Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-02
VIRGINIA MUST BEHAVE.


Under the foregoing brash heading th'
Baltimore American Of yesterday has The
following editorial;
Virginia is at IT again. The men who
/ are sworn 10 obey her laws and protect
her interests have been going too far. II
an reports be true. and there seems 70 be
no reason TO doubt them. officers or inc
Virginia oyster navy have come sevea
miles over the Maryland line and put un-
dor arrest the captain and crew OF
MARYLAND dredging boat. This Will never
DO. There has certainly been trouble
enough over those waters. iD which .Doth
states claim a share. but II was hoped
that after years and years OF surveys
and commissions, and many dollars OF
expense the boundaries were now under
| stood by all concerned. Certainly. II they
.are not. they ought 10 be. Virginia must
! keep on her side the fence, and must
Keep there an the time. To some OF
/ these Virginia policemen a Maryland bat
| toau or schooner seems 20 be legitimate
prey, 20 bee taken i'm and done for wher-
ever 70 is found.
MARYLAND demands from the Old Do
minion fair treatment. not only for oys-
/ tcrmen. but for all her citizens and for
/ an her interests. Virgina's Governor
/ should promptly undo the wrong that Nir-
/ ginia oyster police have done. and should
warn those officials that they must get
on their side OF the boundary, and keep
there all the time"
We DO not concede that the facts Of
the case are correctly stated by the
American They may, or may not, be-
Tho American may be tho victim of mis-
information, But supposing that the Vir-
ginia police-boats did cross the line in
pursuit of law-breakors was 1t entirely
wrong for them to do SO?
We are clearly of the opinion that such
q course ought not 10 be adopted, except
I'm extreme cases But the right OF pursuit
OF law-breakers has been the subject Of
many international controversies. and our
recollection IS that II is admitted in ex-
ccptional instances.
We are sorry that contentious are con-
stantly arising in the oyster country be
tween Marylandcrs and Nirginians In
this State the belief is that the Maryland
authorities do not exert themselves as
thcv should 10 prevent incursions into
our waters on the part Of their citizens.
II is our opinion that Virginia would
BE- very glad. indeed to enter into
compact with Maryland by which each
state would be bound 10 maintain suf-
hcilnt force on or near the boundary
line 10 prevent violations Of the law. In
that way Maryland might keep her ma
RAIDERS out Of Virginia and Virginia
might keep her n,arauders out of Mary
land. or falling 20 keep them ont the
authorities of the State in which they
were found would arrest them and de-
liver them into the hands OF justice in
the other state. As things now go. a
Maryland boat may deprcdate upon Viz
giuia oyster-beds until one of our police
boats appears. and may then fee across
the line where none will be found TO de-
liver her up.
The Dispatch assures the American
that Virsinians like Marylanders uncom-
monty wen. and IL Is the purpose Of the
state ever to treat the citizens Of our
sister state fairly; but we want to be
treated fairly, too. We wish that Mary
land would lay the heavy hand Of the
law upon those of her oystermen who
are IN the habit OF ignoring the boundary
line between the two States and disre-
garding our laws When it comes 10 the
question of "behaving' these are the
people 10 whom should be given lessons |
that will not easily fade from their memo !
rcs
As TO the recent occurrence, we repeat. !
we can safely promise the American that |
it win be carefully inquired into by our
State authorities, aud we believe they !
may Doe relied upon to do justice in the
premises. Meanwhile. let all the friends |
of law and order in both States use their |
utmost influence and exertions, to the !
end that there may be a solemn pact he
tween Virginia and Maryland to prevent |
lawlcss boatmen from operating in the !
waters of either State.