The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05

SON. belonging respectfyeiy to Benjamin
+. Marsh and Edward Lowe. residents OF
the State Of Maryland. were taken "
the chesapeake" IL was alleged inae
these boats had been pursued by 'hs
"ChesapeakeY into Maryland waters, ana
there captured. The General Assembly OF
the State OF Maryland, on the 18th day OF
February. 1894, passed joint resolution
declaring that the act was an INVASION
ard violation OF the territory OF Mary
land. which could not be passed by wlthr
out notice and reparation, ana, appoint
ing a committee, who, In conjunction WIN
the Governor of that State, we're directed
to call the attention of the Governor ana
Legislature of this State to TINS VIOLATION
OF the territory of Maryland. and deman"
redress and reparation. The JOINT resoi"-
ton was laid before me By the COMMITTEE,
and bv me commit nicated to the General
Assembly OF Virginia: vhereupon a COM
mittee was appointed by joint resolution
adopted March 2, 1894, to act jointly or
separately with a like committee TO bc
appointed by the General Assembly OF
MARYLAND to investigate and ascertain
the facts in cor rection with the conflict
between the chesapeake and dredging
vessels. an1 the capture OF the William
Il. Price" and &c. W. Stevenson" and re-
port the facts ascertained. together with
their conclusions. 10 the Governor OF this
Commonwealth. on the 10Th cay OF June,
1894, the said committee made their re-
port 20 me. setting forth that the evidence
was conflicting as to the exact locality OF
the capture OF the said vessels They re-
ported, further that It clearly appeared
that the chesapeake" pursued the dredg-
ing fleet into Maryland waters, and. after
an able and exhaustive discussion OF the
right OF Virginia TO pursue into Mary
land waters. they concluded that mas
much as the authorities OF that State ndt
not Heretofore refused to extrldite an Of
fender against Nirginia's laws, and II not
appearing that the attention Of The at
thorities of Maryland had been called 10
the continuous incursions by residents OF
that state into Virginia waters, virginia
could not, at the date Of the capture
claim the right Of pursuit. They further
concluded that under all the ci:cum-
stances. and relying upon the full CO.
operation OF the authorities OF Maryland
with our own officers TO prevent similar
troubles in the future. a suitable acknvwl-
edgment OF regret should be made TO the
Governor OF Maryland and recommend
cd that the captured vessels hc rendered
to him. A copy OF said report Is hereto
appended.
Acting upon the recommendation II the
committee, on the 5th Of September. 1874,
/ addressed letter TO his EXccllency
Frank Brown Governor OF Maryland,
copy OF which. together with copy Or
his reply, will be found appended.
Since that time there has been no cause
OF complaint upon the part OF Virginia,
and hope and believe we VIII in the
future be relieved Of the conflicts which
for many years had been occurring IN
the Tangier and PocomOke sounds, re-
sulting from the long-conunued and per
sistent dcpredations upon orr valuable
oyster grounds by residents Of Maryland.
OYSTER LAWS
The oyster laws have been enforced as
far as possible, and the commanidnt or
the Chesapeake. Capt. ". T.. lluigins,
is entitled 10 special notice. He las been
active and watchful fearless and iiligcnt,
i'm the discharge Of his responsible duties.
Violations are occurring often, but many
yi0lators have been arrested and iiled.
In various instances inspectors Lave
been deceived, and have issued LICENSES TO
non-residents of the State. contrary, Of
course. to law, and these impositiOns are
liable TO occur at any time under the
existing statute. I'm view Of this fact, /
submit for your consideration the propric-
~ OF 50 amending the statute as TO re-
quire all licenses to be granted by the
Judges of the respective county or city
courts. either i'm term time or vacation.
instead Of the inspectors. and that rec
ord Of all licenses so granted be kept by
the clerks OF the respective courts. and
that they be- required TO furnish the prop
or inspector with a copy Of each Crctr
granting a license. and send quarterly
certified list of said licenses to the Au-
ditor OF Public Accounts. - be used by
the Auditor in settling with the inspec-
tors.
II has been alleged in a Few localities
that the survey OF the natural beds did
not embrace all of the natural rocks, and
disputes have arisen between tongmen
and iessees Of grounds not included in the
survey. / must express the opinion that
the lines established are substantially cor
rect. They were designated by capt. }.
Il. Baylor. a most distinguished and COM
pctent officer Of the United States Coas,
and Goedetic Survey. under the direction
OF commissioners appointed by the courts
Of the respective counties, and / have
great faith in their accuracy. ana there
should be no interference with them I'm
less there was a palpable mistake made,
and no harm can result. Care should be
taken not TO set "A bad precedent
THE VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
Virginia has a volunteer militia force,
OF which she can be most justly proud.
In the future, as in the past. She viii find
her soldiers ever bulwark against C.n-
ger. ever ready TO uphold the law. main
tain the peace, vindicate the right, aud
protect the humbest Of her citizens in
his guaranteed privileges. whenever the
civil authority proves too weak. THE MI
litia IS the sword arm Of the Common
wealth" TO be used cautiously. but firm
ly. In vain will agitatOrs and distI-bers.
and those with anarchistic tcLden les
seek 10 arouse a prejudice against the vol
unteer soldiers OF a State. FOR they ale
not hirelings nor aliens. but they come
from the people and prompted only by
patriotism, they enlist for the defence 81
the people Of their State and her iusti;u-
lions.
Thrice proud can Virginia be OF her
volunteers. FOR surely they have shown
their devotion 10 her by maintaining ana
keeping up the efficiency Of their organi-
cations I'm spite OF the meagre support
they have received from her Last year
each cavalryman and artilleryman re-
ceivcd g. 90. and each infantryman $40
from the State. / do not think there Is
n State in the Union that appropriates
so little for the support OF her militia.
Can we not do better An appropriation
double the sum heretofore set apart
would not be felt by any taxpayer IN the
Commonwealth. I am sure there is not
a member Of either Of your honorable
bodies who would vote 70 disband the
present military organization, for he rec
ognizes the importance OF maintaining
It. Then. II our safety depends upon con-
tinuing it. is # just 10 throw the burden
practically upon the members; They give
their time whenever the dignity or the
State requires IL. they give their time IN
drilling and becoming proficient In the