may not arise for me 10 exercise |
the right Of pursuit aforesaid. and as |
sure YOU that l shall stand ready at all |
times to aid you in the preservation OF |
tho rights of Maryland. and 20 condemn |
all illegal invaslons Of her waters by cll-
zcns of Virginia. As evidence or VIZ
cinia's desire 10 preserve Inc most COi
dial relations Win -hdI I'''" "''-
IN each State full opportunity without |
complication 20 arrest offenders i point |
your Excellency to the action OF the Gen |
cral Assembly OF Virginia at It's last |
session in the passage Of an act giving |
Aarvlanl the right to pursue offenders |
against her laws into Virginia waters
CONDITIONED upon the passage Of a re-
c,nrocal act by the General Assembly Of |
Maryland but which reciprocal act / re-
gret 20 say, was not passed by your Gen
eral Assembly.
With highest regards. l have the hohor
% remain. your obedient servant.
CHARLES II. OFERRALL
Governor